Unless Tehran retracts its lawsuit over Moscow’s refusal to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, Russia will take a tougher stand on the Iranian nuclear issue, the Kommersant newspaper reported on Friday. “We have already made it clear to Iran that lawsuits are not helping the development of our relations,” the newspaper quoted a Russian presidential administration source as... 

Russia is looking to keep alcohol out of the hands of the youth As Russia searches for ways to improve its demographic situation, a group of senators is taking aim against teenage drinking. On a recent Friday night in the subuirbs of Moscow, Igor Andrianov, 17, is sharing a one-liter bottle of beer with a group of friends on a park bench. Although the legal drinking age in Russia is 18, Andrianov says... 

Dmitry Medvedev has told the government to pay more attention to foreign migrants to prevent ethnic enclaves from appearing on Russian soil, as well as excessive expansion of foreigners to the country’s Far East. At the same time, Russia’s prime minister stressed that the officials should not be afraid of international migration, but work harder in order to manage it. “Our key task is to create... 

According to the WHO, in 2010, 107,000 both legal and illegal transplants of human organs were carried out. Two-thirds of all transplanted organs are kidneys. Experts believe that ten percent of all kidney transplants are illegal. The organization Organ Watch provided a different number – from 15 to 20,000 illegal operations a year. At least two illegal human organs transplantation surgeries... 

Kuban Cossacks set to staff proposed ‘anti-immigration patrols’ The governor of one of Russia’s southern regions has been accused of discrimination and nationalism for a proposal to deploy patrols to tackle immigration issues in the Caucasus region. Human rights activists blasted the governor for his statements. ­Governor Aleksandr Tkachev of the Krasnodar region came under fire after a meeting... 

A grave Ministry of Defense bulletin flashed to Russian Naval and Marine Forces approaching their Mediterranean base in the Syrian port of Tartus is warning that Iran’s successful test-firing of their fourth generation indigenously-made Fateh 110 precision missile earlier today confirms that this Middle Eastern nation on the brink of total war with the West has achieved the ability to detonate at... 

The major Russian mobile phone operator MTS has slammed Apple for its ‘too’ strict sales policy by not allowing a cut in the device’s $1,000-plus price tag in the country. ­The iPhone’s high cost makes them a hard sell in the Russian market where rival models can be purchased for as little as $120, according to MTS. Apple’s strict requirements on retail locations bring additional costs. “They’re... 

An MP who represents the United Russia majority party has prepared legislative amendments that would make the Russian ruble the only valid currency in the country, and put an end to dependency on the US dollar and the Euro. Yevgeniy Fyodorov described the initiative in an interview with the Izvestia daily newspaper. He promised that the proposed bill would be made public in autumn, and declined to... 

Admiral Chabanenko, Russian destroyer arriving at Havana’s harbor. Russia is planning to expand its military muscles in some of Moscow’s soviet-era ally countries including the Latin American country of Cuba, Asian country of Vietnam and the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles. According to the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Moscow is holding talks with the some countries outside of... 

S-300V and S-300VM anti-aircraft long distance missile systems President Putin has said Russia is not planning to enter a new arms race, but urged senior officials to develop the nuclear arsenal further, along with Russia’s own air and space defenses, so that no one in the world doubts their effectiveness. Putin was speaking at a special meeting on the state weapon program that took place in the... 

Following the shooting spree in a Colorado cinema, Russian legislators have drafted a bill which would allow public use of firearms. The law’s sponsors hope to curb crime rates, while opponents say legal air-guns already cause enough damage. ­The principle behind the drafted bill allowing the private use of handguns is “my home is my castle,” so any invasion of private space could be met with... 

Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot President, who is the only communist leader within the European Union, has taken over the EU Presidency for a term of six months. The EU presidency is a largely ceremonial role, but it is also a role that involves planning the blocs agenda and chairing many of its meetings at this pivotal time, especially with the Euro currency imploding rapidly. Are we to be... 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial status bill that brands externally-funded NGOs as “foreign agents”. The document is to come into force in 120 days following its publication. ­The bill, previously approved by both chambers of the Russian parliament, will now force non-profit organizations receiving funding from abroad and engaging in political activity to register... 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that the West has been trying to blackmail Moscow into accepting a military intervention in Syria. On Monday, Lavrov said the Western threats to discontinue the UN unarmed observer mission to Syria if Russia does not agree to allow the West to use force in the country amounts to blackmail. “We will not be able... 

The International Institute of Earthquake Prediction Theory and Mathematical Geophysics (MITPAN) department of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) is reporting to President Putin today that our world faces the “imminent threat” of a “major” to “catastrophic” earthquake to occur within the fortnight due to an “extreme” solar storm that has begun hitting Earth’s atmosphere. According...