1.   An explosion ripped open an apartment building in northwestern Russia near the Finnish border early Friday, killing at least three people.

2.   Anda Re, a Japanese citizen, was detained on the Finnish border, the report said.

3.   Born and raised in St. Petersburg near the Finnish border, Putin was a frequent visitor before becoming president last year.

4.   Finnish border officials barred entry Tuesday to at least eight English fans who arrived at Helsinki airport, mainly because they had criminal records.

5.   It was the second time this year that customs officers have nabbed smugglers of archaeological artifacts on the Finnish border, ITAR-Tass said.

6.   Last week, Yeltsin interrupted his stay in the Russian republic of Karelia, near the Finnish border, citing urgent business in Moscow.

7.   On Tuesday, Greenpeace demonstrators halted work at a felling site in Russian Karelia, near the Finnish border.

8.   On Wednesday, the president abruptly interrupted his stay in the Russian republic of Karelia, near the Finnish border, citing urgent business in Moscow.

9.   Similar bedrock also exists in the northwestern Russian province of Karelia near the Finnish border and near the arctic Russia port of Arkhangelsk.

10.   Finnish border authorities have also been provided with a portable version, which patrols can rig up quickly anywhere.