06.09 Main News of September 6

WORLD

* The United States is making plans for a significantly larger military strike on Syria than at first envisioned that could include use of long-range bombers making sorties from the United States, US media said

* The United States on Friday secured support from several major allies in its claim that the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad is responsible for an apparent Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack outside Damascus and must be punished

* Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscows repeated refusal to hand Edward Snowden over to the US has nothing to do with spying and called the fugitive intelligence contractor's intelligence leaks an ephemeral crime

* As the United States inches closer to military action against Syria, the anti-war movement around the country is gathering steam and going beyond the usual street protests to voice opposition to the use of force against Syria|

RUSSIA

* International leaders at the G20 summit in St Petersburg have approved Russias additional initiatives expanding the Anti-Corruption Action Plan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said

* A number of high-ranking Russian officials have provided false information in their income declarations, the head of the presidential administration said

* Russias Foreign Ministry warned Washington Friday against striking Syrian chemical weapons storage sites over fears it could cause an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe

POLITICS

* US Congress members would not have rejected a meeting with Russian parliamentarians without pressure from the US leadership, a senior Russian senator said

* US President Barack Obama said Friday that the international community was stuck over its response to the crisis in Syria, as the G20 summit hosted by Russia came to an end with no obvious change in the position of the world leaders who oppose unilateral military intervention in the civil war

* Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that his meeting with US leader Barack Obama was constructive, but added that they held by their opinions on Syria

DEFENSE

* Russias defense industry technology is still largely outdated, lagging decades behind, a senior Defense Ministry official said