The latest: Cold Weather Claims More Lives Across Russia

19.01.2006
Cold Weather Claims More Lives Across Russia
At least two dozen people have reportedly died of exposure across Russia since a cold snap hit the country. A record amount of electricity was used on Wednesday, consumption having hit 146,000 megawatts, a record high since the Soviet collapse 15 years ago, the nation’s electricity monopoly said.

19.01.2006
Russia Guided by IAEA on Iran Nuclear Issue — FM
Unresolved issues regarding Tehran’s nuclear program should be redirected to the West, Russian Foreign Minister says, adding that Moscow will be guided by the opinion of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

19.01.2006
Man Detained for Raping Woman, 85, for Third Time
Authorities in the Kursk region in central Russia have detained and charged a man who reportedly raped a retired 85-year-old woman for the third time.

19.01.2006
Democracy Record May Sour Russia’s G8 Presidency — Rice
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said Russia’s poor record in democracy could put it in awkward position when President Vladimir Putin hosts the summit of the G8 group of industrial nations this year.

19.01.2006
Russia Wants More Time Before Iran Referal to UN Security Council — Solana
Russia wants the UN Security Council to informally discuss Iran’s controversial nuclear program before an official decision to refer the Islamic Republic to the world body, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said.

19.01.2006
Sharapova Models Baby-Doll Nighties at Australia Open
Famous Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova has appeared at Australia Open’s second round in a powder-blue dress that looked like a baby-doll nightie and was remarked as a must-have fashion accessory.

19.01.2006
Tajikistan Suspends BBC Radio Broadcasts
Tajikistan has suspended the BBC’s local FM radio service. The country passed a law requiring foreign media outlets with FM services to register with the Justice Ministry.

19.01.2006
Estonian Presidential Palace Hosts Wild Teenage Parties
An Estonian television channel has shown a recording of parties that the granddaughters of the President Arnold Ruutel organized in the presidential palace, revealing that friends of 15-year-old Helena and 13-year-old Maria smoked marijuana, drank alcohol and urinated on the roof of the building.

19.01.2006
Passengers Trapped as Bus Falls Through Ice in Siberia
A bus has fallen through ice while crossing a frozen river in the southern Siberian republic of Tyva. Two people drowned and 16 were rescued from the vehicle’s roof.

19.01.2006
Russian Cellist Rostropovich Fined for Damaging Neighbor’s Apartment
A St. Petersburg court has imposed a fine on the famous Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. The musician has been told to pay 100,000 rubles to his neighbors for damage caused to their apartments during renovation work.

19.01.2006
Belarusian Schoolgirl Wins World Supermodel Contest in NYC
A schoolgirl from Belarus has won the 2005 Ford Supermodel of the World contest in New York. Katya Damenkova, a final-year student from Minsk, managed to beat girls from 38 countries and will now sign a $250,000 year contract with Ford Models.

19.01.2006
Dynamo Moscow Loses Claim for Russian Rookie Ovechkin
A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that Ovechkin cannot be forced to return to Russia to play for his former team, Dynamo Moscow.

19.01.2006
Chechen Police Clamp Down on Alcohol, Drugs
Chechen police have confiscated hundreds of thousands of bottles of alcohol from markets and cafes after its pro-Moscow ruler criticized illegal drugs and heavy drinking.

19.01.2006
Moscow Hotel Sued for Evicting Refugees in Freezing Temperatures
Prosecutors have launched criminal proceedings against the Yuzhny Hotel in south Moscow after its management cut heating, electricity and water supplies to rooms occupied by refugees from Armenia and Azerbaijan, and threatened to evict them during freezing temperatures.

19.01.2006
Russian Skaters Win 5th European Pairs Title
Russian duo Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin have captured their fifth successive European pairs title with an exhilarating display of acrobatic jumps and synchronized footwork.

19.01.2006
Italian Businessman Shot Dead in Moscow
Police in Moscow have been looking for three gunmen who shot and killed a prominent Italian businessman Pier-Paolo Antinori on a central Moscow street Wednesday.

19.01.2006
Russia’s Yukos Hit With New Tax Claim
Stricken Russian oil firm Yukos said on Wednesday it had been hit with a back-tax bill for 2004 of about $3.5 billion.

19.01.2006
China, Russia Expected to Oppose Iran Oil Sanctions
U.N. Security Council heavyweights China and Russia have too much riding on Iran’s energy sector to let the West slap sanctions on Tehran to punish its nuclear ambitions, experts say.