A brief look at the stories making headlines in the Russian-language press

Latvia captain Vitalijs Astafjevs confirmed and then withdrew his accusations that players and team officials were offered bribes to throw last week's World Cup qualifier against Russia.

The Russian women's revolution of 2004 has slowed to a crawl, even though Maria Sharapova has assumed the No. 1 ranking.

A Peruvian airliner split in two after an emergency landing during a fierce storm, killing at least 41 people. It was the world's fifth major airline accident this month.

Venezuela condemned American religious broadcaster Pat Robertson for suggesting President Hugo Chavez should be killed, saying he committed a crime that is punishable in the United States.

The removal of Gaza and West Bank settlers is ahead of schedule, but Sharon's plan for a separation barrier sparks controversy.

Iraq's new constitution must be for all the people of Iraq, not for a single community, and aspirations of Sunni Arabs should be met, President Jalal Talabani said Wednesday. Speaking after a meeting with parliament Speaker Hajim al-Hassani, Talabani said that stability could not be achieved without consensus among Iraq's Shiites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds.

China extended a program to make $270 billion of mostly state-held stock publicly traded, the biggest shakeup of ownership since the nation's exchanges opened in 1990.