The latest: Russia’s Lavrov Holds Talks With U.S. Counterpart, Iran on Agenda

07.03.2006
Russia’s Lavrov Holds Talks With U.S. Counterpart, Iran on Agenda
The Bush administration is getting closer to a U.N. Security Council rebuke of Iran, but the latest round of diplomacy shows the United States needs the help of Cold War foe Russia to close the deal.

07.03.2006
Danish Refugee Council Reopens in Chechnya
The Danish Refugee Council in Chechnya resumed its work on Tuesday; about one month after unofficial ban was imposed on the organization in the wake of the infamous Mohammed cartoons scandal.

07.03.2006
Russian Thieves Break Into Soviet-Era Missile Silo to Find it Filled With Money Bills
A team of thieves that broke into an abandoned missile silo not far from the Russian city of Kostroma in search of nonferrous metals was shocked to find the shaft packed with Soviet money bills.

07.03.2006
Visit to Russia Has Broken US-Israeli Blockade — Hamas Leader
Hamas’ leader has said his visit to Russia “opened the door to the entire global community,” claiming in an interview published Monday that the international isolation of the militant Palestinian group was coming to an end.

07.03.2006
Bird Flu Virus May Infect One Third of World’s Population — Russian Expert
One-third of the world’s population may contract the bird flu in a short period of time, warns the director of the Russian Virology Institute. He added that neither vaccine nor quarantine measures can stop the pandemic.

07.03.2006
Japanese Sports Minister Apologizes for Rejoicing at Slutskaya Fall
Japan’s sports minister has been forced to apologize for a public gaffe after saying he was very happy to see Russian figure skating star Irina Slutskaya fall at the Turin Winter Olympics.

07.03.2006
13 Injured in Grenade Blast Following Quarrel
A quarrel between two families that started with a children’s fight ended with a grenade blast that left 13 wounded. They were taken to the hospital.

07.03.2006
Latvia to Publish Archive Papers of 4000 KGB Informers
The Latvian Parliament has made a decision to publish the archive of KGB informers’ personal files.

07.03.2006
Russian Ambassador Opposes US Sanctions Against Iran, North Korea
Russia opposes any kind of sanctions against what the United States calls rogue states such as Iran and North Korea, Russian ambassador to South Korea said on Tuesday.

07.03.2006
U.S. Will Not Support Russian Proposal on Iran — Rice
In a telephone conversation with the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed El Baradei US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington cannot support Russian proposal to allow Iran to make small quantities of nuclear fuel.

07.03.2006
U.S. Calls on Congress to Lift Cold War Law Hindering Trade with Russia, Ukraine
The U.S. government has called on Congress to repeal Cold War legislation hindering trade relations with Russia and Ukraine after signing a bilateral WTO accession deal with Kiev.

07.03.2006
Serial Child Killer Detained in Russian Far East
Police in Russia’s Maritime Territory have detained a local plumber on suspicion of committing a series of child murders. Corpses of two young girls were found buried in the cellar of the man’s house.

07.03.2006
Japanese Businessman Strikes Deal to Fly to International Space Station
Japanese businessman Daisuke “Dice-K” Enomoto has won Russian approval to begin cosmonaut training in preparation for a trip to the International Space Station in September. A 34-year-old native of Matsudo, he will be the fourth private citizen to visit ISS in the world and the first from Japan.

07.03.2006
Top Georgian Gas Executive Detained Over Murder of Electricity Grid Boss
A senior executive at Georgia’s government-run gas distribution company was detained Tuesday on suspicion of masterminding the murder of a financial manager of the electricity distribution company in 2002.