Culture Russia's Top Beauty By Anna Ozar There were more than 50 girls from around the country who took part in the pageant, which is, I suppose, a bit of a subjective competition.The jury consisted of real Russian beauty experts: World Class president Olga Slutsker, Russian Vogue editor Alena Dolet­skaya, Russian producer Igor Matviyenko, and the president of "Dikaya Orkhi­deya" lingerie chain Alexan­der Fedorov.

News Medvedev Registers His Candidacy First Deputy Prime Minister and Board Chairman of the Gazprom natural gas giant filed registration documents at the Central Elections Committee on Thursday, officially entering the Russian presidential race. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Medvedev said that if elected on March 2, he will quit his Gazprom post.

News Greece May Double Russian Gas Imports Greece wants to double imports of Russian gas after 2016 when a new link will be built to supply fuel from Siberia to Europe's south. "Greece is interested in signing new contracts after 2016 which will last up to 2040 with volumes rising almost twofold," Putin said after talks with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

News Moskovskiye Novosti to Suspend Operations in January 2008 An announcement was made last week by the managers of the Moskovskiye Novosti, which is owned by United Media, that they will temporarily suspend publication of the newspaper starting from January 1, 2008.

News Time Names Putin Person of the Year By Anna Arutunyan President Vladimir Putin appea­red on the cover of Time this week as the magazine's "Person of the Year," the first Russian to hold the title since Mikhail Gorbachev was nominated twice (1987, 1989), at a time when the idea that the Soviet Union could collapse was practically unthinkable.

News In Brief - Norwegian Helicopter Rescues Russian Crew Norwegian Helicopter Rescues Russian Crew, Effects of Black Sea Oil Spill Are Contained, Polish Premier Slams Russian Army Chief's Missile Warning, Believers Complain About ‘Blasphemous' Coke Ads

News Russia Delivers Fuel for Iranian Reactor By Kirill Bessonov This week, Moscow and Tehran made an announcement that Russia had sent and Iran had received the first batch of nuclear fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant. This means the plant will be launched in approximately half a year and Iran will finally start its nuclear-energy program.

News Latvia, Russia Seal Long-Delayed Border Treaty By Sannija Jauce, Agence France Presse Latvia and Russia sealed their long-delayed border treaty in a public ceremony Tuesday, 16 years after the Baltic state regained its independence from the Soviet Union. Latvian Foreign Minster Maris Riekstins exchanged ratification documents with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who is on an official visit to Riga.

News This week in russian history... December 21-27 1879 Josef Stalin was born in the Georgian city Gory on this day. Although as a young man he studied at a theological seminary in Tbilisi, he found his true calling in revolutionary politics. After the Revolution, Sta­lin became general secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Russian Communist Party. Throughout the 1930s he concentrated power in his hands, and began removing his opponents. He remained in power until his death on March 5, 1953.

Local The End is Nigh By Tom Washington Christmas is an interesting festival. You gather your most objectionable relations around you, wait on them hand and foot, spend a fortune on them and generally lay down your life that others might enjoy themselves.

Local Holiday Parties Marriott Grand, Marriott Royal Aurora, Renaissance, Kvartira 44, Les Amis de Jean - Jacques

Local In Brief - Russian-German Chamber of Commerce Opens Russian-German Chamber of Commerce Opens in Moscow, Pedestrian Zone Planned For Moscow Center, Giant Christmas Tree To Arrive at the Kremlin, 500 Candles Lit for Saint Savva in Moscow

Local In Russia's Capital, It's Hip to be Square By Rebeccah Billing The city square has been described as one of Europe's greatest inventions; a central space that brings people together, cultivating feelings of community and promoting discussion and commerce. Now Moscow's social scene is set to receive a boost with the news that 20 new squares will be built around town as part of a new project announced at the Moscow forum of real estate market leaders (MREF) last week.

Local Mayor to Greet VIP Guest from North Pole By Rebeccah Billing A spokesman for city hall this week confirmed that Mayor Yuri Luzhkov will be meeting with Ded Moroz on December 24 as part of the merry philanthropist's annual visit to the capital. The spokesman refused to give details of the topics that will be discussed by the two, or what the mayor wants for Christmas.

Local Angels in Moscow By Nathalie Cooper As most people prepare for a self-indulgent Christmas,others are finding ways to make it an exceptional time for the less fortunate. Christmas is a time for good will and altruism. Although this may sound like a warmed-over cliché, how many people actually put their cynicism aside to help others during the holiday season? Well, one group can claim to be making a difference.