Russia bans 3 adoption agencies following baby’s death in U.S.

Three international adoption agencies, including one that failed to inform Russia of the death of a baby in the U.S. this week, have been banned from operating in Russia, the country’s adoption authorities said on Friday.

A 21-month-old baby adopted from Russia three months ago died in the U.S. state of Virginia on Tuesday after being left by his foster father for several hours in the back of a car, in searing heat.

The Russian Education and Science Ministry’s adoption commission said in a statement: “The agencies to be banned from working on the territory of the Russian Federation include a representative office that violated the requirements of Russian law on swiftly informing us of the death of an adopted child.”

Medvedev to sign national anti-corruption plan in near future

ZAVIDOVO (Tver Region), July 12 (RIA Novosti) –

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told parliamentary party leaders on Saturday that a new anti-corruption plan will be signed in the near future.

Medvedev, a former lawyer, has made the fight against corruption one of his main goals since taking office in early May, and heads the new anti-corruption council.

“A national plan has been drawn up, and only a few minor points remain – I will sign it in the near future,” the president said.

What should Russia do to counter U.S. missile defense in Europe?

RIA Novosti
http://en.rian.ru
Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik

A U.S. missile defense system in Europe is gradually becoming reality. On July 8, the United States signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to build a missile tracking radar on its territory, and is in discussions with Poland about the deployment of missile interceptors.

In this context, it seems appropriate to analyze the military threat posed by the U.S. missile defense deployment.

The U.S. missile defense system, especially its European component, has given rise to many myths. It is rumored that the missile silos in Poland will accommodate medium-range ballistic missiles rather than ground-based interceptors (GBIs). If this were true, the threat would be very serious because these missiles are capable of incapacitating major control centers in Moscow and the surrounding area in a matter of minutes. So far, however, these are no more than rumors.

Russia must punish states hosting U.S. missile shield – analyst

Russia must use economic and political means, and military ties with Asia, to punish European states that agree to host U.S. missile defense elements, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday.

Commenting on a U.S.-Czech deal signed on Tuesday on deploying a missile tracking radar, Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov, the head of the Moscow-based Academy of Geopolitical Sciences, said: “Russia should not limit itself to statements. We must have a plan, adopted by the Russian Security Council, setting out measures on the economic, political and military cooperation levels.”

Moscow has strongly opposed the possible deployment by the U.S. of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and an accompanying radar in the Czech Republic as a threat to its security and international nuclear deterrence. Washington says the defenses are needed to deter a possible strike from Iran.

Iran, Gazprom set to sign cooperation memorandum

Russian energy giant Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] and Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum will sign on Sunday a memorandum of cooperation in the oil and gas sphere, an Iranian deputy oil minister said.

“Interaction between Iran and Russia in all spheres and especially in the energy sphere is very wide. We expect to further broaden this cooperation in the future,” Hossein Noghrehkar Shirazi said.

Shirazi said a series of discussions would precede the signing of the cooperation memorandum.

Iran ranks fourth in terms of crude reserves after Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait, as well as fourth in terms of oil production after Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia. Iran’s proven gas reserves total more than 28 trillion cubic meters.