Main News of November 24

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours.

 

WORLD

 

* China expressed regret over the artillery exchange between North and South Korea and called on both countries to show restraint and start talks as soon as possible

* Afghanistan needs advanced fighter jets, tanks, armored vehicles and missiles to ensure its independence, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Zahir Azimi said

* Kyrgyzstan's ex-president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, denied claims he ordered the mass shootings of protesters in Bishkek in April

* Russia and the United States will hold the next round of talks on drafting a child adoption agreement in Washington on December 1-3, a Russian Education Ministry official said

* A U.S. naval task force led by the George Washington nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will join South Korean warships in naval exercises on November 28 - December 1

 

RUSSIA

 

* Rubin Kazan beat FC Copenhagen 1-0 in Kazan to keep their faint hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League alive

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is currently papering amendments to the national Criminal Code which would reduce punishments for minor offences, the leader of the Just Russia party said

* The Moscow city government published the monthly salaries of thousands of foreign workers on its website

* Russia will need $54 million within the next 12 years to protect the endangered Amur tiger, WWF Russia Director Igor Chestin said

* Russia’s ruling United Russia party has supported President Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative to encourage political competition in the country, a party official said

* A Russian diplomat met on Wednesday with the four Russian nationals awaiting trial on espionage charges in Tbilisi, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said