Take a stroll through a Mongolian liquor store and you will find no less than a half dozen separate brands of vodka and beer with the image and name of the nation's favorite historical figure, Ghenghis Khan, applied as endorsement. The same goes for tourist agencies, restaurants, and everyday household products. Mongolia's legislature, however, began debating on Thursday on a new law to regulate the use of the great conqueror's moniker on commercial products in order to prevent the cheapening of Khan's legendary status. In the early 13th century, Ghenghis Khan established an empire and dynasty that would reach as far as Eastern Europe, encompassing present day Russia, China, and much of the Middle East. Efforts to protect the Khan's name, often reviled outside of Mongolia as a symbol of barbarism, demonstrate the pride contemporary Mongolians hold to their legendary past.

After driving for 9320 Miles to watch their team play in the far east of Russia, three fans of Zenit St Petersburg were offered a new car by the Premier League club as their old car could not make the return trip. The trio traveled in an old Honda from St Petersburg to Vladivostok on the shores of the Sea of Japan. They watched their team, Zenit, as it took on Luch-Energiya during a league match it won by 2-0 last month.

The mayor of a coal mining town in the Komi Republic of Russia is asking the government to legalize prostitution with the aim of arresting the increasing number of extremist violence in the region. Igor Shpektor, mayor of Vorkuta, said legalizing the flesh trade would give men another way to spend their time rather than getting involved in racist attacks.

Russia's parliament on Wednesday rejected a proposal to send the celebrated U. S. singer and actress Madonna to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2008. The motion had been introduced by Alexei Mitrofanov, a member of the Duma for the ultra-nationalist LDPR party, saying the trip would be "a serious event" to organize in the same year as presidential elections in the United States and Russia. Madonna had expressed her desire to go into space and board the ISS, during her first ever Russian concert.

A car thief thought he could get away after stealing a Volkswagen in Moscow, Russia when the vehicle ran out of gasoline. Two passing police officers even offered their assistance by pushing the vehicle to the side of the road so the suspect could wait for a towing service. However, Alexei Ashurin was arrested immediately when the police officers noticed that the vehicle's lock was broken and a screwdriver was sticking out of its ignition.