The latest: Russia Sends More Aid to Southern Lebanon

17.08.2006
Russia Sends More Aid to Southern Lebanon
An Il-76 aircraft of the Russian Emergencies Ministry is on its way to deliver another airlift of relief aid for the people in southern Lebanon to Cyprus. It took off from the Ramenskoye airfield near Moscow at around 10:00 a.m. Moscow time on Thursday.

17.08.2006
U.S. Serviceman Drives Truck into Plane at Kyrgyz Airport
A truck belonging to the anti-terror coalition’s air base crashed into a Tupolev Tu-154 at the Manas airport in Bishkek.

17.08.2006
Top Yukos Officials Charged with Embezzlement, Money Laundering
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has launched a criminal case against former Yukos President Steven Theede and two other Yukos top-managers — Yukos Financial Director Bruce Misamore and Yukos managing advisor David Godfrey.

17.08.2006
Criminals Steal 4 Cars Using Beach Show With Naked Girls
A group of hijackers has used an old but still effective way to distract their victims’ attention at one of beaches near Moscow. The criminals brought with them three girls who bathed naked while they stole four cars.

17.08.2006
Russian Human Rights Activists Warn Against Iranian Holocaust Cartoon Contest
Russian human rights organizations have stated that the Holocaust cartoon exhibition in Tehran will provoke Islamophobia and called on the Iranian authorities to close it down.

17.08.2006
Former Yukos Security Officer Found Guilty of Murders, Gets 24 Years in Prison
The Moscow City Court on Thursday sentenced former Yukos security officer Alexei Pichugin to 24 years, finding him guilty of masterminding murders.

17.08.2006
Russia to Return Japanese Fisherman’s Body, Keep Ship and Crew
The Russian prosecution has launched criminal proceedings against three more fishermerman who were on a schooner detained in disputed waters, while Japan is pressing Moscow for more details on the fatal shooting of a Japanese fisherman.

17.08.2006
Russian Culture Minister Requests $500 Million to Fit Out Museums after Hermitage Theft
Russia’s culture minister asked the Cabinet Thursday for hundreds of millions to improve security and staff salaries at the nation’s cash-starved museums in the wake of major thefts including at the famed Hermitage museum.

17.08.2006
Yukos Board Chairman’s Offices Searched
Russian prosecutors have searched offices of Yukos’ outspoken board chairman, Viktor Gerashchenko, who has harshly criticized the Kremlin’s handling of the so-called Yukos affair. Earlier, Gerashchenko said the government had effectively robbed Yukos of its key production unit and drove it into bankruptcy with unfounded tax claims.

17.08.2006
Russia Bans Junk Food From School Canteens
Russia has banned snacks like sweets and potato chips from school canteens in an attempt to make children eat healthier food.

17.08.2006
Ex-German Chancellor Schroeder, Wife Adopt Russian Boy
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and his wife Doris have adopted yet another Russian kid, a popular German daily reported Thursday.

17.08.2006
New WBC Champ Maskaev Not Ready to Fight Klitchko —Trainer
While HBO manager Shelly Finkel and IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko would be happy to make a November unification fight with brand new WBC king Oleg Maskaev, the Russian-born American’s trainer is insisting that his fighter will not be fit by then.

17.08.2006
Malkin’s Resignation Letter a “Crude Falsification” - Russian Team Director
Metallurg Magnitogorsk general director Gennady Velichkin has called Evgeniy Malkin’s letter of resignation a “crude falsification”.

17.08.2006
Microbes Can Live in Outer Space — Russian Scientists
Russian scientists have found out that microbes are able to survive in outer space for long periods of time.

17.08.2006
Over 200 Foreign Construction Workers Hospitalized With Food Poisoning in Moscow
At least 244 foreign construction workers were hospitalized with severe food poisoning this week, Russian sanitary authorities reported. City prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

17.08.2006
France Fires Three Consular Workers In Moscow Visa Scam
A visa scam involving at least three consular officials has been uncovered at France’s consulate in Moscow, embassy sources said.

17.08.2006
Japanese Kills Russian Dancer, Stabs Self
A Russian woman, 22, has been stabbed to death at a nightclub in Japan, police said Thursday. The incident occurred when the dancer tried to leave the man’s table only for him to seize her arm and attack her when she attempted to break free. He then stabbed himself.

17.08.2006
Malkin Resigns From Russian Super League, to Join NHL’s Penguins
Evgeni Malkin has filed a letter of resignation with his Russian Super League team, a procedural move necessary for the star forward to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins and begin his NHL career.

17.08.2006
Hiddink-led Russia Beats Latvia 1-0 in Friendly
Pavel Pogrebnyak scored a last-minute goal in his international debut Wednesday, giving Russia’s newly appointed coach Guus Hiddink his first victory in a 1-0 friendly win over Latvia. Hiddink, who coached Australia to the second round of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, is the first foreigner to coach Russia’s national soccer team.