TODAY: Russia plans increased Navy presence in the Arctic; Putin promises military its budget will enable “military readiness”; Russian Press Congress; Shuvalov ‘berated’ by Putin; Medvedev ratifies agreements with Norway and the SCO. The Defense Ministry says it plans to increase Navy presence in the Arctic, an area rich in oil and gas, “in order to protect its national interests”, and four Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers are reportedly conducting patrol flights over the Arctic Ocean. A Russian shipyard begins construction of a new missile warship for the Indian Navy. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has promised the military sufficient funds for the provision of “military readiness”. The tenth World Congress of the Russian Press is being held in Moscow today to “discuss the state of Russian as a language of global information”.