Russia Marks 50 Years of Sputnik

Sputnik's launch began the superpower space race. Ceremonies are being held in Russia to mark the 50th anniversary of the start of the space age, the launch of the first satellite, Sputnik. Former Soviet cosmonauts, engineers and officials are taking part in events recalling what is considered one of the most significant moments in history. The launch was a propaganda coup for the Soviet Union during the Cold War and began the space race with the US. After years of decline, Russia is back in the space game with ambitious plans.

BBC Radiio Ordered Off Russian FM

The BBC's Russian language service will no longer be heard on Russian FM radio, after the country's media regulator ordered that it be removed. The broadcaster's last FM distribution partner in Russia, Bolshoye Radio, said it had been told to remove BBC content or risk being shut down. Two other Russian FM stations have dropped BBC programming recently. The BBC's Russian Service can still be heard online and on medium and short wave frequencies in Russia. The BBC will appeal against the decision.

Russia Restarts Cold War Patrols

Russia is resuming a Soviet-era practice of sending its bomber aircraft on long-range flights, according to President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin said the move to resume the flights permanently after a 15-year suspension was in response to security threats posed by other military powers. He said 14 bombers had taken off from Russian airfields early on Friday. The move came a week after Russian bombers flew within a few hundred miles of the US Pacific island of Guam.

Rusia Drops Out Of Arms Treaty

Russia suspended participation in a key arms control treaty saying it will hold NATO inspections of its military sites and no longer limit the numbers of its tanks and other heavy conventional weapons. The move, threatened for months, added new tension to relations with the West already strained over U.S. plans to build a missile shield in Eastern Europe, Russian conflicts with its neighbors and Western criticisms of Moscow's human rights record.

Putin Warns Europe in Missile Row

Moscow may target weapons at Europe if the US builds planned missile defence facilities in the region said Russian President Putin. Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has not pointed missiles towards Europe. The US wants to expand its missile defences into eastern Europe. It says the system is not aimed at Russia but Moscow says its security is threatened.Putin repeated warnings that the US defence shield could lead to a new arms race but said it would be the fault of the Americans if this happened. The US has altered the strategic balance, he said, by unilaterally pulling out of the anti-ballistic missile treaty in 2002.