News Russia, Argentina promote cooperation Combined reports AFP, RIA Novosti The presidents of Russia and Argentina Wednesday sealed an array of cooperation deals, including in nuclear energy, and vowed to work together to promote a "multipolar world."

News Russia says ready for visa-free regime with EU MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Russia is ready to introduce a bilateral visa-free regime with the EU at any time, the Russian foreign minister said on Wednesday.

News In Brief - Russian warships to visit Nicaragua Russian warships to visit Nicaragua, Red stars on Russian combat planes turn multicolor, Russia replacing anti-pirate ship off Somalia, 4 dead in Moscow building collapse

News Solzhenitsyn remembered By Anna Arutunyan Alexander Solzhenitsyn's 90th birthday was marked Thursday with the premier of a film and a theatrical piece based on the iconic writer's book, the publication of an unfinished essay, and the presentation of a website dedicated to the writer's life and work.

News Russian military chief wants new treaty with US MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's top military officer called for new arms control talks with the United States on Wednesday, as the Kremlin seeks to engage President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

News Crime Briefs - Hundreds of items missing from Russia’s Hermitage Hundreds of items missing from Russia's Hermitage, Medvedev signs bill on convicts' DNA database, Tajik man beheaded in Moscow Region

News Armenia marks 20 years since Spitak earthquake By Elizabeth Swanson Armenia commemorated the victims of a devastating earthquake that shook the country on December 7, 1988, killing 25,00 people and leaving more than half a million homeless.

News Russia warns West not to meddle in ex-Soviet space MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's foreign minister warned the West on Wednesday against meddling in its backyard, saying the U.S. and European countries must not advance their interests in the former Soviet Union at Russia's expense.

News Yushchenko and Timoshchenko form Ukraine coalition Combined report AFP, RIA Novosti Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchen­ko's party on Tuesday reformed a coalition with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc and a smaller group, resolving a damaging stand-off, the parliament speaker said.

Local Fighting back against the AIDS epidemic By Andy Potts With HIV infection rates climbing more sharply than in any part of the world on the back of a high level of drug abuse and a rampant sex industry, Russia and its CIS neighbors face a race against time to tackle an AIDS crisis.

Local Historic palace close to completion MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - The historic Yusupov Palace, home of some of Russia's most famous names, could be fully restored within two or three years. Work at the celebrated site on Bolshoi Kharitonovsky Pereulok started in 2004, and officials believe it is "80-90 percent complete".

Local Power from your poo MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - A new plant in Moscow plans to stop us flushing potential power down the toilet. By the end of December the Kuryanovskaya sewage treatment works will take 70 percent of its energy from a new on-site generator - which is designed to run on the gas produced by the sewage itself.

Local Rossiya delays questioned MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - The fate of one of Moscow's largest construction sites depends on legal issues, according to Moscow's chief architect Alexander Kuzmin. Ambitious plans to redevelop the former site of the Rossiya hotel, on the banks of the Moscow River, have been stalled while various problems are tackled by the authorities.

Local O come all ye faithful The Moscow News Just because Russia's Christmas doesn't come until January doesn't mean there's no chance to get to church this year. Whether you're a regular worshipper or a once-a-year carol singer there is plenty going on at the city's Catholic and Anglican places of worship.

Local Poll could overturn toll route MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Environmental campaigners hope to reverse a decision to build a toll road through a forest near Khimki, to the northwest of Moscow.