The wildfires that have ravaged central Russia since July are gradually on the decrease. On August 19, the number of fires was reduced by a quarter.
The wildfires that have ravaged central Russia since July are gradually on the decrease. On August 19, the number of fires was reduced by a quarter.
Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi hosted a summit of the presidents of Russia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan on August 18. The leaders discussed the Afghan settlement, the fight against terrorism and the drug threat, as well as providing assistance to flood-hit Pakistan.
A year ago, on August 17, 2009, an accident occurred at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant killed 75 people and caused considerable damage to the station. The anniversary of the tragedy saw the consecration of a chapel built near the plant.
An explosion hit the center of Russia’s southern resort of Pyatigorsk on August 17, leaving some 30 people injured. A criminal case has been launched on charges of terrorism.
Following the recent spy scandal with the United States, Russia was again involved in a spy flap, this time with Romania. On August 16, Gabriel Grecu, first secretary of the political department of the Romanian Embassy, was expelled after being detained in Moscow while trying to obtain military secrets from a Russian national. In a tit-for-tat move, Romania declared Anatoly Akopov, first secretary of the Russian Embassy in Bucharest, persona non grata.
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© Photo : Maria Pertseva
The abnormal heat wave in central Russia was followed by a cold front that brought strong winds and thunderstorms to the Leningrad, Tver and other Russian regions.
August 19 marked 50 years since the world’s most famous space dogs, Belka and Strelka, made their space flight onboard the Soviet spaceship Sputnik 5. They were the first living creatures to orbit the Earth and safely return to the ground.
