Main News of February 22

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

WORLD

*As experts from the UN nuclear watchdog return home after unsuccessful attempts to inspect Iranian military sites, Russian analysts are unanimous that there are no diplomatic means that would convince Tehran to quit its atomic plans.

*Azerbaijan's National Security Ministry has said it uncovered a terrorist group with links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Sepah and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a state broadcaster reported.

*The Abkhazian President Alexander Ankvab survived an assassination attempt on Wednesday morning, the fifth since 2005, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.

*An official with Estonia’s security police has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia.

RUSSIA

*The development of democracy in Russia must proceed along its own, sovereign course, without any outside interference, if the country is to avoid popular uprisings, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.

*So you want to be a cosmonaut? Now is your chance, but prepare to be tested like one.

*Russia hopes to restore friendly relations with the Georgian people, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the commanders of divisions and brigades of the Russian Armed Forces.

 

BUSINESS

*International rating agency Fitch has downgraded Greece's long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings to C from CCC and affirmed the short-term foreign currency rating at C, the agency said.

*Ukraine illegally siphoned off up to 40 million cubic meters of Russian natural gas for Europe over several days this month, Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said.

*The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to buy at least 45 light multipurpose helicopters from a foreign manufacturer, Vedomosti daily said.