MOSCOW, July 5 (RIA Novosti) - State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, passed on Saturday a bill quadrupling government funding for major political parties, which gives a significant financial backing to the ruling United Russia party. Pending approval by

ST. PETERSBURG, July 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia may completely stop by 2015 using ports in the Baltic states to transport energy supplies abroad via sea routes, the transportation minister said on Saturday. Russia currently exports about 80% of its

VLADIKAVKAZ, July 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia began Saturday large-scale military exercises in several regions of the Southern Federal District, which includes highly volatile North Caucasus republics, a senior military official said. The exercise, dubbed Caucasus Frontier 2008, will involve