Main news of February 15

RUSSIA

* Russia's Central Bank believes the current ruble exchange rate to the U.S. dollar and euro reflects its real market rate and will prevent its sharp fluctuations, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said

* Russia marked the 20th anniversary of the Soviet troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan

* The death toll in a fire that broke out in a wooden residential building in the Astrakhan Region in south Russia rose to 15 people, the regional emergencies center said

* Eight foreign sailors died while eight others were saved by a Russian vessel after their ship sank in a storm off Russia's Pacific Coast, the regional maritime rescue center said

* Three suspected militants were killed in a special operation in Russia's North Caucasus Republic of Daghestan, the regional security service said

* Russia will raise export duty on oil to $115.3 per metric ton from the current rate of $100.9 per ton following a stabilization of oil prices on world markets, a Finance Ministry official said

WORLD

* Venezuelans voted in a referendum on a proposal to remove presidential term limits from the Venezuelan constitution for President Hugo Chavez

* Bolivia's President Evo Morales arrived in Moscow on the first official visit by the Bolivian leader to Russia to sign a number of agreements, including in the energy and military-technical sectors

* Russian national team trainer Guus Hiddink, confirmed as a temporary coach of Chelsea, expressed the hope that his mission in the English Premier League club will be successful, The Sunday Mirror reported

* The International Biathlon Union's appeals panel returned the gold medal to Norway's Ole Einar Bjorndalen, earlier awarded to Russia's Maxim Chudov, following the results of a 12.5 km men's pursuit race at the World Cup in Pyeongchang, South Korea