Russia News

Chinese companies will be encouraged to buy, or take on lease, farmlands abroad to help guarantee food security, under a plan being considered by Beijing. The move comes amid a food crisis in China.

China has about 40 per cent of the world’s farmers, but just 9 per cent of the world’s arable land.

Africa and South America are among the most likely directions. Russia’s also in the list. However, according to the country’s constitution, foreign companies aren’t allowed to buy Russian land, though still possible to lease.

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Ahead of the all-English final of the football Champions League in Moscow on May 21, Britain's Foreign Office has published a set of guidelines for the 40,000 fans flocking to Moscow.

The guidelines show Chelsea and Man United supporters how to behave in a foreign country and draw a picture of a dangerous environment.

“Don’t smoke or drink in Red Square - it’s illegal and you will be arrested! Don’t commit acts of theft - the local authorities will lock you up rather than deport or fine you. Do not do drugs during your visit - the Russian authorities have zero tolerance towards drugs, both hard and soft. Penalties are severe and can result in long-term jail sentences,” say the guidelines.

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“Our army and fleet are growing stronger, as Russia itself”

A military parade in honour of the 63rd anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War began in Moscow at ten in the morning with the solemn show of the Banner of Victory. via Tass

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Oil rose to a record above $125 and was set for the biggest weekly gain in more than a year on speculation reduced exports from Nigeria will curb U.S. supplies during the peak summer driving season

Nigeria production, which fell to the lowest level in a decade in April, has been cut further this month by rebel assaults on Royal Dutch Shell Plc pipelines. OPEC said yesterday it doesn't need to increase supplies, even as its president warned prices may reach $200 a barrel.

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Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia displayed on Friday fragments of a Georgian surveillance drone it allegedly downed on Thursday.

Abkhazia said it shot down the fifth Georgian surveillance drone since the beginning of the year over the village of Gudava in the Ochamchir district at about 17:10 Moscow time (13:10 GMT). Georgia has denied the report.

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A military parade involving almost 8,000 personnel, 111 sophisticated tracked and wheeled military vehicles, as well as 32 aircraft and helicopters was launched on Moscow's Red Square at 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (06:00 GMT) on Friday, when Russia celebrates Victory Day.

Victory Day marks the final surrender by Nazi Germany to the U.S.S.R. in WWII, often referred to as the Great Patriotic War in Russia and other states in the former Soviet Union.

Moscow's Military District Commander, General of the Army Vladimir Bakin, is running the parade, which was addressed by President Dmitry Medvedev, whose inauguration took place on Wednesday.

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The British Embassy in Moscow said on Thursday that Zenit St. Petersburg soccer fans travelling to Manchester next week for the UEFA Cup final will not have to pay for their visas.

Zenit St. Petersburg will play in UEFA Cup final against Glasgow Rangers on May 14.

The embassy said that visa fees will be waived for those fans who already have a match ticket and who submit an electronic visa application no later than midnight on May 9.

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One of Vladimir Putin's last actions as head of state was to sign a decree implementing a UN Security Council resolution imposing new sanctions against Iran.

The decree was signed by Putin on May 5, two days before he stepped down as president, and its text was posted on the Kremlin website on Thursday.

On March 3, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1803, imposing a third round of sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

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