Main news of July 5

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

* Georgia and South Ossetia should resolve problems in their relations themselves, and not seek solutions from third countries, particularly the United States, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said

* Bronislaw Komorowski was elected Poland's new president, the Central Electoral Commission said

* Israel will not apologize to Turkey over the Gaza-bound aid flotilla's attack, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said

* Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed on Monday a declaration that sees a Customs Code enter into force and makes the Customs Union fully operational, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said

* Kyrgyzstan plans to use its own resources to recover from a wave of violence that hit the country in June, the country's new president said

* Parcels being sent to Russia are being stuck at customs offices because of new Customs Code regulations, Russian business daily Vedomosti said

RUSSIA

* Russia will buy French Mistral class helicopter carriers with the complete set of navigational equipment and technical documentation, but equip the ships with its own weaponry and helicopters, a defense industry source said

* The lower house of the Russian parliament will start public hearings on the ratification of a new strategic arms reduction pact with the United States, a senior lawmaker said

* Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has been accused of wasting budget money during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and may face dismissal, Russian business daily Vedomosti said

* Six servicemen died in an explosion at a south Siberian military firing range, a police source told RIA Novosti

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Kazakhstan to take part in a session of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC)

 

SPORTS

* Russia’s Vera Zvonareva has climbed to ninth position in the new Women Tennis Association (WTA) top 10 ranking after reaching her first Grand Slam final

* Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has been accused of wasting budget money during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and may face dismissal, Russian business daily Vedomosti said