The latest: 7 Killed in Ingushetia Blast

17.05.2006
7 Killed in Ingushetia Blast
An explosion in the Russian internal republic of Ingushetia has killed seven people. Among them was the republic’s acting first deputy interior minister.

17.05.2006
Russia Asks G8 Leaders to Stop Politicizing Energy Issues
Russian Industry and Energy Minster Viktor Khristenko has called on G8 leaders not to let politics cloud their view of Russia’s energy policy and for the development of a common strategy to ensure international energy security.

17.05.2006
Israeli Company Loses Battle Against Russian Spammers
An Israeli company has faced a fiasco trying to fight back Russian spammers with their own weapon, a paper has said.

17.05.2006
5 Servicemen Killed in Chechnya Shooting
An army convoy came under fire in the Kurchaloi district of Chechnya. Five servicemen were killed, and six others sustained injuries.

17.05.2006
Isolating Hamas Extremely Dangerous — Russian FM
Attempts to isolate the radical Islamist group Hamas are counterproductive and extremely dangerous, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday. “Trying to isolate Hamas and refuse help to the Palestinians plays into the hands of those who do not want the creation of a Palestinian state,” stressed the minister

17.05.2006
Mothers’ Poor Health Responsible for 70% of Infant Deaths in Russia
Up to 70 percent of deaths among newborn children in Russia are the result of the poor health of their mothers, a senior health official has said.

17.05.2006
Gazrprom’s Eye Fixed on Israel
Israel and Russia have started negotiations on contracts for the supply of natural gas and the construction of a pipeline to carry it. Who will profit from the billion-dollar deal? Gidi Weitz and Amir Ben-David at Yediot Ahronot, the Seven Days weekend magazine, search for a key to the puzzle.

17.05.2006
Africans Detained St. Petersburg for Attacking Local Resident
Three ethnic Africans have been detained in St. Petersburg for attacking a man.

17.05.2006
Russia’s Extremist Organizations Have Over 6,000 Underage Members
More than 6,000 under-eighteens are registered by police as members of extremist organizations, Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said, addressing the State Duma during “government hour” in the parliament on Wednesday. He stressed that the involvement of underage persons in extremist activities threatens the security of society.

17.05.2006
Iran Should Be Granted Full SCO Membership — Russian MP
The deputy speaker of the Russian parliament Wednesday proposed that Iran be granted full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.“Iran wants to become a permanent member [of the regional security organization] and we must assist it, in order to enhance the SCO and protect Iran,” said Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

17.05.2006
Baby Boom for Cannon Fodder
Authoritarian rulers have always loved children. Or would it be more honest to say, they feigned their love for the little ones? Perhaps, they realized — even though they hated the idea — that sooner or later they would have to yield to the younger generation. But they also knew that to win their people’s hearts, it was enough to shower warmth and affection on a few babies and their mothers.

17.05.2006
Moscow Patriarchy Condemns Da Vinci Code Movie
The Moscow Patriarchy has condemned the release in Russia of the film adaptation of Dan Brown’s controversial bestseller, The Da Vinci Code.

17.05.2006
U.S. Democratic Development Criteria “Inadequate” - Former Russian Civil Servant
Former head of the Russian president’s administration Alexander Voloshin has given a speech in Germany criticizing U.S. foreign policy and describing as positive the tendencies in Russian politics and society.

17.05.2006
U.S. Congress Urges Russia to Find Forbes Editor’s Killers
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday urging Russia to continue the inquiry into the murder of American journalist Paul Klebnikov.“The House of Representatives ... urges the Government of Russia to take appropriate action to protect the independence and freedom of the Russian media and all visiting members of the media”, the House resolution said.

17.05.2006
Six Bombs Found on School Sportsground in Russia
Six trinitrotoluene (TNT) blocks were found on the sportsground of a school in the Dagestani town of Kizilyurt, believed to be the target of a school hostage seizure. The bombs were found as specialists were checking the school and its compounds after an operation which resulted in the killing of two gunmen had been completed.

17.05.2006
Police Bust Moscow Criminal Gang Stealing From U.S. Citizens’ Bank Accounts
A criminal gang that reportedly stole money from the bank accounts of U.S. citizens has been liquidated by Moscow police. The sum stolen was over $500,000.

17.05.2006
Venezuela to Replace U.S. F-16 Fighters With Russian Su-35s
Venezuela is considering replacing its contingent of U.S.-built F-16 multi-role fighters with Russian Su-35s, a high-ranking Venezuelan general said. “At the moment the Su-35 is world’s best multi-role fighter,” Venezuelan General Staff official General Alberto Muller Rojas said.

17.05.2006
Russian Photographer Receives Infinity Award
Russian photographer Yuri Kozyrev has received an award from the International Center of Photography.