POLITICS
Tensions between prosecutors and investigators flared on Thursday after the Prosecutor General's Office largely rejected the Investigative Committee’s allegations that its officials had broken the law. The office is continuing checks into other prosecutors. (Moscow Times)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
A Stockholm arbitration panel has ruled to ban a development deal between BP and Rosneft. The legal action was brought by the British-Russian joint oil venture, TNK-BP. BP is still hoping to save its share swap deal with Rosneft. (Kommersant, Vedomosti)
Almost three months after a transportation collapse at Sheremetyevo Airport, Aeroflot is still sorting out relations with disgruntled fliers. (Vedomosti)
Sberbank may become the primary owner of the Russian Stock Exchange. Sberbank announced on Thursday the purchase of 2.9 percent of MICEX shares following the purchase of 5 percent of the RTS. In addition, Sberbank is now buying the country's leading investment house Troika Dialog, which owns 10 percent of RTS and 2 percent of MICEX shares. (Kommersant)
WORLD
Belarus is growing increasingly dependent on Russia to shore up its economy as the current-account deficit soars and a possible devaluation looms. (Kommersant)
DEFENSE
Russian missile and air defenses will be put under joint command starting December 1, 2011 (Kommersant, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
The Russian Navy plans to redeploy Slava class missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov from the Northern Fleet to the Pacific Fleet to boost the defenses of the disputed Kuril Islands. (Izvestia)
CRIME
Investigators have opened a criminal case against former Moscow metro chief Dmitry Gayev on charges of abuse of office that cost the city budget 112 million rubles ($3.8 million). (Kommersant, Moscow Times, Vedomosti)
A Russian court sentenced on Thursday six people involved in a pirate attack on the Arctic Sea vessel in July 2009 to prison terms from seven to ten years in a high-security penitentiary. (Kommersant)
SPORTS
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced Moscow as the new host city for the world figure skating championship. (Moscow Times, Izvestia, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
SOCIETY
Russia is planning to introduce mandatory illicit drug check-ups among schoolchildren and students at higher education establishments. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
CULTURE
After more than a week of turmoil surrounding the leadership of its renowned ballet troupe, the Bolshoi Theater has announced the appointment of former Bolshoi premier dancer Sergei Filin as its new ballet artistic director. (Moscow Times)
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