Politics Sarkozy, Medvedev agree on new deal By Anna Arutunyan A new timetable for withdrawing Russian peacekeeping troops brokered this week by French President Nicolas Sarkozy has edged Europe closer to Russia in its stance on settling the conflict involving Georgia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Russia.

News In Brief - 2 Russian strategic bombers land in Venezuela 2 Russian strategic bombers land in Venezuela, Minisubs complete first stage of Lake Baikal study, Two people die in helicopter crash in central Russia

News Music festival canceled after UK ban MOSCOW (Combined report: AP, RIA Novosti) - Russia had to postpone the military orchestras festival scheduled for this weekend after British authorities banned 40 bagpipers from attending the event.

News Russian experts rule South Park as extremist MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - The Moscow Prosecutor General's Office believes the popular animated TV show South Park could incite religious hatred, its press service said on Monday.

News Crime Briefs - Ingush president’s cousin shot dead in possible vendetta killing Ingush president's cousin shot dead in possible vendetta killing, Flat owner attacks firefighters trying to put out blaze, Ex-Georgian leader's son on hunger strike after arrest

News Washington freezes US-Russia nuclear pact WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Monday froze a much vaunted US-Russian civilian nuclear pact in protest at Moscow's military moves in Georgia.

News St. Danilov Bells Return By Elizabeth Swanson The bells of St. Danilov Monastery will once again toll in their original Moscow home after an 80-year exile in Harvard. Church officials say Russia has only three sets of bells of similar caliber, and only Rostov can boast a larger ensemble.

Local Summer Diplomatic Olympic Games By Katya Vinogradova The 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing are officially over, but the excitement of the event has yet to die down. In fact, the spirit of the Games is carried on throughout the year in different countries.

Columnists Don’t be shy! By Daria Chernyshova ‘May I leave now,” asked the student. “No, you can go in a few minutes, just wait,”replied the teacher. The pupil was ill, but attended lectures. His request: to blow his nose outside of class. Why? Because he is Russian.

Local Top Fifteen Russian Dairy Products – a Dairy Guide By Ayano Hodouchi A foreigner’s ode to one of the best aspects of Russian cuisine

Local In Brief - New ground public transport rules New ground public transport rules, Communist Party resists renaming their street, Moscow goes underground

Local Tropical Troparyovsky By Phoebe Taplin One of the city's most beautiful, but least known parks, is the Troparyovsky Forest. It stretches into the far southwest of the city, yet is less than half an hour by metro from the center of town.

Comment Russian Army’s weaknesses exposed Nikita Petrov On September 10, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov was scheduled to address the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, to inform the deputies about current military development and various problems.

National This week in russian history...12-18 September

Ask the experts Inside the cockpit with Sergei Melnikov By Kirill Bessonov A test pilot discusses his experiences with handling some of the best aircraft in the world