TODAY: ‘True partnership’ hoped for between Russia and US; Russia wants second airbase in Kyrgyzstan.  Planes edging into British airspace, deemed ‘unfriendly’ by Commons; Russia warns Japan on Kurils.  Is the separation between church and state narrowing?

The head of the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency has said that the US and Russia should ‘move forward at a prudent pace so that there are collaborative decisions, intermediate decisions made along the way, so that there is true partnership‘.  ‘Obama has been in office for only six months, but the world has already started to change‘ – Vladimir Ryzhkov is impressed by the President’s trip.  Russia has asked Kyrgyzstan to open a second military base, in an apparent attempt to counterbalance American influence in the country.  President Putin has said that Russia must defend itself against a ‘hostile takeover’ of its territories.  The Kremlin has voiced confusion over an attempt by some PACE members to deny Russia the right to vote during assembly sessions; a move initiated by Georgia’s delegation.  Foreign Minister Andrei Nesterenko has also raised concerns about Ukraine’s de-Russification policy...intensifying the gap in society’.