Main News of October 12

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

* The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded that US authorities stop applying psychological and moral pressure on Russian citizens arrested last week on suspicion of illegally exporting ‘sensitive US technology’ to Russia.

* The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union for the advancement of “peace, democracy and human rights in Europe.”

* Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili urged the country's likely new prime minister, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, to work with him on the country's bid for NATO membership.

* Supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and liberal opposition activists clashed in Cairo’s Tahrir Square over the rise of radical Islamism and deteriorating living conditions in the country.

* The United States is facing a possible “cyber Pearl Harbor” carried out by computer hackers that could result in infrastructure damage and loss of life, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said.

* Defense lawyers for jailed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout claim there is new evidence to support their appeal for the case to be reconsidered.

RUSSIA

* Russia's foreign minister said that a Moscow-Damascus passenger airliner forced to land in Turkey over suspicions it had weapons on board was legally carrying Russian radar parts.

* Russia’s multibillion effort to foster innovation has yielded ‘disappointing’ results so far, according to a new study by high-profile Russian and international experts.

* Unknown assailants killed a 48-year-old religious figure in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia.

BUSINESS

* Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky will pay 35 million pounds sterling ($56.8 million) in court costs after losing a high-profile case to Chelsea Football Club owner, Roman Abramovich, his lawyers said.

* India and Russia gave the green light to a long-delayed joint project to develop a Military Transport Aircraft, Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (OAK) said after the signing ceremony in New Delhi.

SCIENCE

* The first rock on Mars that NASA's rover Curiosity has touched presents a more varied composition than scientists expected from previous missions, NASA reported.

DEFENSE

* A Russian amphibious antisubmarine warfare aircraft in service with the Black Sea Fleet crashed in Ukraine killing three and injuring one crewmember, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

* Czech plane maker Aero Vodochody will deliver 28 L-159 advanced trainer/light-attack jets to the Iraqi Air Force after a preliminary agreement was reached on Friday, Czech Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra said.

SPORTS

* Alexander Kerzhakov's sixth-minute strike proved enough to give Russia a 1-0 home win over Portugal in a hard-fought World Cup qualifier in Moscow.

* Carolina Hurricanes forward Alexander Semin has signed a lockout contract with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, the KHL team announced on its website.

* Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel led the timesheets Friday in the second practice session at the Korean Grand Prix, where he hopes to close the four-point gap on championship leader Fernando Alonso.