Shorter Question Everything

Russia and China
The presidents of Russia and China met for bilateral talks on Saturday on the sidelines of a summit of Pacific Rim countries in Singapore. Leaders from 21 countries are currently attending the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Dmitry Medvedev told Hu Jintao at the start of the meeting: “Our countries’ relations are on the rise, and we have a lot to discuss.”

US and Russia
Obama to meet with Russia’s Medvedev in Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders at their annual gathering.

Kosovo
Kosovo votes Sunday in the first election organized by local authorities since the declaration of independence from Serbia. The poll takes place amid renewed tensions between rival ethnic Albanian parties, fears of fraud and a likely boycott from the Serb minority. Several ethnic Albanian political parties, including the junior partner in the governing coalition, have warned of potential fraud, raising doubts about the aftermath of the vote. So far, 63 countries have recognized Kosovo as a state – including the United States and most countries in the European Union. But, Serbia has vowed to block further recognition and has Russia’s support.

*Kosovo authorities say all Serbian and Montenegrin citizens visiting Kosovo will be required to show passports to enter the country. The Kosovo government is asking for the Law for Foreigners to be respected. The registration of visitors to Kosovo has been opposed by the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo, which alleges such registration efforts violate United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, B92 reported Saturday.

Venezuela
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has renewed his charges that the US and Colombia have sealed a “devil’s pact” to wage war against Venezuela. For the second time in little over a week, Chavez called for his military and the country’s militia to prepare for war to protect the sovereignty of Venezuela against the threat posed by the US using Colombian soil.

US and Puerto Rico
A U.S. agency has overturned its 2003 research that said no health hazards were caused by decades of military exercises on Vieques, a bombing range-turned-tourist destination off Puerto Rico’s east coast. The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) said Friday it intends to “modify” some of its earlier research on Vieques, where the U.S. and its allies trained for conflicts from Vietnam to Iraq. The agency, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, used its own studies to conclude in 2003 that there was essentially no health risk from the bombing range – a conclusion widely criticized by academics and residents on the 18-mile-long island of less than 10,000 people.

Turkey and Iran
Turkey has said it would be willing to store enriched uranium for use in Iranian atomic power plants, to ease international concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

Russia
Russian President Dmitry Medevedev issued an order on Saturday for the country’s weapons depots to undergo safety checks, after a fire that killed two people and injured many others. A naval arms depot in Russian Volga city of Ulyanovsk burst into flames on Friday night.

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