Russia

MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. Russia and Saudi Arabia are due to draw up a program of bilateral cooperation in the space industry, Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, wrote in his Twitter post on Wednesday.

"Along with His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who chaired Saudi Arabia’s Space Agency at the end of last year, we have decided to draw up a program of bilateral cooperation in space," Rogozin tweeted recalling that the prince had flown in orbit earlier.

MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. The Moscow city court has found legal the prolongation till April 24 of the arrest of another four Ukrainian sailors charged with the illegal crossing of the Russian border in the Kerch Strait. Sixteen of the 24 Ukrainian military servicemen involved remain in custody, the court told TASS.

MOSCOW, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Moscow has no fear of possible new Western sanctions, which are likely forced by Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

"We are not discussing sanctions with anyone. We want to improve our economy, trade with normal foreign partners in such a way as not to depend on someone's whims," Lavrov said at a press conference.

MOSCOW, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The fourth meeting of the heads of Russia, Turkey and Iran dedicated to the settlement in Syria is set for Feb. 14 in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, the Kremlin said Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani will discuss a long-term settlement to the conflict in Syria, it said in a statement.

The three presidents also plan bilateral meetings, it added.

MOSCOW, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Monday criticized the European Union for its "dual approaches" to Iran.

"The EU must rise above its dual approaches when they try not to annoy the Americans, and to do something so that Iran sees real efforts, and to make the right choice by deciding in favor of real cooperation," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.

10 Feb 2019; DW: The Novaya Zemlya archipelago in Russia's far north declared an emergency situation on Saturday, following weeks of "invasion" from belligerent polar bears. As Arctic ice melts, the bears have been spending more time in human settlements looking for food.

MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia plans the country's first manned mission to the moon in 2031, RIA Novosti news agency reported Saturday, citing a document by the Russian Central Research Institute of Machine Building.

The crew members are expected to conduct astronauts' activities on the moon and implement tasks set by the Russian Academy of Sciences.

06 Feb 2019; DW: The Taliban on Wednesday hailed unprecedented talks with Afghan politicians as "very successful", despite disagreements over women's rights and the group's demand for an Islamic constitution in the war-torn country.

The extraordinary two-day gathering in Moscow saw Taliban leaders stand shoulder-to-shoulder with former president Hamid Karzai, who called the insurgents his "brothers" as both sides agreed to seek lasting peace.

MOSCOW, February 6. /TASS/. Participants in the intra-Afghan conference in Moscow have called for complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, Tolo News TV channel reported citing the statement issued at the end of the conference.

DUSHANBE, February 5. /TASS/. Russia will assist Tajikistan in modernizing its armed forces and fortifying its state border in light of threats emanating from Afghanistan’s territory, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday following talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirodjiddin Muhriddin.

"We have already began work to provide assistance to our Tajik friends in re-equipping their armed forces, fortifying the state border, including in light of the persisting threats, which continue to emanate from Afghanistan’s territory," he said.