Russia and China have signed a framework contract for the construction of the second stage of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China, Russia's nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly Atomstroyexport said on Wednesday.

Kazakhstan is planning to boost its uranium exports to Japan and increase its share on the Japanese uranium market from the current 4% to 40%, the Kazakh foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia and Qatar, two of the world's largest hydrocarbon producers, should coordinate their activity on global gas and oil markets.

The coordinator of a project to build a high-tech research and production hub in Russia similar to the U.S. Silicon Valley could select a foreigner as manager, the media reported on Wednesday.

Ukraine may receive a $6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2010, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister on Economic Issues Sergei Tigipko said.

The Tajik Foreign Ministry has sent a communique to the Uzbek government demanding the release of railroad freight cars detained on Uzbek territory, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

A mixed task force from the Russian Pacific Fleet started on Wednesday a series of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills in the Sea of Japan, a fleet spokesman said.

A criminal case was opened against Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov's deputy Alexander Ryabinin on suspicion of extortion, the Russian Investigative Committee said on its website.

Georgian ex-foreign minister and current leader of the Georgia's Way oppositional party Salome Zurabishvili on Tuesday slammed the initiative of several other opposition groups to set up ties with Russia.

"I returned to Georgia not to implement the 'Russian plan' and I will not accept the fact that democracy is impossible in Georgia," she said.

Pro-Western Zurabishvili was forced to resign in 2005 after a confrontation between the parliament and the foreign ministry. She was also criticized for her personnel policy, including alleged nepotism in the appointment of ambassadors and a ban on their direct contact with parliament.

According to her, an anomalous situation has arisen in Georgia, when only politicians who are seeking relationships with Russia are considered to be the opposition, hinting at the key Georgian opposition leaders of Nino Burdzhanadze and Zurab Nogaideli.

Zurabishvili believes only democratic elections, which she has called a "peaceful struggle," could solve the problematic political situation in the country.

According to Zurabishvili, current President Mikheil Saakashvili is "in agony."

RIA Novosti