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Border agency wants better Arctic ports
http://www.barentsobserver.com/border-agency-wants-better-arctic-ports.4583179-99350.html
2009-04-24
The Russian Border Agency (Rosgranitsa) calls for the modernization of several Russian Arctic ports following new oil and gas activities and the higher international focus on the region.
In a meeting this week, the Rosgranitsa concluded that Russian Arctic ports like Murmansk, Kandalaksha, Igarka and Naryan-Mar will need to be better equipped in order to meet new challenges, Murman.ru reports with reference to Interfax. The development of regional hydrocarbon projects and the enhanced presence of foreign states and companies increases the need for better border customs regulations, the agency argues.
Rosgranitsa does not want to develop new border customs stations, but rather develop existing units.
In a recent presentation in the Russian Maritime Board, Rosgranitsa leader Dmitry Bezdelov said badly developed sea border points are major reasons why Russian ports are far less competitive than foreign ports.
Russian arms dealer files lawsuit against US special service
http://www.mosnews.com/world/2009/05/07/bout/
7 May, 04:33 PM
Viktor Bout, a former Soviet military major and arms dealer, charged by the US with arms-trafficking has filed lawsuits against three officers of the American special service.
Bout was detained by US authorities in Thailand in March 2008. American law-enforcement agencies consider him a large-scale arms dealer. He is suspected of supplying weapons to the Colombian rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, as well as plotting the manslaughter of an American citizen. Bout, however, denies all charges against him, claiming that his arrest is revenge for his non-cooperation with American secret services.
According to his wife, Alla Bout, the Russian has filed a complaint against the officers who he says illegally detained him.
“On May 4, Bout’s lawyers filed suits against three officers of the US drugs control department: Robert Zachariasyevich, Derek Odniy and Scott Hacker,” she was quoted by Itar Tass as saying.
The three officers took part in the detention and questioning of Bout in 2008. On some of the charges, the Americans could face three to six years in prison.
“The court has accepted the lawsuit for consideration, and on May 30 will decide whether to launch the case against the Americans.”
Nicaragua plans to buy Russian combat aircraft, helicopters
http://en.rian.ru/world/20090508/121502321.html
MEXICO CITY, May 8 (RIA Novosti) - Nicaragua intends to buy Russian aircraft and helicopters for its armed forces, regional media quoted the country's top military official as saying on Friday.
"We are holding talks with Russia on the purchase of 4 to 8 helicopters and two aircraft for Nicaragua's Armed Forces," said Gen. Omar Halleslevens, the chief of the Nicaraguan army.
Halleslevens did not specify the type of the aircraft, but said the purchases would be used in the fight against drug-trafficking in the country and would not undermine the military balance in Central America.
According to open sources, the Nicaraguan air force currently has several Soviet-made M-8 Hip military transport helicopters, at least five Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters, and two An-26 Curl military transport planes.
Russia and Nicaragua concluded several bilateral agreements after talks between the two countries' presidents, Dmitry Medvedev and Daniel Ortega, in Moscow in December last year.
Moscow recently announced plans to establish an increasingly strong presence in Latin America.
Second modified Progress cargo ship lifts off towards ISS.
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13917191&PageNum=0
MOSCOW, May 8 (Itar-Tass) - A Russian cargo space craft in the Progress family lifted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan at 22:37 Moscow Daylight Saving Time /18:37 GMT/ Thursday with a consignment of cargoes and presents for the crew of the International Space Station.
At 22:46 /18:46 GMT/, the carrier rocket successfully delivered it to a designated orbit some 200 kilometers above the surface of the Earth, after which the spacecraft began an autonomous flight along the target track.
The orbit has the maximum range of 245 kilometers, the minimum range of 193 kilometers, the inclination of 51.66 degrees, and the revisiting period of 88.59 minutes.
This is the second cargo craft in the Four-Hundreds series and it is fitted out with advanced digital systems, spokespeople at the Russian Space Agency /Roskosmos/ told Itar-Tass.
The Progress M-02M took into orbit a payload of 2.5 tons, including a third Orlan-MK computerized suit for EVA jobs.
“It prompts the cosmonaut what he should do if an emergency situation develops,” a Roskosmos source said.
In five days’ time, the Progress M-02M is expected to bring foodstuffs, water, fuel, equipment to be installed, and presents from families to the three-strong resident crew of the International Space Station.
The cargo consignment also includes presents from psychologists, clothes, fresh vegetables and fruit.
The spacecraft is expected to dock to the Pirs docking module of the ISS at 23:23 Moscow time /19:23 GMT/ May 12.
Russia says cargo ship on way to space station
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jLLA8yjgYOOS248H3lvGjGMOWZ0AD981JK6G1
10 hours ago
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian Mission Control says a cargo ship is on its way to the international space station bearing gifts and supplies.
Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin said the unmanned Progress M-02M lifted off from Kazakhstan on schedule Thursday and should dock with the space station Tuesday.
The five-day trip is longer than usual. It's the second voyage of an updated version of the Progress, and Lyndin said Russian space officials want to test its systems after removing kinks discovered in the first flight last November.
The modernized Progress has a new main computer and features a fully digital telemetric system.
Lyndin says the cargo ship is delivering fuel, food and gifts for the crew, as well as a new space suit.
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