The latest: 8 Killed in City Bus Explosion in Trans-Dniester

06.07.2006
8 Killed in City Bus Explosion in Trans-Dniester
Eight people, including a nurse of a Russian military hospital, have been killed and 46 more, including two Russian peacekeepers, were wounded as a blast destroyed a taxi minibus in Tiraspol, the capital of the unrecognized republic of Trans-Dniester.

06.07.2006
Putin Explains Stomach Kissing to Russian Web Surfers
During a live web cast on Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin satisfied the curiosity of thousands of Russians who used the Internet to ask their leader why he had kissed a small boy on the stomach while on a walk in the Kremlin.

06.07.2006
Russia Will Not Legalize Marijuana — Putin
“Russia is a member of international agreements under which marijuana is a prohibited drug. Russia will adhere to its international obligations in this sphere,” Russian Presint Vladimir Putin said during the Thursday Web cast.

06.07.2006
Bush Discuss N Korean Missile Tests With Russian, Chinese Presidents, Urges Joint Response
President Bush on Thursday urged a unified response to North Korea’s missile tests in phone calls with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

06.07.2006
Russian K-19 Crew Get Medals for Preventing Nuclear Disaster
In memory of their sacrifice and valor, golden anniversary medals were awarded to Russian veteran sailors, who served in the 1960s on the famous nuclear-power submarine K-19.

06.07.2006
U.S. Senators Pressure Bush on Russia Over Top Investor’s Ban
U.S. senators have called on President George Bush to challenge Russia over its banning of a top foreign investor. They have asked President Bush to raise the case of William Browder when he meets Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at the G8 summit in St Petersburg.

06.07.2006
Russia, China Resist North Korea Sanctions, Say Diplomacy Only Solution to Crisis
China and Russia resisted an attempt in the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea for its missile launches Wednesday, saying only diplomacy could halt the isolated regime’s nuclear programs. While “a strong and clear message is needed to N. Korea,” the goal should be a resumption of six-party talks, Russia’s UN envoy said.

06.07.2006
Russia May Seek Consular Access to Children Adopted by U.S. Families
Considering the alarming number of cases of violence, Russia may seek consular access to Russian children adopted by U.S. families, Foreign Minister says.

06.07.2006
Ukraine Fans Walk 900 km on Foot to Root for Their Team in Germany
Two Ukrainians marched all the way westwards from Ukraine to Germany to honor Ukraine’s national team at the World Cup. Both fans praised the performance of their players who had gone all the way to the quarter-finals and returned home earlier this month, ousted by Italy.

06.07.2006
Huge Mistakes in Launch and Flight of N Korean Missiles — Russian Official
North Korea’s combat missiles are substandard and Wednesday’s test launches were riddled with errors, the head of Russia’s space agency said Thursday.

06.07.2006
Russian Parliament Approves “Repressive” Law on Media Reports
Russia’s pro-Kremlin parliament gave preliminary approval yesterday to a law establishing tight control over how the media reports on terrorist attacks, a measure one free speech advocate called “repressive”.

06.07.2006
Russia Must Keep Leadership in Space Industry — Fradkov
Russia needs to make every effort to keep its leadership in the space industry, Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov stated at a government meeting convened to discuss the strategy for this sector up to 2015.

06.07.2006
Russia Warns Israel Against Excessive Use of Force in Palestine
Russia urged Israel on Wednesday not to use excessive force or endanger the lives of Palestinian civilians in efforts to win the release of captured IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Russia’s Sergei Lavrov told his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni, that the soldier’s release is a “priority task” and said that Russia, too, seeks his freedom.

06.07.2006
McDonald’s Russia Starts Listing Calories on Packaging
McDonald’s Corp., the world’s largest restaurant chain, is changing its packaging in Russia to show how many calories are in Big Macs and other foods it sells as customers and regulators become more aware about health.

06.07.2006
Venezuela’s Chavez Shows Off Russian Fighter Jets on Independence Day
President Hugo Chavez marked Venezuela’s independence day on Wednesday, showing off Russian fighter jets his government is planning to buy and new helicopters and rifles it purchased after Washington blocked U.S. arms sales to Caracas.

06.07.2006
Ukraine Reflect on World Cup Bittersweet Debut
In the end, Ukraine was finally found out as a team which had too little to offer beyond a robust defense. Still, during its maiden World Cup run, it was the surprise team to make the quarterfinals.

06.07.2006
Russia’a Putin Critical of EU Nations Granting Asylum to Terror Suspects
Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out at Britain and other states for granting political asylum to people considered terrorists by the Russian legal system, as he addressed a meeting of prosecutors from across Europe on Wednesday. “Prosecutors should come up with unified, equal standards” for extradition, Putin said.

06.07.2006
N. Korea Missile Tests to Feature on G8 Summit Agenda — Putin’s Aide
North Korea’s test missile launches will very likely be discussed by Group of Eight heads of state at their summit in Russia later this month, a Russian presidential aide in charge of organizing the G8’s July 15-17 summit in St. Petersburg said on Wednesday.