Fate, like a stubborn untamed horse, tried many times to throw him to the ground, but the rider never let go of the reins and conquered the racehorse.

Today he is proud of his titles: Meritorious artist of Russian Federation, National khoomeizhi and Meritorious worker of education of Republic Tyva. He is known to world idols of rock-music, Tuvan, Russian presidents and American ranchers.

But, regardless of apparent openness, Kongar-ool Ondar is a man of mystery. Behind the artist's wide smile shows no hint of his difficult fate: hard childhood, burden of years spent behind barbed wire, and the secret of his birth, which torments him to this day.

The once war-torn republic of Chechnya is among Russia’s prospective economic powerhouses if its environmental potential is factored in, according to a study of Russian regions released on Tuesday.

The North Caucasus region only lost to the Siberian republic of Altai in the first Economic-Environmental Index of Russian Regions, prepared jointly by RIA Novosti and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and presented in Moscow.

Prohibition of amateur, sport, or commercial hunting for three years was passed in Tuva: ungulates - in Pii-Khem district, Siberian goat (mountain goat) in Dzun-Khemchik, Sut-Khol, Chaa-khol and Ulug-Khem districts. All types of hunting of all game resources are prohibited for the same term in Kaa-Khem district in certain areas. The decision was made by the government of the republic on the initiative of the State Hunting and Fishing Commission. The goal of the new limits is to secure suitable conditions fro re-establishment of the animal populations. In the opinion of specialists,, even though the dynamics of the numbers of the animals in the republic is in general positive, some territories are experiencing great pressure from hunters, and a three-year "break" is necessary.

Leading people of Gorniy Altai performed a ritual at the site where the mummy of "Altai princess" was exhumed 19 years ago, as the leader of the center for development of traditional Altai world view "White Faith" Akai Kine informed RIA Novosti.

The mummy of the ancient woman was found by the expedition of Natalia Polosmak, an archeologist from Novosibirsk. She was located in a kurgan dating to the Scythian period on Ukok Plateau in Altai, near the Mongolian border. The find, which is more than 2,500 years old, has been called one of the most important discoveries of recent times in archeology.

On 1 October at the Drama Theatre of Republic Altai, an unusual concert will take place - three ethno-style musicians who are famous not just in Russia but abroad as well will perform on one stage - Albert Kuvezin, Yuliana Krivoshapkina and Bolot Bairyshev.

Albert Kuvezin is without any exaggeration a world star from Tuva, leader of ethno-rock group "Yat-kha". Master of Tuvan throat-singing (khoomei), Kuvezin is recognized a the owner of the lowest voice on the planet. He had an occasion to sing a duet with Sting. In 2002 group "Yat-kha" received a prize BBC Awards in the World Music category as the best group of Asia-Pacific region.

Redefining epic poetry for the 21st century, a native of the Siberian Republic of Tuva composed a heroic tale recounting the career of Tuvan politician Sergei Shoigu in an exalted medieval style.

The idea was hatched after the far eastern nation of Chukchi voiced its plans to compose an epic poem about billionaire Roman Abramovich, who was Chukotka governor from 2001 to 2008, said Shoigu’s bard Aibek Soskal.

The Abramovich epic poem was actually a tongue-in-cheek proposal by spin doctor Gleb Pavlovsky from 2006, which never materialized.

A team of 10 teachers of Tuvan and English has finished the first stage of their work at forming Tuvan-English automatic translator, a part of a large-scale Internet project run by K David Harrison, an associate professor of linguistics at Swarthmore College and a National Geographic Fellow. David Harrison is a connoisseur of Tuvan and its active promoter. The Tuvan part of work would be finished within a year, linguists believe. Earlier this year  BBC reported that Facebook, YouTube and even texting will be the salvation of many of the world's endangered languages, scientists believe.

As a result of the accident, nine people were injured moderately, four killed, among which a 4-year-old and 9-year-old children.

Small woebegone figures were lying on the dirty garage floor. Legs tied up, "camo' feather pattern on the chest, and helmet-like hoods on their heads made them resemble captive soldiers. Soldiers, who have lost their war.

Speed and relentlessness

An attacking falcon represents approximately one kilogram of steel muscles and unbreakable bones, charging at a speed of more than 200 km/hour. He strikes with his whole body and claws, braking slightly at the last moment, so that he would not be crushed himself. This beautiful bird of prey has no natural enemies.