The latest: Russia Sends Humanitarian Aid to War-Ravaged Lebanon

09.08.2006
Russia Sends Humanitarian Aid to War-Ravaged Lebanon
Russia has launched a large-scale operation to deliver humanitarian aid to Lebanon starting on Thursday, local emergency officials have said. Four Il-76 cargo planes are to deliver aid to Larnaca (Cyprus) within the next week.

09.08.2006
2 Ukrainians, 2 Norwegians Taken Hostage in Nigeria
Two Norwegians and two Ukrainians have been taken hostage from a vessel owned by a Norwegian shipping firm.

09.08.2006
Russia Upholds Lebanon’s Decision to Deploy Army in South Region
Russia supports the decision of the Lebanese leadership to deploy its army in the south of the country, the Foreign Ministry says.

09.08.2006
Former Prisoners Report Tortures in Chechen Jails
Beatings with bottles, sleep deprivation and threats of violence against relatives are all routine forms of torture in detention centres in the rebellious Russian region of Chechnya, former inmates say.

09.08.2006
Russian Arctic City Mayor Wants to Send Tourists to Forced Labor Camp for $450
The mayor of a remote Russian Arctic city that was home to some of the most feared Soviet prison-camps plans to build a replica forced-labor camp and charge tourists hundreds of dollars for a few nights of incarceration.

09.08.2006
Israel’s Defense Minister Slams Russian Sophisticated-Weapons Deliveries to Middle East
Hezbollah’s troops are using modern and sophisticated Russian-made anti-tank missiles against Israel’s army in fights in the South of Lebanon, Israel’s defense minister Amir Peretz said on Wednesday.

09.08.2006
Email Scam Offers Access to KGB Papers on Kennedy Assassination
An email claiming to come from a dying KGB agent offers declassified CIA documents, files from the former KGB and interviews with those who know the “real story” behind the Kennedy assassination.

09.08.2006
Moscow Authorities Angry with Lonely Planet for Smearing City’s Image
Moscow officials have launched an attack on Lonely Planet, saying the backpackers’ guide portrays the Russian capital as a gangster-infested Gotham and presents an image of the city that is at least 15 years out of date.

09.08.2006
Firefighters Rescue Woman Who Fell Through Floor While Having Sex
A woman who fell through the floor of an old house while having sex in the Estonian capital of Tallinn had to be pulled out of the basement by rescuers using a fire fighter’s ladder.

09.08.2006
Russian Colonel Gets 13 Years for Spying for Britain
A retired Russian colonel accused of treason for handing classified information over to Britain’s MI6 secret service was sentenced to 13 years in prison, a Moscow court said Wednesday.

09.08.2006
Kournikova Switches to “Sexiest Sport”
Anna Kournikova is going to become even more attractive and dangerous for men, as she is learning one of the “sexiest sports”.

09.08.2006
Russians to Sue Weather Agency for “Fortune-telling by Clouds”
Russia’s Ulyanovsk city residents are going to file a lawsuit against a local weather forecast agency, claiming that they have suffered from inaccurate forecasts. Neighboring regions are going to support this action and also refuse service from the agency.

09.08.2006
Russia’s Putin Orders Gradual Troop Withdrawal From Chechnya
President Vladimir Putin issued an order to the Russian army and police troops to take steps for gradual withdrawal from Chechnya.

09.08.2006
Sharapova Reportedly Dating Tennis Star Roddick
Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova have reportedly been dating for over a year. Roddick, 23, and Sharapova, 19, have tried to keep their relationship quiet because of Sharapova’s age, unnamed friends of the couple said.

09.08.2006
Russia Possibly Involved in U.S. Navy Spy Scandal
A U.S. sailor with access to sensitive military data has been charged with spying. Ariel Weinmann gave classified information to a “foreign government” in Vienna, and having confidential information visited Bahrain and Mexico. Navy officials did not say if Weinmann was dealing with those governments. The source also said that one of the countries involved in the spy scandal was Russia.

09.08.2006
Russian Colonel Charged With Spying for Britain Faces Trial
A retired Russian colonel accused of treason for handing classified information over to Britain’s MI6 secret service faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, a court official has said.

09.08.2006
Russia’s Putin Faces Growing Chorus of Criticism in U.S.
The “solid friendship” that President Bush cited last month in describing his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin is now stacked against growing criticism for Putin’s alleged attempts to revert Russia to a “police state.”

09.08.2006
Daughter of Russian Billionaire Ranks 4th on Forbes List of Top 10 Hot Heiresses
A 21-year-old daughter of a Russian metals billionaire has made it to the top ten of the world’s hottest heiresses this month, according to Forbes magazine. Along with Anna Anisimova, the list of “celebutantes” includes Ivanka Trump, Paris Hilton, her sister Nicky and Casey Johnson.

09.08.2006
Russia’s Putin Meets Pro-Western Moldovan Leader in Moscow
President Vladimir Putin met Moldova’s pro-Western leader on Tuesday amid persistent tensions over Moscow’s links to pro-Russian separatists in his country and a ban on wine imports from Moldova.

09.08.2006
Ukraine’s Comeback PM Yanukovych to Make Russia His 1st Foreign Visit
Viktor Yanukovych plans to travel to Russia this month for his first foreign visit as Ukraine’s new prime minister in a trip that underscores the government’s efforts to mend ties with Moscow. Yanukovych, whose fraud-marred bid for the presidency in 2004 was backed by the Kremlin, returned to the premier’s job last week.

09.08.2006
Russia to Test New Eco-Friendly Carrier Vehicles
Flight tests of the brand new Russian carrier vehicle Angara at the Plesetsk launching site are scheduled for 2010-2011. Flights are expected to begin with testing unified systems and devices for the whole family of eco-friendly Angara carriers — both light and heavy vehicles, a Plesetsk launching site representative said.

09.08.2006
Russia Negotiates Arms Sales to Argentina
Russia is negotiating arms sales to Argentina less than two weeks after angering Washington with a $3 billion deal to sell jets and helicopters to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.