Main news of August 20

 

RUSSIA

* A senior Russian military officer was detained in southern Russia on suspicion of spying for Georgia, a spokesman for Russia's security service said

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's popularity among Russians increased during the last month, mainly due to his actions in regard to the recent South Ossetian conflict, a survey said

* A Moscow court ruled to arrest a former high-profile investigator, in custody on suspicion of bribe taking, a court spokesperson said

WORLD

* U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski signed a formal agreement on the deployment of U.S. missile defense elements on Polish soil

* Russia blocked a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia, saying the document contradicts a previously agreed peace plan

* Abkhazia's parliament approved an appeal by the president of the separatist republic for Russia to recognize its independence from Georgia

* Syria is ready to discuss deploying Iskander missile-defense systems on its territory, but it has not received any proposals from Russia, the country's president told a Russian business daily

* Spanish authorities said that 146 people were killed and 34 were injured in a plane crash at Madrid Barajas International Airport, national media said

* Russia continues to withdraw its troops from Georgia despite the tense situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone, a senior Russian military official said

* Ukraine will not prevent Russian Black Sea Fleet ships that were involved in a peace enforcement operation in Georgia from returning to their base, Ukraine's defense minister said

BUSINESS

* The Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) said its US GAAP net profit increased 19% year-on-year to $1.03 billion in January-June 2008