Main News of May 24

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

RUSSIA

* Russia’s Justice Ministry has applied for the transfer of Russian ex-pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, jailed in the U.S. for drug trafficking, to Russia, the minister said

* The political rift between the opposition-minded middle class in Moscow and the population in the Russian provinces is a myth, with most of the populace united in the demand for change, a group of experts established by former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said

*Russia’s second Gepard class frigate has successfully test-fired missiles from the new Kalibr-NK missile system during the first stage of sea trials in the Black Sea, a spokesman for Russia’s Southern military district said

* More than 300 people, including 200 bikers, gathered near the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow, protesting against the arrest of four Russian nationals who were held in Iraq on May 20 on espionage charges

* A downtown Moscow roundtable ordered by President Vladimir Putin to discuss a controversial new law that could see a massive increase in fines for participants of illegal protests saw a walk-out by a number of opposition figures

* Any private Russian energy firm can take part in projects to develop the country's continental shelf if it is ready to put cash in and take risks like foreign partners, President Vladimir Putin said

WORLD

* The European Union is not considering an association agreement with Ukraine over what it regards as political persecution in the country, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said

* The Ukrainian parliament approved the participation of foreign troops, including U.S. and Russian, in a series of international drills later this year

SPORTS

* Azerbaijan and Georgia have submitted a joint declaration of interest to host Euro 2020, the first step in the bidding process, the head of Azerbaijan’s football federation was quoted as saying Thursday by Azerbaijani news agency APA

* Dynamo Moscow is not looking at candidates to replace coach Sergei Silkin and there will be a decision on his future within a week, club vice-president Yuri Lyubimov told RIA Novosti