Bombs kill 12 as Moscow on alert for Black Widow squad

MOSCOW: Twelve people have been killed in twin blasts in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region of Dagestan, one of which was caused by a suicide bomber, investigators said. Another 23 people were wounded.

FICTION

Blood Red Quintin Jardine Headline, $32.99 The Black Russian Lenny Bartulin Scribe, $27.95 The Egyptologist Arthur Phillips Scribe, $29.95 Rupture Simon Lelic Picador, $32.99

RIPE ... HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

THE flavour of the tomato is most intense at summer's end, when the fruit is sun-ripened. Many are available, from field and roma to cherry and hydroponic, but heirloom varieties are increasing in popularity, thanks in part to the community's focus on quality produce. Heirloom refers to varieties grown and sold before 1960. They come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and taste far superior to red, round, commercial varieties. They are sweeter and juicier with meatier flesh, and can be found at markets and specialist grocers, or as seeds purchased from Digger's Club in Dromana (nine colours are available), and grown in pots. Try the beefy Black Krim, striped Tigerella, flavoursome Black Russian and sweet, pear-shaped, mini-sized numbers in vivid colours. Slow-roast a selection and add to a salad of feta, olives and olive oil. TESSIE VANDERWERT

1854

Turkish forces were called into Europe to resist the Tsar of Russia whose troops had occupied Moldavia and Wallachia the previous July. The Turks crossed the Danube in four places and established themselves at Kalafat. They then pushed forward, forcing the Russians to retreat at Slatma. Between Slatma and Krajowa, the Russian commander, General Dannenberg - who had already tasted defeat at the hands of the Turks - had 30,000 to 40,000 troops covering the road to Bucharest. The Turkish forces in Lesser Wallachia, on the right flank of the Russian army, had about 12,000 men but they were expecting reinforcements.

Kremlin lashes out

RUSSIA has attacked a US decision to site interceptor missiles in Romania, saying the move imperils President Barack Obama's much-vaunted "reset" of relations between the two countries and the final stages of nuclear arms reduction talks.

Treading the delicate path of religious ritual

THE Anglicans are happy to be cremated but many would prefer not to be. Orthodox Christians favour monuments over gravestones but a Macedonian Orthodox family does not always want a loved one interred next to someone from, say, the Russian Orthodox Church.

THE SERVE

Rating: 4/5 Middle Park Hotel 102 Canterbury Road, Middle Park, 9690 1958 Licensed AE DC MC V Eftpos Daily, noon-1am (kitchen noon-3pm; 6pm-10pm) Entrees: $12-$18; Mains: $26-$68; Desserts: $12-$16

Russian water plane 'unsuitable'

A RUSSIAN offer to use water-bombing planes with five times the capacity of the "Elvis" helicopter to fight the Black Saturday blazes was rejected because the planes were deemed unsuitable for Victoria's landscape.

Russian Challenge To The West

FOR Vladimir Putin - former KGB agent, judo black belt and ruler of Russia whether as president or prime minister - Friday must have been enjoyable enough mixing with the world's great and powerful at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

Russian Gives Players A Serve

CONTROVERSIAL Russian Nikolay Davydenko has denied ever being approached to throw a match and yesterday questioned the claims of former grand slam finalists Novak Djokovic and Arnaud Clement that they had been offered money to fix results.

Pelagia & The Black Monk

Pelagia & The Black Monk Boris Akunin Weidenfeld & Nicolson, $35

Scene@ Koko Black Collins Street Salon Launch * Crocs Richmond Store Launch * Crown's Mother's Day Luncheon

ON WEDNESDAY night at the launch of the Koko Black Collins Street salon, it was hard to tear our eyes from the chocolates: milk chocolate hearts bitten to reveal an ooze of strawberry puree; a candied orange slice dipped in the most decadent dark; and morsels of pistachio marzipan covered in white chocolate, as pert and comely as a nipple.

Thin Pickings

The lean black winter fashions in New York this week will look better off the catwalk than on, writes fashion editor Janice Breen Burns.

Generations Do Battle On The Russian Front

Fathers and sons drive a Russian film festival, writes Philippa Hawker.