Moscow - The world financial crisis has forced Russia's parliament, the Duma, to cancel its traditional caviar and champagne fuelled year-end reception, it was disclosed Monday.
The parliamentary leadership announced that the need to curb spending prohibited the usually lush affair for this year, which had been planned for December 26, the Interfax news agency reported.
Moscow - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday ensured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Russia's continued support for the Palestinians in the Middle East.
The number of problems has definitely not grown less," said Medvedev as he received Abbas for an official meeting at the Kremlin, reported the Interfax news service.
Moscow - Protests took place Sunday in several Russian cities, especially in the Far East, against higher taxes on imported cars and high fuel prices.
In the Far Eastern coastal city of Vladivostok, up to 1,000 demonstrations were confronted by police, who kept promises made a day earlier to act decisively against the unregistered protest.
A number of participants in the Vladivostok protest were arrested and journalists were hindered from recording the event, the RIA- Novosti agency reported.
Immediately preceeding the demonstration in Vladivostok, protesters driving more than 40 cars deliberately slowed down traffic through the centre of the city, population
600,000.
Moscow - Up to 1,000 people demonstrated in Russia's eastern coastal city of Vladivostok to protest higher taxes on imported cars on Sunday.
Police, keeping promises to act decisively against the unregistered protest, arrested a number of participants and prevented journalists from recording the event, the RIA-Novosti agency reported.
Immediately preceeding the demonstration, protesters driving more than 40 cars, deliberately slowed down traffic through the centre of city, population 600,000.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in early 2009 raised import taxes on new and used cars to protect Russia's ailing automotive sector.
Havana - Three Russian warships sailed into Havana on Friday for the first time since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, as Moscow boosts relations with the Cold War ally and long-time foe of the United States.
Gun salutes were fired as the missile destroyer Admiral Chabanenko sailed into the port of Cuban capital Havana, accompanied by two other support ships. Hundreds of curious locals and tourists crowded the waterfront to get a first glimpse of the ships.
Tbilisi/Moscow - Georgia was hailed by the West as a beacon of democracy and growth in the Caucasus. It had the third largest contingent of troops in Iraq and seemed on a steady track for NATO membership - before its war with Russia.
Moscow - The world financial crisis has forced Russia's parliament, the Duma, to cancel its traditional caviar and champagne fuelled year-end reception, it was disclosed Monday.
Moscow - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday ensured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Russia's continued support for the Palestinians in the Middle East.
Havana - Three Russian warships sailed into Havana on Friday for the first time since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, as Moscow boosts relations with the Cold War ally and long-time foe of the United States.
Tbilisi/Moscow - Georgia was hailed by the West as a beacon of democracy and growth in the Caucasus. It had the third largest contingent of troops in Iraq and seemed on a steady track for NATO membership - before its war with Russia.
