moscow news

MOSCOW, December 6 (RIA Novosti) - Zenit...

MOSCOW, December 6 (RIA Novosti) - Zenit St. Petersburg and Lokomotiv Moscow suffered away defeats in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday evening, the results ending 2007 on a sour note for both sides. Zenit, who needed a victory to make 100% sure of progress to the last 32, faced Group A leaders, Everton. The representatives of Russia"s former capital were in high spirits after lifting the domestic title for the first time since 1984 in early November. However, their mood was spoiled after 30 minutes when Nicolas Lombaerts was sent off for handball, giving away a penalty in the process. Although Everton then failed to convert the subsequent penalty, the English side continued to pressurize the Russian champion"s goal. Zenit also had chances, with Pogrebnyak and Zyryanov going close. Zenit, managed by Dutch trainer, Dick Advocaat, looked to have gained a valuable and hard-earned point as the game moved into the final minutes. It was not to be, however. With five minutes remaining, Malafeyev in the Zenit goal could only parry a shot by Joleon Lescott, and the Everton forward, Tim Calhill, secured all three points for the Merseyside club. "That was typical refereeing for a Russian side playing away from home," Andrey Arshavin, Zenit"s captain, told the Russian Sport-Weekend after the match, commenting on the sending-off decision, which the BBC called "harsh". In order to qualify for the next round, Zenit, who are in second place in the five team group, need either Dutch club AZ Alkmaar to fail to beat Everton at home on December 20th, or for the Germans Nurnberg to draw or lose at Greek side Larissa the same evening. Lokomotiv Moscow, needing a victory to maintain any hope of progress in the tournament, went down 2-0 to Greek side Panathinakos in Athens. The result means that the 2002 and 2004 Russian champions have failed to win a game in their group. The defeat also rounds off a dismal 2007 for the club, who finished seventh in the Russia Premier League, their lowest showing since 1991. Lokomotiv also fired their manager, former director of sports at Scottish club Hearts, Anatoly Byshovets, earlier this month.

China seized 28.8 tons of drugs and arrested...

China seized 28.8 tons of drugs and arrested some 91,000 people, including 5,560 foreigners, on drug-related charges in 2009, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Academician Fyodorov scientific research...

The Academician Fyodorov scientific research vessel has arrived at the Russian Antarctic outpost of Bellingshausen on a mission to set up a station for tracking the GLONASS navigation satellites, the Voice of Russia reported.