News Russia to Block Independence MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) Russia will try and block Kosovo's independence at an international level, if the Serb province announces its sovereignty, a senior Russian MP said on Monday.

Politics ODIHR Calls Boycott Elections MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) The OSCE's main election monitoring group deliberately sought an excuse to refuse to send observers for Russia's March 2 presidential election, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman said on Thursday.

Politics Putin, Karimov Pledge Close Ties By Olga Nedbayeva Hardline Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin pledged closer ties at a Kremlin meeting Wednesday that underlined Mos­cow's clout in energy-rich ex-Soviet Central Asia.

News In Brief - Cargo Craft Launched to Space Station Cargo Craft Launched to Space Station, 17 Injured by Accidental Peroxide Enemas, British Council Dismisses St. Petersburg Staff, Diplomats' Families Evacuated from Chad

News Pirates Seize Russian Tug By Anna Arutunyan London, Moscow, and even NATO's naval forces are closely watching a hostage standoff in the Indian Ocean where alleged Somali pirates seized a Russian-built tugboat with its Russian-British crew Friday. It remains unclear, however, whether ransom or environmental vigilantism were behind the capture.

News Elite Moscow Club Destroyed by Fire MOSCOW (MN) The Dyagilev Project nightclub, considered by many the poshest venue on the Moscow nightlife scene was completely destroyed by fire on Wednesday morning

News Putin Makes Surprise Visit to Dagestan BOTLIKH, DAGESTAN (RIA Novosti) Russia's president visited on Monday a military unit in the southern republic of Daghestan, several of whose provinces suffered militant incursions from neighboring Chechnya in 1999.

News Crime Briefs - Police Seize 100 Kilos of Hashish Bound for Moscow Police Seize 100 Kilos of Hashish Bound for Moscow, Police Arrest Skinheads in Murder Probe, Editor's Murder Case Returns to Prosecutors, Investigators Clear Chessboard Killer of 11 Murders

Local Princess for a Day By Rebeccah Billing No bride wants to spend her wedding day standing in line on the sidewalk. Unfortunately this was the fate of many Moscow brides last year as a surge in the number of weddings saw over-stretched registry offices across the city come to resemble production lines, churning out happy newlyweds at breakneck speed. Now the city authorities have revealed plans to ease up congestion and restore the magic of a Moscow wedding by converting a former palace into a specialized venue for weddings.

Local Hit Parade: Moscow's Most Stolen Cars By Theodore Merz What's the difference between a Lada and a golf ball? You can drive a golf ball 200 meters. What do you call a Lada on top of a hill? A miracle. How do you double the value of a Lada? Put gas in the tank.

Local In Brief - Gambling Establishments in Residential Areas To Face Inspections Gambling Establishments in Residential Areas To Face Inspections, Moscow District Will Present ‘Crowns' to Good Drivers, Reconstruction and Greenery to Be Added to Moscow's Boulevards

Local Buy My Valentine By Nathalie Cooper Just as we were recovering from all the festivities of Christmas, New Year, Old Russian Christmas and Old New Year, it's now time to empty our pockets yet again for another day of spending. Strings of hearts are beginning to hang from the ceilings and windows of shopping centres as Lovers' day approaches. The celebration of St. Valentine's Day, imported from the West, is still relatively new in Russia and yet it is catching up in importance with Women's day, celebrated on March 8.

Local How to Romance This Valentine's Day Compiled by Tom Washington Moscow News gives you advice how to spend this Valentine's Day with pleasure. Five ways to make this day more interesting and romantic.

Local Trains Plug into New Entertainment By Nathalie Cooper Train travellers from Moscow to other parts of the country can look forward to a new form of entertainment as they cover the miles. Passengers on Russian Railways (RZhD), the state-owned railway monopoly travelling from Moscow to various parts of Russia, will now be able to rent digital multimedia players.

Local Snowmen Unite! RIA Novosti A competition for the best snowman made by school children will be held on Saturday in the South East of Moscow at a traditional competition called the "Snowman Parade," said Vladimir Zotov, the prefect of the South East administrative area.