The latest: Iran Puts Off Planned Nuclear Talks with Russia

13.02.2006
Iran Puts Off Planned Nuclear Talks with Russia
Iran has said it postpones talks with Russia to discuss proposals to process nuclear fuel for Iranian reactors on Russian soil.

13.02.2006
Russian Military Hardware Supplies to Palestine on Hold
Russia has assumed a wait-and-see stance on the future sales of armored troop carriers and helicopters to Palestine, in the wake of the recent victory of the Hamas militant group in the Palestinian elections.

13.02.2006
Uzbekistan Press Ministry Outlaws St Valentine’s Day
Officials from the Press and Information Ministry of Uzbekistan have held a meeting with journalists and instructed them to abstain from any mentioning of St. Valentine’s day as this holiday could harm the feelings of devoted Muslims.

13.02.2006
Russian Convicts Cut Veins to Protest Changes in TV Schedule
17 convicts of a prison camp in Russian Urals have cut their veins to protest a shift in the TV schedule that hampered their watching favorite TV series about life in prison.

13.02.2006
Over 50 People Killed in Russian Army in January — Ministry
53 Russian servicemen were killed in January because of various crimes, Russia’s defense ministry said in a statement on Monday. 829 crimes and incidents were registered officially in the Russian Armed Forces in January.

13.02.2006
Gorbachev Concerned Over Stalinism Restoration Under Putin
First and last Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev, has expressed concern over the reanimation of Joseph Stalin’s cult in today’s Russia.

13.02.2006
Ice Dance Judge of Azerbaijan Dropped From Panel in Turin
An ice dancing judge was removed from the Olympics panel for poor performance in previous competitions.

13.02.2006
Belarus Fears Violence on Election Day
As Election Day approaches in Belarus, officials are concerned about possible violent repression and vote rigging. Alexander Milinkevich, running against Lukashenko in the March 19 election, said people would take to the streets peacefully, either to protest or celebrate.

13.02.2006
Russian Women Win Gold, Silver in 15k Biathlon
Svetlana Ishmouratova of Russia capitalized on mistakes by all the favorites to win the gold medal in the women’s 15-kilometer individual biathlon Monday, and teammate Olga Pyleva took the silver.

13.02.2006
Beslan Women Continue Hunger Strike Demanding New School Siege Probe
Women who lost their children or relatives in the 2004 rebel raid on a school in Russia’s southern province bordering on the restive Chechnya continued their hunger strike on Monday, demanding a new probe into the siege.

13.02.2006
Oscar Wilde’s Grandson Asks Putin to Stop Anti-Gay Propaganda on Russian TV
Grandson of playwright Oscar Wilde has asked the Russian president Vladimir Putin to protect gays from television attacks.

13.02.2006
Hamas Thanks Russia for Invitation, Says Israel Must Leave Occupied Lands
A leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas rejected international demands to renounce violence, telling a Russian newspaper that Israel must first pledge to leave all occupied lands. A top Hamas official said his government appreciated Russia’s approach.

13.02.2006
Russian Electoral Body Targets Parties with NGO Funding Sources
Russia’s top electoral body has said it would look closer at political parties whose financial statements for the fourth quarter 2005 identified non-profit organizations among their sources of funding.

13.02.2006
Rice Skeptical About Future of Democracy in Russia
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed skepticism on Sunday about the future of democracy in Russia, but admitted that Russia was “not the Soviet Union” anymore, and relations between Moscow and Washington were “very good”.

13.02.2006
Russian Lumberjack Kills Attacking Wolf with Chainsaw
A lumberjack in Russian Urals killed a wolf with his chainsaw after the animal, desperate from cold and hunger, attacked him in the woods.

13.02.2006
Russia’s Demtschenko Wins Silver in Men’s Luge Singles
Albert Demtschenko of Russia claimed the silver in the men’s luge competition in Turin while Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler earned the host country’s first gold medal on Sunday.

13.02.2006
Motorists Say No to Special Traffic Rules for Elite
Thousands took part in nationwide protests by driving in convoy through the cities on Feb. 12 as rights activists voiced concern over the sentencing of a Siberian railway worker found guilty of the death of a regional governor after he had failed to get out of the official’s way.