China's Premier Wen Jiabao said Wednesday closer ties with Russia were of 'crucial importance' for global peace, as the two nations seek to resist international action on Syria and Iran.

Russian military intelligence has claimed that a US undercover operation could have damaged its new superjet plane that crashed in Indonesia two weeks ago.

Pilots who violate work rules and unruly passengers could be blacklisted in Russia under a bill now in parliament, an MP said.

Andrei Andreev, chairman of the Duma Air Transport Committee, said this

A search team on Tuesday found the black box of a Russian jet that could explain how a veteran pilot earlier crashed the new plane into a dormant Indonesian volcano, killing all 45 on board.

"We foun

Net capital outflow from Russia amounted to some $8 billion in April, authorities said.

Deputy Economic Development Minister Andrei Klepach Monday said they expect the trend to continue in May.

In

Indonesian rescuers found 12 bodies on Friday in the mountainous terrain where a Russian Superjet with at least 45 people on board slammed into a volcano, the rescue agency said.

"Today we reached th

A Russian Sukhoi jet that went missing in Indonesia with about 50 people on board was located on Thursday, a day after it disappeared, a military official said.

"The Super Puma (helicopter) we deplo

A Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 on a demonstration flight with 46 people on board went missing south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Wednesday, a search and rescue official said.

"The plane disapp

Russia's lower house of parliament confirmed former president Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister on Tuesday, completing a job swap with Vladimir Putin that has sparked protests against the two leaders'

Vladimir Putin on Monday takes office as Russian president for a historic third term, facing the challenges of a fast-changing society and an outburst of protests against his 12-year domination.

Puti