TOP GOVERNMENT NUMBER-CRUNCHER UNDER ARREST.

The head of Russia’s StateStatistics Committee (Goskomstat), Yuri Yurkov, has been arrested followingallegations that he systematically distorted statistical information onmajor Russian companies in order to help them avoid paying tax. He is alsoaccused of selling confidential corporate information to business rivals. Anunspecified number of other officials of the Statistics Committee are alsoreported to have been arrested. (BBC, June 9)

HIGH-LEVEL RUSSIAN-GERMAN TALKS IN BONN.