The past few days have been extremely hot in Russia’s capital with temperatures reaching as high as 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Here’s a short video clip from Russia Today covering this extraordinary Moscow weather.

Here’s a small collection of videos and photos posted by internet users on Victory Day 2007.

Russian National Anthem sung by soldiers during the official Victory Day celebrations on Red Square. You can follow along with the lyrics.

Video from inside the cockpits of the jets that flew over the Red Square ceremony.

Veteran. Originally posted by Encinar.

Veteran. Originally posted by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

Veterans marching in Victory Day parade. Originally posted by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

Victory Day parade, Moscow, 9 May 2007. Originally posted by urbanpostings.

Stalin poster in Victory Day parade. Originally posted by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

Marchers in Victory Day parade. Originally posted by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

Fire in the Sky. Originally posted by stranger in moskva.

Here is a short American news clip from 1961 covering the May 1st celebrations in both the Soviet Union and Cuba. While the clip shows little about the actual May Day events, it does provide examples of both American and Soviet Cold War propaganda.

The UK based company GW Travel Limited is launching a new luxury train service on the Trans-Siberian railroad. With tickets ranging in price from $10,000 to $17,000, you’re unlikely to see many backpackers or traditional Trans-Siberian tourists on this train.

The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express will accommodate guests in 12 new sleeping cars that are made up of Gold and Silver classes. The six Gold class feature modern en-suite amenities including power showers and under floor heating. Cabins are equipped with state-of the-art DVD/CD players, LCD TV screens, audio system, individual air conditioning, and wardrobe space.

You could choose to travel in a Silver class car, but they are equipped with smaller shower areas.

The Golden Eagle’s inaugural departure is on 6 May, 2007, and the 14 night journey will leave from Moscow, travelling more than 6,000 miles (10,000 kms) to its final destination, Vladivostok, on the Sea of Japan.

Link: GW Travel Limited – Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express
Link: New York Times – A New Luxury Train on Trans-Siberian Route
Link: Reuters – All aboard Russia’s luxury hotel on wheels
Link: Wikipedia – Trans-Siberian Railway

Last week in Russia, backers of a plan to build a massive transportation network connecting Siberia to North America once again floated an age old idea of building a tunnel under the Bering Strait. The plan was apparently first conceived more than 100 years ago by officials of Russian tsar Nicholas II. Supporters of the plan said it would cost about $65 billion to build the system.

Read More: Reuters – RPT-Russia-Alaska tunnel is far off, if not a pipe dream
Read More: Russia Blog – Bering Strait Tunnel – It’s Possible, but is it Affordable?

This Saturday, services where held at St. Sophia Cathedral marking the end of the week following Easter (known as Bright Week). During the service, believers walked around the church singing and proclaiming “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” The Cathedral of St. Sophia is one of the oldest churches in Russia, constructed from 1045 to 1052. Here’s a short video from the outdoor part of the service.

Link: Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod
Link: Velikiy Novgorod

China and Russia have announced plans to launch a joint unmanned mission to Mars in 2009. The two countries plan to explore Mars and one of its moons. This news comes as Chinese President Hu Jintao is visiting Moscow and attending activities to mark the beginning of Russia’s “Year of China”.

Link: Reuters – China details Mars exploration with Russia
Link: People’s Daily Online – Chinese satellite to orbit Mars
Link: Hu Jintao Pays State Visit to Russia and Attends Activities Marking the “Year of China”

Link: U.S. software developer to become world’s 5th space tourist
Link: Space station guest’s meal plan: roast quail to go

A Russian teacher from Perm has been accused of pirating software for school computers. Aleksandr Ponosov, says he unknowingly purchased computers for his school with unlicensed copies of Microsoft Windows pre-installed. Microsoft says that Ponosov knowingly used pirated Windows software in the school and caused the company losses of $10,000.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has written an open letter to Bill Gates asking him to show mercy on Ponosov. In his letter, Gorbachev said that “The teacher, who has dedicated his life to the education of children and who receives a modest salary that does not bear comparison with the salaries of even regular staff in your company, is threatened with detention in Siberian prison camps.” Microsoft quickly rebuffed Gorbachev’s appeal saying “We are sure that the Russian courts will make a fair decision.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin also entered the debate saying “To grab someone for buying a computer somewhere and start threatening him with prison is complete nonsense, simply ridiculous. The law recognizes the concept of someone who purchased the product in good faith.”

Link: Cnet – Microsoft spurns appeal in Russian piracy case
Link: BBC – Gorbachev wades into piracy row
Link: Gorbachev’s letter to Bill Gates (Russian)

Last week, reports of orange, yellow and green snow were coming from the area near Omsk in Siberia. After investigating the cause of the strange colored snow, officials have determined that the snow was not toxic or radioactive.

Specialists say that the color was produced by “sand, salt, dirt and other sediments from the drying up Aral Sea bottom in Kazakhstan that were carried by dust-storms.�

Link: Itar-Tass – Yellow Snow in W Siberia Not Hazardous