Main News of February 9

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

RUSSIA

* A gunman opened fire in an Orthodox church on the island in Russia’s Far East, killing two and injuring six people, the local church authority said on its website.

* Russia's working people enjoy among the longest paid vacations and the largest number of official holidays of those in the world's leading economies, a survey said.

 

WORLD

*An impressive 31.7 million viewers in the United States watched the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday night, which was aired hours after the fact, NBC has said.

* Ukrainian security agents are on high alert following reports of planned explosions in the country that could cause mass casualties, the national security service said.

* Ukraine barred a Russian human rights campaigner from entering the country, the Russian Human Rights Council said.

 

SPORTS

* Russia won its first gold medal of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games with victory in the inaugural team figure skating event.

* Slider Albert Demchenko won the silver in men’s single luge earning Russia’s fourth medal at the Sochi Olympics so far.

* The International Ski Federation has rejected Russia's protest of Sunday's skiathlon result at the Sochi Olympics after the host nation complained its fourth-placed skier was blocked in the final straight, a Norwegian coach said.

* Russia overcame an early deficit and beat Germany 4-1 in their opening game of the Olympic women's hockey tournament.

* Ireen Wust seared to Sochi speedskating title in the 3,000m, claiming an Olympic gold at her third-successive Games.

* Austria’s Matthias Mayer became the surprise gold medalist in Sochi Olympic men’s downhill skiing as big names like Bode Miller and Aksel Lund Svindal missed the podium.