World

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that the placement of a U.S. missile shield in Europe will harm regional security.

Beijing expects to earn around $400 mln from tourists during the 2008 Olympic Games, the deputy head of the Beijing Tourism Administration said on Tuesday.

Gazprom and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) have signed a memorandum of cooperation in oil and gas production and transportation, business daily Kommersant said on Tuesday.

Pakistan said Afghanistan is creating an ``artificial crisis'' in relations between the neighboring countries and rejected accusations its security forces were behind recent attacks on Afghan territory.

Iran's Shahab-3 missiles have a range greater than the reported 2,000 km (1,240 miles), Iran's Fars news agency said on Monday, quoting the country's deputy defense minister.

Georgia plans to increase the strength of its armed forces by 5,000 personnel to 37,000 amid growing tensions with Russia over two breakaway provinces, a senior lawmaker said Monday.

Democrat Senator from the Illinois State Barack Obama who has virtually insured his right to run for the US presidency from the Democratic Party, opposed an idea of striking out Russia from the eight industrialised nations of the world.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday directly accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of being behind a recent series of attacks by Taliban militants that have killed scores of people.

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.

Russia's Finance Ministry gave assurances on Saturday that the tumbling share prices of the two largest U.S. mortgage lenders will not harm Russia's Reserve and National Prosperity funds.