The survivor of a horror zorbing accident in Russia last month has spoken of the final moments before his friend's death and told of the "fear'' he saw in his eyes.

Analysts of the murky Russian underworld say a number of different groupings could be behind the audacious daylight shooting of a Russian mafia boss in central Moscow.

A man accused of organising a zorb ride at a Russian ski resort that killed a man has been detained and will face court, authorities say.

The Kiwi who invented zorbing is disgusted with the extreme activity's latest death and claims it could severely damage New Zealand's reputation as the world's adventure capital.

The New Zealand inventors of zorbing have described the death of a father-of-two at a Russian ski resort as "very troubling".

President Vladimir Putin says a draft bill banning US adoptions of Russian children is a legitimate response to a new US law that calls for sanctions on Russians deemed to be human rights violators. But he has not committed to signing it.

Here are some of the world's key doomsday destinations and other places marked by fear and fascination.

One of New Zealand's wealthiest men is selling his share in the Moscow-based investment bank he founded nearly 20 years ago.