The latest: 12 Killed in Chechnya’s Blast Blamed on Gas Leak

08.02.2006
12 Killed in Chechnya’s Blast Blamed on Gas Leak
At least 12 people were killed and 22 more injured when a blast ripped through a Russian military base in Chechnya, local prosecutors said Wednesday. The pro-Moscow Chechen president, Alu Alkhanov, blamed the incident partially on gas services.

08.02.2006
Putin Arrives in Spain for Talks on Energy, Mideast and Terrorism
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Spain on Wednesday for a two-day visit during which the fight against international terrorism and Moscow’s cooperation with international organizations will be high on the agenda.

08.02.2006
Prosecutors Move In to Save Stray Cats Immured in Apartment Block’s Cellar
Prosecutors in the Russian capital city of Moscow have succeeded in saving several stray cats that had been immured in the cellar where they lived while communal workers blocked ventilation holes to save heat in this year’s unnaturally cold winter.

08.02.2006
Brazilian Astronaut Ready to Ride Russian Spaceship to ISS
Brazil’s first astronaut is ready for his voyage into space next month despite the challenges of the Russian language, the Moscow winter and hungry Siberian bears.

08.02.2006
Russia’s Abramovich Buys Gigayacht, Most Expensive eBay Item for $170m — Report
A press release claims a 405-foot steel megayacht, believed to be the most expensive item ever sold on the Internet auction site, has been sold on eBay. Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is named as a likely customer.

08.02.2006
Russian Communists Suggest to Celebrate Sept 3 as Imperialism Victims Day
In response to the recent PACE resolution condemning communism, Russian Communist Party has suggested to make September 3 the international day for the victims of the crimes of imperialism.

08.02.2006
Russia Condemns Iran’s Move to Hold Holocaust Cartoons Contest
Moscow has condemned a contest for Holocaust caricatures announced by an Iranian newspaper to retaliate for the Prophet Mohammed cartoons published in European media.

08.02.2006
WBA Heavyweight Champion Valuyev Sued for Beating Security Guard
Security guard, citizen of St. Petersburg, has brought a civil suit against WBA heavyweight champion, Russian Nikolai Valuyev. Yuri Sergeyev claimed the boxer had beat him for 10 minutes.

08.02.2006
Russian Empress’s Ice Palace Rebuilt in St. Petersburg Square
A palace of ice that used to belong to Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna has been rebuilt in the central square of St. Petersburg.

08.02.2006
Germany Supports Russia’s Full G8 Membership
Germany supports Russia’s full membership in the “Group of Eight”, an informal club of some of the world’s most powerful countries, German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Moscow remains an onlooker when finance ministers from the U.S., Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada discuss economics and currencies.

08.02.2006
Putin Says IAEA Iran Move ’Balanced’, Paves Way for Peaceful Solution
The recent decision by the UN’s nuclear safety agency to report Iran to the Security Council is “balanced” and encourages further efforts to resolve peacefully the standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

08.02.2006
Belarus KGB Claims Polish Embassy in Minsk Became Center of Espionage Network
Belarus State Security Committee (KGB) has declared the Polish embassy to the Belarus capital of Minsk had become a center of espionage network created by foreign secret services.

08.02.2006
Poland’s Kaczynski Backs Ukraine’s NATO Bid, Seeks Better Ties With Moscow
Poland hopes to see Ukraine join NATO in 2008 and wants better relations with Russia while urging Moscow to drop ideas of having a “zone of influence” in the region, Poland’s new president said. Lech Kaczynski said he disapproves of Russia’s campaign in Chechnya and Putin’s efforts to centralize political control.

08.02.2006
Afghanistan Thanks Russia, U.S. and Germany for Debt Cancellation
Afghanistan on Wednesday welcomed a move by the U.S., Russia and Germany to cancel all of the nation’s debts held by the three creditors. The debt will be canceled through the procedures of the Paris Club.

08.02.2006
Over 20 Feared Dead as Blast Destroys Army Quarters in Russia’s Chechnya
At least two soldiers in Russia’s turbulent Chechnya were killed on Tuesday when their barracks collapsed on top of them after a domestic gas explosion, a local official at the scene said. Some local media agencies reported the blast had claimed over 20 lives. Officials said the incident was by no means a terrorist attack.

08.02.2006
Russian Parliament Votes to Ban Charging Incoming Calls on Cell Phones
The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, has approved in the third and final reading the amendments to the law on communications stipulating that all incoming calls on mobile phones must be free.

08.02.2006
Poll Shows Most Russians Do Not Dislike Jews
The majority of Russians have no negative feelings toward Jews, the results of a nationwide poll have shown.

08.02.2006
Estonia Awards Clinton, Kohl for Support of Its NATO Bid
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Germany’s ex-chancellor Helmut Kohl will receive top awards in Estonia for supporting the country’s entry into NATO and aspirations for independence.

08.02.2006
Danish Aid Groups Suspend Operations in Russia’s Chechnya
An aid group that provides food to tens of thousands of people in war-ravaged Chechnya suspended its operations on Tuesday after Chechen officials banned all Danish organizations because of the publication of Prophet Muhammad cartoons.

08.02.2006
Putin Denies Politics Behind Khodorkovsky Case
Prison is “not a rest home,” Russian President Vladimir Putin told jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, answering complaints from his supporters. The Russian leader denied politics were behind the sentence handed on Russia’s former richest man.