Large-scale joint military exercises being held by Russian and Belarus are not aimed at anyone and are purely of a defense nature, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.

US Department of Defense press official said it will adjust its plans for European missile defense system. The positive reaction from Russia did not delay. Moscow official said that it will welcome the change in U.S. missile defense shield program. Voice of Russia reports.

Peterhof, a brilliant country residence of Russian emperors, has a worldwide fame as the "capital of fountains". The ensemble of palaces, parks, fountains and waterfalls not inferior to its luxury of the famous French royal residence - Versailles.

A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden truck through the gates of the Nazran city police headquarters in Ingushetia province, in Russia's North Caucasus region, killing at least 20 and wounding at least 60 others. The detonation occurred as police officers were lining up for a morning check.

This is the title that one of the leading Russian Newspapers Izvestia today used to name its top story about the worsening relationship between Russia and Ukraine.

An Iranian passenger plane skidded off the runway and caught fire during an emergency landing in the northern city of Mashhad on Friday. This is the latest in what seems to be an endless strings of airline accidents and crashes recently.

The average current mortgage rates in Russia are very high compared to European and U.S. rates. In Russia they are in the range or 20% in Russian rubles and around 15% in U.S. if the loans are given in U.S. dollars. This is when in Europe and U.S. today's mortgage rates range from 3 to 6 percent. Western governments lowered the rates to stimulate the the credit markets and make housing affordable. Russia chose it's own way.

The G8 has not yet become obsolete as a forum for the leaders of the world's most industrialized economies, Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, leaders of Russia, the US, the UK, France, Japan, Germany, Canada and Italy will gather in the Italian town of l'Aquila for G8 summit. North Korea’s nuclear problem, international security and the methods of overcoming the global crisis will be priorities for Russia at the summit, presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters Tuesday.

“The US is Russia’s longtime and prospective partner but we still have many projects to implement together”, President Dmitry Medvedev said while addressing the participants of the Russian-American business summit in Moscow.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met on Tuesday morning over a traditional Russian breakfast. "We have prepared for you a Russian-style breakfast," Putin said when he greeted his guest at his official residence. It is good to discuss international relations around a traditional breakfast, in a peaceful atmosphere, while learning about Russian traditions a little bit, isn't it?