The latest: Ukraine’s Yushchenko Meets Former Ally in Attempt to Reunite Pro-Western Team

28.03.2006
Ukraine’s Yushchenko Meets Former Ally in Attempt to Reunite Pro-Western Team
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko met separately Tuesday with his former ally and the pro-Moscow opposition leader, in talks held amid pressure to reunite the pro-Western Orange Revolution team and keep the ex-Soviet country on a “westward” course.

28.03.2006
Pentagon Not Probing Russia-Saddam Intelligence Link
The United States has not opened an investigation into Iraqi documents that said Russia passed information to Baghdad on U.S. military movements during the 2003 invasion, a Pentagon spokesman has said.

28.03.2006
Weapons Found in Kindergarten in North Caucasus City
A grenade launcher and other weapons have been discovered on the premises of a kindergarten in the North Caucasus city of Nalchik, the capital of Russia’s internal republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.

28.03.2006
Moscow Court Orders External Management in Embattled Yukos Oil Company
A Moscow court on Tuesday put oil firm Yukos under external supervision until June 27 in a move, which could lead to bankruptcy of what was once Russia’s largest oil producer.

28.03.2006
10-Year-Old Heroin Dealer Held in Russia’s Siberia
A 10-year-old was detained in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk by officers of the local branch of the federal drug agency. The child was caught in the act as she was selling heroin through the window of the apartment where she lived.

28.03.2006
Russia Will Sell Arms to Palestine Only With Israel’s Consent — Minister
Russia will not supply military hardware to the Palestinian Authority if Israel disapproves of such sales, Russia’s Defense Minister said on Tuesday.

28.03.2006
International Report Criticizes Russian Laws on Human Trafficking
Russian legislation on human trafficking is ill equipped to tangle with highly adaptable operators who use the country as a major source, transit and destination country for the trade in human beings, charges a recent report.

28.03.2006
Russian Defense Minister Advocates Pre-Emptive Strikes on Terrorist Bases Abroad
The Russian Army has the right to carry out pre-emptive strikes on terrorist bases, including those located abroad, Russian Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister said.

28.03.2006
Russian Foreign Minister Confirms Uranium Enrichment Talks With Iran
Russia’s foreign minister has confirmed a statement by Iran’s ambassador that talks to set up a Russian-Iranian joint venture to enrich uranium are ongoing.

28.03.2006
Russia Suspects Hidden Agenda Behind U.S. Spying Accusations
Russia’s foreign minister has accused the United States of having “hidden political motives” for a report that said Moscow turned over information on American military plans to Saddam Hussein during the invasion of Iraq.

28.03.2006
Georgia Detains Presidential Staff Member Suspected of Spying
A member of Georgia’s presidential staff has been detained under suspicion of spying and high treason. He reportedly passed on classified information to the secret services of another country.

28.03.2006
China Plans to Make Russian Aircraft Carrier Into Artificial Reef
A decomissioned Russian aircraft carrier converted into a theme park in the southern Chinese town of Shenzhen could find its final resting place as an artificial reef in Hong Kong waters, a media report said Tuesday.

28.03.2006
Natalia Vodianova Names Baby After Russian River
Top model Natalia Vodianova has given birth to a baby girl, who she has called Neva after the famous Russian river.

28.03.2006
Pro-Russian Party Steadily Leading in Ukraine’s Parliamentary Election
Viktor Yanukovich’s Russia-backed Regions Party is leading in Ukraine’s parliamentary poll with 29.06 percent with more than 60 percent of votes counted, official figures show.

28.03.2006
Russian Soccer Fan Sentenced for Threatening to Kill Referee
A man has been handed an 18-month suspended sentence for threatening to kill a referee in a Russian premier league match last season.