Tuesday, July 02: Russian President Vladimir Putin has given the go-ahead for major military exercises on the Caspian Sea, the biggest in the area since the collapse of the Soviet Union, a senior army official said on Tuesday. The commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, Vladimir Kurodov, told ITAR-TASS that some 10,000 men, 60 ships and 30 aircraft would take part from the Russian side, and would be joined by forces from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

He said representatives from all four countries that border the sea -- Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan -- would also be present for the exercises. Bureau Report