Tom Robinson
For more than a decade, both California and the USFS have been offered the services of the biggest and best firefighting air tankers in the world, the incomparable IL-76 Waterbombers of EMERCOM. Since 1994, these remarkable firefighting giants have flown thousands of missions worldwide and have NEVER failed to put out the most destructive wildfires, in the worst weather conditions and the roughest terrain, without EVER having an accident, damaging structures or injuring anyone or anything on the ground. Multiple Waterbombers were, and still are, on offer for U.S. service immediately. Each plane can consistently stop a raging wildfire over an area equal to 12 football fields in less than 15 seconds! Although Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) made several pleas to the Governor of California and the USFS to call in the Waterbombers, his pleas fell on deaf ears.
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 05:44 GMT
At least 7 killed in city bus explosion in Volga area
SAMARA, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – At least seven people died and 40 were injured on Wednesday morning in an explosion on a bus in central Togliatti, a city on Russia's Volga River, rescuers reported.
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 06:14 GMT
Banks' correspondent accounts with CBR rise 26.2%
MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – Credit institutions' balances on correspondent accounts with the Russian Central Bank totaled 477.9 billion rubles ($19.4 billion at the current exchange rates) at the beginning of the business day, up 26.2% from Tuesday, the CBR said Wednesday.
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 06:57 GMT
RUXX investment index set to open 1.55% down
MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's investment index will open Wednesday at 890.77 points, down 1.55 % following Tuesday evening's sessions on major world trading floors.
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 07:00 GMT
Duma to rank countries for their treatment of ethnic Russians
BRUSSELS, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – The State Duma plans to introduce a ranking of foreign countries in terms of their treatment of their Russian minorities, the lower house of parliament's international affairs committee said on Wednesday.
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 07:21 GMT
UC RusAl completes new aluminum plant in south Siberia
KRASNOYARSK, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – United Company RusAl has completed the final phase of a project to build an aluminum plant in south Siberia, a spokesman for the Russian aluminum giant said on Wednesday.
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 07:33 GMT
U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan reopens after security scare
BAKU, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – The American Embassy in Azerbaijan will resume work on Wednesday, after being closed for two days due to reports of a planned terrorist attack, embassy spokesman Jonathan Henick said.
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 07:59 GMT
Moscow Fashion Week 2007
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 08:00 GMT
At least 8 killed, 45 injured in city bus explosion in Volga area -2
(Updates death toll, adds details in para 2, governor's quote in para 3, recasts)
// Oct. 31, 2007 - 08:16 GMT