Main News of July 30

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

*Jailed Ukrainian ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been chosen by the country’s main opposition parties to lead them to victory in parliamentary elections slated for October.

*Tajikistan’s government has blocked the websites of the British Broadcasting Corporation and Russian TV channel Vesti, local internet providers told RIA Novosti.

* A national Romanian referendum to impeach embattled President Traian Basescu for overstepping his powers has failed due to a low voter turnout, CNN reported.

 

RUSSIA

*Members of the female band Pussy Riot have called their “punk prayer” performed at a Christian church an “ethical mistake,” but pleaded not guilty to charges of hooliganism that can land them in prison for seven years.

*The criminal case against three members of the Russian female punk band Pussy Riot is “resonant” because it has to do with personal rights and freedoms, but it is up to a court to decide on their fate, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said.

*Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree confirming the ratification of legislation regulating the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens.

*Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed allegations that the U.S.- Russian relations have deteriorated as of late over a range of issues, including Washington’s plans to build missile defense systems near Russian borders.

 

DEFENSE

*Russian President Vladimir Putin participated on Monday in a ceremony to launch construction of Russia’s fourth Borei-class (Project 955A) ballistic missile submarine.

 

BUSINESS

*The Russian government’s commission for foreign investment has approved investment projects worth 1 trillion rubles ($31 billion) in the four years of its existence, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

*Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law imposing fines for citizens failing to inform the tax agencies about their operations with foreign banking accounts, the state pravo.gov.ru website said.

*The banking systems of Russia and the former Soviet republics are in little danger of a major hit from the eurozone debt crisis because their direct links with eurozone banks are limited, according to a report published by rating agency Standard & Poor's.