| December 2008 |
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Russia's naval task force from the Northern Fleet has started deployment in the southern Caribbean in preparation for joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy, a Russian Navy spokesman said on Monday. 
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Monday officially announced the members of his national security team, including Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state and Robert Gates, who will stay on as defense secretary. 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been re-elected chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party for the eighth time. 
Some 40 Czech mayors plan to address the European parliament on February 24 to complain against the deployment of a proposed U.S. missile defense radar in the country, a Czech news agency said on Monday. 
A meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Russia-Belarus Union State has been delayed upon a request from Belarus, the Kremlin said on Monday. 
U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's announcement of Hillary Clinton as the country's secretary of state has been partially motivated by the ongoing financial crisis, a Russian expert said on Monday. 
Russia's largest independent oil producer LUKoil said on Monday it had completed a deal with Italy's ERG S.p.A. on acquiring a 49% stake in a joint venture in a refinery in southern Italy. 
Russia's state-controlled crude producer Rosneft said on Monday its US GAAP net income grew 140% year-on-year in January-September to a record $10.35 billion. 
Iranian authorities are planning to build two new nuclear power plants instead of completing the second power unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a civilian nuclear official said on Monday. 
Iran is to hold on December 2-7 a large-scale naval exercise involving over 60 warships in the Gulf of Oman, Iranian television reported on Monday, citing the navy commander. 
Former Polish president Alexander Kwasniewski said on Monday he would agree to become NATO secretary general if nominated. 
The Ukrainian government approved on Monday a draft agreement with Russia and Kazakhstan on involvement in the work of an international uranium enrichment facility in East Siberia. 
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has received information indicating that the MV Faina cargo ship, seized by Somali pirates almost two months ago, may be released soon, a spokesman said Monday. 
The Russia-NATO Council may resume work, suspended after Russia's five-day military conflict with Georgia in August, at ambassadorial level, NATO's official spokesman said on Monday. 
Italy's famous lagoon city Venice, along the northeastern Adriatic coast, was flooded on Monday as high tides pushed sea levels to the highest in the past 30 years, the ANSA news agency said. 
The Saudi supertanker the Sirius Star, seized by Somali pirates on November 15, will be released within the next two days, the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Kenya said on Monday. 



