POLITICS
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il agreed on a deal with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for a gas export pipeline to South Korea and said his country would return to nuclear talks without preconditions
(Kommersant, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party announced plans to make it compulsory for all Russian parties to hold primary elections
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
ECONOMY BUSINESS
Russia’s State Statistics Committee registers a record inflow of investments in Russia, which accounted for $87.7 billion in the first half of 2011
(Vedomosti)
Russian food retailer Magnit posted a first half net profit of $140.35 million to IFRS, up seven percent on the same period in 2010
(Kommersant)
Saks Fifth Avenue, the American luxury department store, is planning to open a new location in Moscow, Business FM radio reported, without citing its sources
(The Moscow Times)
OIL GAS
Iran’s ambassador to Moscow assailed Gazprom Neft for a “delay” in developing the country’s oil reserves, as fewer energy investors remain committed to cooperating with Tehran
(The Moscow Times)
CRIME INVESTIGATIONS
Russian investigators say they believe they know who was behind the 2006 murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya
(Kommersant)
SPACE
Russia’s Progress M-12M space freighter fell in South Siberia’s Altai Republic on Wednesday after failing to separate from the Soyuz-U carrier rocket, the first loss of the Progress freighter in the history of Russia’s space industry
(Kommersant, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
DEFENSE
Military prosecutors launched a criminal case in an explosion at a weapons testing ground in Russia’s southern Astrakhan region that killed six servicemen and injured 12 earlier in the week
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
WORLD
Libyan rebels on Wednesday offered amnesty, as well as a $1.3-million reward for anyone who captures or kills Muammar Gaddafi
(Kommersant, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Jessica Beagley, a U.S. woman who poured hot sauce into her adopted Russian son’s mouth to appear on a U.S. TV show, was convicted of child abuse. She faces up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $10,000 when she is handed her sentence next week
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
EDUCATION
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia should urgently modernize its higher education system so that it conforms to today’s demands
(Kommersant)
MOSCOW
The specter of nationalist rioting prompted a court to keep in custody a Dagestani-born martial arts champion accused of killing a Muscovite with a single blow
(The Moscow Times)
SPORTS
Lyon progressed to the group stage of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan gave them a 4-2 victory on aggregate
(Sovetsky Sport)
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