News Nicaraguan leader to discuss trade in Russia MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) – Russia bids for greater stake in Latin America as Ortega visits

News Russian warships visit Cuba MOSCOW (AP) - The Russian navy says its warships will visit Cuba for the first time since the Soviet era.

News In Brief - 12 dead in North Russia mine blast 12 dead in North Russia mine blast, Russia justifies arms sales to Iran, Russian soccer chief wants to save players from military service

News U.S. acquittal in adopted baby death irks Russia MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Russia will toughen adoption requirements for U.S. nationals following the acquittal of Miles Harrison over the death of his adopted Russian-born son, a senior education and social protection official said on Wednesday.

News Siberian shepherd sues Roscosmos over rocket debris NOVOSIBIRSK (RIA Novosti) - A villager in southwest Siberia is to take legal action against Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, after a rocket fragment fell on his land, a local administration official said on Tuesday.

News Russian president suggests curfew for youth MOSCOW (MN) - President Dmitry Medvedev has submitted a bill limiting the presence of youngsters in public places at night, Russian media reported on Thursday.

News Mayor of northwestern Russian town killed Combined report RIA Novosti, MN The mayor of the town of Kandalaksha in northwest Russia's Murmansk Region was stabbed to death late on Tuesday, a police source said on Wednesday.

News CRIME Briefs - Russian senators vote to abolish juries for terrorist trials Russian senators vote to abolish juries for terrorist trials, Russian sentenced for defacing friend's internet profile, Russian couple held for robbing bank with gun-shaped lighter

News Anti-opposition forces protest against protests By Anna Arutunyan Protesters from Russia's liberal opposition rallied in the latest of a series of unsanctioned Dissenters Marches that were held in Moscow and St. Petersburg over the weekend. But they were not the only ones to ‘celebrate' Russia's Constitution Day on Dec. 12. A pro-Kremlin youth group gathered to celebrate Miss Constitution 2008 in the capital with a 5,000-strong rally.

World Russia to present fighter jets to Lebanon MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia is to deliver 10 MiG-29 fighter jets as a gift for the Lebanese military, the head of the Russian defence cooperation body said Wednesday.

News 30 Russian tour operators killed in Israel crash TEL AVIV (RIA Novosti) - 30 people were killed and 21 were injured in a bus crash in southern Israel on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the Russian Embassy in Israel has said.

Local Get your skates on! By Andy Potts Winter in Moscow should mean snow and ice - but even if Mother Nature is being coy with her seasonal specials this year, there's no reason to abandon any prospect of donning your skates and taking a turn on the ice.

Local Blast from the Soviet past By Andy Potts New-look Moscow has little time for its recent past, with most new buildings gazing fixedly towards the future. Soviet-style concrete and triumphalist details are definitely passé, while mirrored glass and sleek lines are very much in.

Local Briefs - Fake snow falls on Moscow Fake snow falls on Moscow, Spruce up your holidays, New Year gift set to make a splash, Fireworks under strict control, City boss is a belter, Task force to tackle stray dogs

Local Who will help the disabled? Combined reports Steep escalators, crowded streets and imposing stairways into many buildings help define the look and feel of life in Moscow, but for the city's 1.2 million disabled residents these everyday features represent a serious barrier to everyday day tasks like taking the metro, shopping or eating out.