MGU, SPGU universities to launch strategic partnership.

MOSCOW, August 12 (Itar-Tass) - The Moscow State University named
after Mikhail Lomonosov (MGU) and the St Petersburg State University
(SPGU) are to sign a treaty of strategic partnership on Wednesday, an
official in the MGU press service has told Itar-Tass.

Sergei Smirnov, acting director of the press service, has specified,
"The document will be signed by MGU Rector Viktor Sadovnichy and
Professor Nikolai Kropachyov, Rector of the SPGU".
Univesity officials recalled that the country's two leading higher
learning establishments are to get a special status shortly. Relevant
amendments have been referred to the State Duma lower house of the Russian
parliament by President Dmitry Medvedev.
In accordance with the bill, both universities will be granted the
right to issue diplomas of their own pattern bearing the official stamp of
the Russian Federation to the graduates, as well as to implement
educational programmes for higher professional and post-university
vocational education on the strength of independently set standards and
requirements.
Professor Igor Gorlinsky, SPGU First Vice-Rector for Educational and
Research Work, has referred to the upcoming signing of the document as a
"unique historic event".
Gorlinsky said in an Itar-Tss interview, "The document envisages the
conduct of joint scientific research, the implementation of educaitonal
programmes, and exchanges of students and faculty members". "This will
undoubtedly raise the mobility of research and educational processes," he
added.
A student at MGU, for example, Gorlinsky specified, "will be able to
have a teacher from St Petersburg as an academic adviser for a
post-graduate thesis or one for the Master's Degree". The partner
universities "will ensure the carrying out of summer instructional
programmes by means of innovative equipment for the students".

.US State Secretary arrives in Nigeria to discuss coop'n.

NAIROBI, August 12 (Itar-Tass) - US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton arrived in Nigeria on Wednesday to discuss matters concerning the
development of democracy, anti-corruption efforts, and cooperation in the
petroleum sector.
This West African country is the fifth leg of Clinton's African tour.
She has already visited Kenya, the Republic of South Africa, the
Democratic Republic of Congo and is yet to visit Liberia and Cabo Verde.
According to diplomatic sources, Clinton, when meeting President
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in Abuja, will emphasize the need for Nigerian
authorities to take resolute measures to fight graft and embezzlement of
public funds. The United States also insists on an electoral reform in
Nigeria to avoid misunderstandings and strain, as was the case in 2007
when Yar'Adua came to power.
The upcoming talks are also to deal with forthcming reforms in
Nigeria's petroleum sector. These worry the major American corporations,
the ExxonMobil and Chevron, that operate in this ocuntry, because reforms
may burdern the two corporations with additional expenses and lead to a
revision of the current contracts. This information is confirmed by
sources in Nigeraian government circles, who maintain that the new bill
attaches paramount importance to upholding national interests and may
prove to be not to the liking of foreign companies.
Nigeria meets eight percent of the American market's requirements for
oil. At present US investments in the country's petroleum industry amount
to $15,000 million.

.RF, Argentina to play soccer friendly in Moscow Wed.

MOSCOW, August 12 (Itar-Tass) - The soccer teams of Russia and
Argentina will play a friendly match here on Wednesday. The match is to
commence at the Lokomotiv Stadium at 19:00.
Both teams will play in the absence of several leading players: Yuri
Zhirkov (Chelsea, England) and Vladimir Bystrov (Spartak, Moscow) will be
absent on the Russian side owing to injuries while Carlos Teves
(Manchester City, England), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiante), and Martin
Demichelis (Bavaria, Germany) will be absent on the Argentinian side.
Dutchman Gus Hiddink, coach of the Russian team, has made it clear that
he may field all the listed players on Wednesday. It is expected that the
match will be played before a capacity crowd.