Today: Russian-British relations worsen; Zhirinovsky to run for president; pharmaceutical deal could fall through due to nationalization fears; Nord Stream to hike project costs on key pipeline; Russia-US deadlock over missile defense continues.

Relations between Britain and Russia suffered another blow after Gordon Brown described President Vladimir Putin’s decision to restrict the work of the British Council in Russia as “totally unacceptable” and pointed out that the only countries that blocked the Council’s work were Burma and Iran. Foreign secretary David Milliband also commented, saying, “Russia’s threatened actions are illegal. The British Council’s presence in Russia is entirely consistent with international law, including the Vienna conventions.”