TODAY: E.U. adopts new anti-Russia sanctions, Medvedev vows to protect companies; Germany suffering from sanctions; Russian suicides; MH17 report seen as indicating Russian involvement; China and Russia to settle more trades in local currencies; activists say Golos ruling is small fry.

The European Union has formally adopted new sanctions against Russia to further punish its involvement in the Ukraine crisis, but is being ‘deliberately vague’ about when they will come into effect, according to the BBC.  Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the Kremlin will continue to protect and support both state and private companies targeted by Western sanctions (which he called ‘unlawful’ and without grounds); he did not indicate whether Novatek or its Yamal LNG project will receive state aid.  A fish factory in Murmansk is challenging the embargo on food imports from countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia, with a hearing of his suit scheduled for November. Germany says its mid-size businesses are losing market share to Asian companies thanks to anti-Russia sanctions.  Can you guess how many telephone calls President Vladimir Putin has shared with German Chancellor Angela Merkel so far this year? Suicide rates in Russia are declining, but Russian suicides in the past two decades nonetheless total 1 million.