TODAY: Reset mood broken by US arrest of 10 alleged Russian spies; report claims that espionage was long-term and designed to penetrate policy making circles; Lavrov demands clarification; Obama ratings high among Russians.  Anti–Luzhkov protesters detained; evidence of corruption in 2014 preparations; Culture minister backs controversial curators; teachers hunger strike continues; extremisms charge for leaflet; suicide among children

In the US, 10 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of being spies employed by Russian intelligence agency SVR; nine of them have been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The individuals, apparently known as the ‘illegals’ to the Russian intelligence service, were supposedly part of a ‘long-term, deep-cover’ spy ring whose objective was to infiltrate U.S. policy-making circles.  The Times reports that one of the alleged spies was said to have had conversations with a US official about nuclear ‘”bunker-buster” warheads’.  ‘It’s a return to the old days, but even in the worst years of the cold war, I think there were no more than 10 illegals in the U.S., probably fewer’, says ex-KGB general Oleg D. Kalugin in the New York Times.  The Guardian has details of the spies’ apparent exchanges.  The Telegraph enjoys the Cold War nostalgia and provides a video report.  The Kremlin has studied the US allegations and, according to Reuters, finds the information ‘contradictory’.  Ria-Novosti reports that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wants an explanation from the US over the arrests.  Plus ca change, says the Washington Post: ‘Its main revelation is that Russian intelligence evidently still relies on espionage methods’, and notes that these are ones that ex-KGB stalwart Vladimir Putin has personally polished.  The BBC remarks upon the unfortunate timing of the arrests when Presidents Medvedev and Obama so recently enjoyed a friendly meeting.  Indeed the Moscow Times reports that approval for the Obama regime has climbed significantly; 59% of Russians have a ‘good or very good’ opinion of the President.