You've heard about corruption and violence in the new Russia. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, stories to make your hair stand on end. Also, travel writer Colin Thubron takes us to the far corners of Siberia, and a documentary film-maker talks about the throat singers of Tuva.

Two young Americans have started a bi-weekly tabloid newspaper in Moscow. It's called "The eXile" and features vicious satire, investigative journalism and stories about sex. Matt Taibbi and Mark Ames tell Steve Paulson that the violence and corruption in the new Russia are much worse than we can imagine.

Travel writer Colin Thubron tells Jim Fleming stories from his travels across the vast landmass of Siberia for his book "In Siberia." He describes a land of poverty, alcoholism and bitterness, pockmarked with rotting gulags.

Adrian Belic, who with his brother Roko made the documentary film "Genghis Blues," tells Steve Paulson about the Tuvan tradition of throat singing. Tuva is a tiny country wedged between Siberia and Mongolia. You can find more information on their web site: http://www.genghisblues.com. Also, Anthropologist Jack Weatherford tells Jim Fleming all about Genghis Khan, including how to pronounce his name. It turns out Khan was one of history's greatest leaders, and is still revered in Mongolia, where the Communists so feared his influence that they forbade anyone to talk about him, on pain of death!

Distribution dates:

• week of 05/07/2000 - hour 1