e Yugoslavia

Moscow  - A Kremlin bill to extend the presidential term from four to six years was a vote shy of being unanimously approved by lawmakers in its third and final reading Friday in Russia’s lower house of parliament.

Washington  - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday the United States and Russia share “no trust” in relations but suggested the two countries can begin to heal ties without first resolving the dispute over missile defence.

Paris - Russia will not deploy missiles in its European enclave of Kaliningrad if US president-elect Barack Obama cancels the planned American anti-missile defence system, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview published Thursday in the French daily Le Figaro.

Moscow  - A careless crew member caused a weekend accident on a Russian nuclear submarine that cost 20 lives, an inquiry showed Thursday.

Moscow  - Approval of a Kremlin bill to extend the presidential term from four to six years will be fast-tracked by the legislature and enacted by Friday, Russia’s parliamentary committee on constitutional legislation said Wednesday.

Brussels - When the leaders of Russia and the European Union meet in the French resort of Nice on Friday, they are more likely to talk about the current financial crisis than the crisis in their own relationship sparked by Russia’s war with Georgia, diplomats say.

Moscow - The splurge of oil profits feeding Russia’s years of growth has turned sticky with falling production and energy prices.

Washington - The United States has imposed sanctions on 13 companies accused of aiding the weapons programmes of North Korea, Iran or Syria, the State Department said Friday.

Moscow - Some 15 people were kidnapped by alleged Islamic militants in Russia’s strife-torn North Caucasus region, while at least eight police officers were injured in mine explosions, media reports said Friday.

Brussels - Georgia is hoping for a billion-dollar shot in the arm on Wednesday when representatives of 67 nations and financial institutions gather in Brussels for a one-day donors’ conference.