The latest: U.S.’ Rumsfeld Urges Russia on U.S. Missile Plan

28.08.2006
U.S.’ Rumsfeld Urges Russia on U.S. Missile Plan
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld made his strongest public case Sunday for a plan, opposed by some in Congress and by Russia, to convert some Navy long-range missiles from a nuclear to a conventional role for potential use against terrorist targets anywhere in the world.

28.08.2006
Russian Expert Doubts Official Version of Beslan Tragedy
A member of the Russian parliamentary commission for investigation of the hostage crisis in Beslan has published a report claiming that Russian secret services had fired rocket-propelled grenades at the school with hostages before the terrorists were able to detonate their bombs.

28.08.2006
Russia Establishes Men-Free Police Unit in Attempt to Fight Corruption
Russia is to create its first women-only traffic police unit because commanders believe they are less corrupt than men.

28.08.2006
Man Sets Himself on Fire Near Russia’s Landmark St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow
A man doused himself with flammable liquids and set himself on fire on Red Square Sunday before dozens of shocked tourists, Russian news reports and witnesses said.

28.08.2006
No Charges Brought Against Russians Who Shot Japanese Fisherman
No criminal case will be opened against Russian border guards who detained a Japanese vessel in a fatal incident almost two weeks ago.

28.08.2006
Finland Grants Asylum to Chechen Guerillas — Paper
Finland willingly grants asylum and residence permits to Chechens on the grounds of the threat of violations of human rights in their home country, even if they report links with guerillas, a paper has said.

28.08.2006
Russia Coach Hiddink Names Squad for Euro 2008 Qualifier V. Croatia
Russia coach Guus Hiddink named on Monday the 19-man squad for their opening Euro 2008 qualifier at home versus Croatia on Sept. 6.

28.08.2006
Madonna’s Moscow Concert Moved
Madonna’s September 11 concert in Moscow has been scheduled to take place at the Luzhniki sports center, instead of the initially planned Vorobyovy Gory venue.

28.08.2006
Participant of Sex Dolls Rafting Tournament Disqualified For Sexual Abuse of Apparatus
A participant of a sex dolls rafting tournament has been disqualified for sexual abuse of an apparatus. Igor Osipov was not able to keep in his sexual desire, even in the cool water of the Vuoksa river near St. Petersburg.

28.08.2006
Russia Extends Investigation into Tycoon Berezovsky’s Coup Charges
Russian prosecutors have extended an investigation into the case of self-emigre tycoon Boris Berezovsky, charged with attempting to overthrow the government, until December 16.

28.08.2006
St. Petersburgh Trinity Cathedral’s Domes Destroyed by Fire
The magnificent domes of the landmark 19th-century Trinity Cathedral were all but destroyed in a blaze that erupted at the top of the stately building on Aug. 25. The restoration of the cathedral will take years, experts say. The blaze at Trinity has again proved that great artwork is not safe in Russia.

28.08.2006
Russian Orthodox Church Seeking Closer Relations with Anti-Gay Parishes in U.S.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which suspended ties with the U.S. Episcopal Church over its consecration of an openly gay bishop, has offered to restore ties with Episcopal dioceses in the United States who oppose gays in the clergy.

28.08.2006
North Korea’s Kim Blasts Russia, China As Unreliable
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has criticized the reclusive country’s traditional close allies China and Russia as unreliable, Japan’s Kyodo news agency said.

28.08.2006
Lloyd Webber’s New Musical Inspired by Bulgakov’s Russian Novel
Musicals mogul Andrew Lloyd Webber’s next stage spectacular will be inspired by Mikhail Bulgakov’s Russian novel “The Master and Margarita”.

28.08.2006
Top Defense Officials of U.S., Russia Meet in Alaska to Discuss North Korea, Middle East
U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov met in Alaska to discuss events in North Korea and the Middle East. Both Washington and Moscow are concerned about Pyongyang’s plans to further develop its weapons.