28.11 Main News of November 28

WORLD

* Syrias government and its main opposition group confirmed that they would take part in a UN-sponsored reconciliation conference to take place in Geneva next year

* About 300 people rallied on Kievs central Independence Square in freezing temperatures as protests over Ukraines decision not to sign a key trade pact with the EU entered their second week

* Two mortar shells landed near the Russian Embassy in Damascus, killing a Syrian security guard and injuring nine others, the Russian Foreign Ministry said

RUSSIA

* Russia has started the deployment of aerospace defense units in the Arctic and construction of an early missile warning radar in the countrys extreme north, the commander of Aerospace Defense Forces said

* Russias Economy Ministry said that the ruble could depreciate further in 2013, weakening the currency to levels not seen for more than four years
* A St. Petersburg-based shipyard floated out the first of six Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines to be delivered to the Black Sea Fleet in the next two years

* A criminal case on negligence charges has been opened against former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, Russian investigators said

* The last of the Greenpeace activists arrested in Russia over a September protest at an Arctic oil rig was granted bail Thursday by a St. Petersburg court

SPORTS

* Russian President Vladimir Putin said a flexible ticket price policy at next years Sochi Olympics will allow people from all income groups to attend the event