24/05/2011 | Argentina

Gov't visit to Russia promises to strengthen strategic ties

The Government visit to Russia, headed by Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman, came to a close today with the promise of strengthening the strategic ties between both countries. Timerman mentioned, “it’s been a very important trip, to put in place strategic ties that were designed by President Cristina Kirchner and President Medvedev.”

04/09/2012 | Argentina

YPF, Gazprom move forward in joint gas exploration

Argentine oil company YPF moved forward in the signing of an agreement with Russian state oil company Gazprom to develop conventional and nonconventional gas in Argentina and the eventual supply of liquefied gas.

31/01/2013 | World

Syria warns of "surprise" response to Israel attack

Syria warned of a possible "surprise" response to Israel's attack on its territory and Russia condemned the air strike as an unprovoked violation of international law.

02/02/2013 | World

Syrian opposition talks with Russia, seeks breakthrough

The Syrian opposition leader met Russia's foreign minister in Germany today and said he would also hold talks with the Iranian foreign minister, opening a window to a possible breakthrough in efforts to broker an end to Syria's civil war.

27/12/2012 | World

Russia's Putin suggests he will sign US adoption ban

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he saw no reason not to sign a bill into law that would ban Americans adopting Russian children and promised measures to improve care of his country's orphaned youngsters.

13/01/2013 | World

Russia rejects Assad exit as precondition for Syria deal

Russia voiced support for international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi but insisted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's exit cannot be a precondition for a deal to end the country's conflict.

25/01/2013 | World

Russian parliament backs ban on 'gay propaganda'

Russia's parliament backed a draft law banning "homosexual propaganda" in what critics see as an attempt to shore up support for President Vladimir Putin in the country's largely conservative society.

27/10/2012 | World

Russia activists detained after opposition council meets

Three prominent opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin were briefly detained at a protest in central Moscow on Saturday that followed the first meeting of a new opposition body elected in an online vote.

06/12/2012 | World

With focus on opposition, US races against time on Syria

The United States is racing to finalize elements of its Syria strategy, planning new steps to shape and strengthen the still-fragmented opposition as signs build that the country is nearing a tipping point in the 20-month rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.

15/12/2012 | World

Thousands protest against Putin rule in Moscow

Russian riot police detained four opposition leaders and broke up a crowd of about 2,000 people who went ahead with a banned rally today to demand an end to Vladimir Putin's 13-year rule.

14/10/2012 | World

Russian local elections test Putin's grip

Russia held local elections from the Baltic Sea to the Chinese border, testing President Vladimir Putin's grip nationwide and the reach of his opponents five months into his new term.

19/10/2012 | World

Freed Russian punk band member takes case to European court

The sole member of anti-Kremlin punk group Pussy Riot freed on appeal has taken her case to the European Court of Human Rights, she and her lawyer said on Friday, accusing Russia of violating her right to freedom of speech and illegally detaining her.

22/10/2012 | World

Russia's jailed punk rock band members sent to prison camps

Two female members of Russian punk group Pussy Riot convicted of protesting against President Vladimir Putin in a cathedral have been sent to prisons far from Moscow despite requesting to serve out their terms in the capital, a lawyer said.

07/09/2012 | World

EU warns Russia to play by WTO rules or face action

Europe's trade chief threatened to take Russia to the World Trade Organization over a string of restrictive practices today, saying Moscow needed to play by the rules now it was a member of the global body.

08/09/2012 | World

China, Russia sound alarm on world economy at APEC summit

China and Russia sounded the alarm about the state of the global economy at a summit on Saturday and urged Asian-Pacific countries to protect themselves by forging deeper regional economic ties.

12/09/2012 | World

Russian Prime Minister Medvedev says Pussy Riot should be freed

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he thought three Pussy Riot punk band members should be freed from prison following their conviction last month for a profanity-laced protest against Vladimir Putin in a Moscow cathedral.

21/08/2012 | World

Russia warns West over Syria after Obama threats

Russia warned the West against unilateral action on Syria, a day after US President Barack Obama threatened "enormous consequences" if his Syrian counterpart used chemical or biological arms or even moved them in a menacing way.

22/08/2012 | World

Russia joins WTO after eighteen years

Russia's 18-year wait to enter the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is finally over. Russia is formally joining the world's free trade club today.

26/08/2012 | World

Two members of punk rock band flee Russia

Two members of Russia's anti-Kremlin punk band Pussy Riot have fled the country to avoid prosecution for staging a protest against President Vladimir Putin at a church altar, the band said.

15/08/2012 | World

Pussy Riot supporters protest at Russian cathedral

Security guards scuffled with masked protesters who demonstrated outside Moscow's main cathedral in support of three members of the Pussy Riot punk band who are on trial for staging an irreverent protest at the same church.

16/08/2012 | World

UN Syria mission to end, new blow to peace efforts

The United Nations' four-month-old observer mission in Syria will withdraw from the country next week, diplomats and UN officials said, yet another blow to the world body's efforts to broker an end to the conflict.

16/08/2012 | World

'Pussy Riot' face verdict in trial condemned by US

A Russian judge delivers a verdict on Friday against three members of the Pussy Riot punk band whose trial for staging an anti-Kremlin protest in a church has provoked an international outcry against President Vladimir Putin.

29/07/2012 | World

Russians face trial for 'punk prayer' about Putin

Three young women who staged an irreverent punk-rock protest against Vladimir Putin on the altar of Russia's main cathedral go on trial on Monday in a case seen as a test of the president's tolerance of dissent.

09/08/2012 | World

OECD sees emerging market slowdown spreading to Russia

Russia looks headed towards an economic slowdown, joining fellow emerging market powerhouses India and China whose economies are also showing signs of faltering, the latest report from the OECD showed today.

10/08/2012 | World

Russian official targets Madonna with crude tweet

A senior ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin used an obscene Twitter post to attack Madonna after the pop star called for the release of three women who face prison over an irreverent performance in Moscow's main cathedral.

07/07/2012 | World

Over 100 killed in floods, landslides in Russia

Floods and landslides killed at least 103 people in southern Russia after two months' average rainfall fell in a few hours, forcing some to climb on to roofs and into trees to save themselves, police said on Saturday.

09/07/2012 | World

Russia mourns flood victims, local officials blamed

Russia's emergencies minister accused local officials today of not doing enough to prevent 171 deaths in weekend floods that raised new doubts about the country's readiness for natural disasters under President Vladimir Putin.

19/07/2012 | World

Russia, China veto UN Security Council resolution on Syria

Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that threatened Syrian authorities with sanctions if they did not halt violence against an uprising, again thwarting Western hopes for tough action as the crisis in Syria escalates.

07/06/2012 | World

Sharapova on top of the world

It was little wonder Maria Sharapova's jubilant coach was wagging his index finger aloft as the Russian enjoyed a double celebration after sweeping into her maiden French Open final.

08/06/2012 | World

Russia's Putin signs tough anti-protest law

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that will dramatically increase fines for people who take part in protests that violate public order, just days ahead of the next planned rally against his 12-year rule.

12/06/2012 | World

Russians protest against Putin despite pressure

Tens of thousands of Russians marched through Moscow amid a stream of banners demanding President Vladimir Putin step down and challenging new laws designed to curb protest against his strongly centralised rule.

17/05/2012 | World

Russia says action on Syria, Iran may go nuclear

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warnedthat military action against sovereign states could lead to a regional nuclear war, starkly voicing Moscow's opposition to Western intervention ahead of a G8 summit at which Syria and Iran will be discussed

26/05/2012 | World

Putin puts Medvedev in charge of Russia's ruling party

President Vladimir Putin steered Dmitry Medvedev into the chairmanship of Russia's ruling party today and demanded reforms to the flagging organization he will rely on to keep his grip on the country's far-flung regions.

01/06/2012 | World

Annan frustrated over Syria, Russia gives no ground

International envoy Kofi Annan said on Friday he was "frustrated and impatient" a week after a massacre in Syria of 108 people shocked the world, but Russia said his peace plan was still the best hope for Syria.

30/04/2012 | World

China wants 'drastic' US, Russia nuclear arms cuts

China called on the United States and Russia to make further "drastic" cuts in their nuclear arsenals and said all states with atomic arms should undertake not to be the first to use them.

07/05/2012 | World

Putin pledges unity on return to Kremlin

Vladimir Putin took the oath as Russia's president with a ringing appeal for unity at the start of a six-year term in which he faces growing dissent, economic problems and bitter political rivalries.

16/05/2012 | World

Police disperse, detain anti-Putin protesters

Russian riot police detained at least 35 demonstrators breaking up one Occupy-style sit-in at a Moscow park and threatening to disperse another in a crackdown on a protest movement against newly inaugurated President Vladimir Putin.

13/04/2012 | World

Russia backs US nominee to head World Bank

Russia will support Jim Yong Kim, the US nominee for the next World Bank head, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said today after meeting the candidate, who is in Moscow on his world tour to seek support.

14/04/2012 | World

UN council approves deployment of monitors to Syria

Russia and China joined the rest of the UN Security Council today to authorize the deployment of up to 30 unarmed observers to Syria to monitor the country's fragile ceasefire as called for by UN-Arab League mediator Kofi Annan.

24/04/2012 | World

Putin steps down as United Russia party chief

President-elect Vladimir Putin tried to distance himself from the fraud-tainted ruling United Russia party, announcing he was stepping down as its chairman.

31/03/2012 | World

Riot police detain Russians demanding free assembly

Anti-government protesters shouting "Russia without Putin!" tussled with police in Moscow today, and dozens of activists were detained and bundled into police vans.

02/04/2012 | World

Russian plane crash kills 31, exposes safety record

A passenger plane crashed and burst into flames after takeoff in Siberia, killing 31 people and putting the spotlight on Russia's poor air-safety record before Vladimir Putin's return as president.

02/04/2012 | World

Blaze at Moscow skyscraper set to be Europe's tallest

Fire ripped through the top of a part-built skyscraper that is set to become Europe's tallest building and form the pinnacle of Moscow's new business district under plans to turn the Russian capital into a global financial centre.

05/03/2012 | World

Russia's Putin faces protests, monitors' criticism

Thousands of protesters chanting "Russia without Putin" took to the streets of Moscow and St Petersburg today to challenge Vladimir Putin's victory in a presidential election which international monitors said was unfair.

06/03/2012 | World

Opposition concerned over Russia’s Putin resorting to force

Russia's opposition expressed concern today that Vladimir Putin was resorting to old tactics to crush dissent after riot police detained hundreds of protesters challenging the legitimacy of his presidential election victory.

10/03/2012 | World

Smaller crowds challenge Putin after Russia poll

Thousands of Russians chanting "Time for change" challenged Vladimir Putin's presidential election victory on Saturday but their numbers were far fewer than in previous weeks.

04/02/2012 | World

Russians stage rival protests over Putin

Tens of thousands of Russians defied bitter cold in Moscow to demand fair elections in a march against Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule, and thousands of others staged a rally supporting the prime minister.

07/02/2012 | World

Attacks in Syria's Homs resume after Russian peace foray

Armoured forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad thrust deeper into the central city of Homs, firing rockets and mortar rounds to subdue opposition districts, activists said, a day after Russia said Assad wants peace.

04/03/2012 | World

Tearful Putin claims victory in Russian election

Vladimir Putin claimed victory in Russia's presidential election Sunday and, tears rolling down his cheeks, said it was a historical turning point that had prevented the country falling into the hands of enemies trying to usurp power.

29/12/2011 | World

Russia submerges nuclear submarine to douse blaze

Russia said it had won the battle with a raging blaze aboard a nuclear submarine by submerging the stricken vessel at a navy shipyard after hours of dousing the flames with water from helicopters and tug boats.

07/01/2012 | World

Russian church urges Kremlin to heed protesters

The leader of Russia's Orthodox Church urged the government to make political changes in response to post-election protests, in a rare departure from its traditional backing of the Kremlin.

03/02/2012 | World

Over 200 people killed in Syria as UN prepares to vote

More than 200 people were killed in shelling by Syrian forces in the city of Homs, activists said, as the UN Security Council prepared to vote on a draft resolution backing an Arab call for President Bashar al-Assad to give up power.

23/12/2011 | World

Thousands sign up for new Russian protest

More than 40,000 Russians have signed up online to protest in Moscow on Saturday against a disputed election, dismissing Kremlin promises of political change.

24/12/2011 | World

Mass rally in Moscow raises pressure on Putin

Tens of thousands of flag-waving and chanting protesters called today for a disputed parliamentary election to be rerun, increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin as he seeks a new term as Russian president.

27/12/2011 | World

Putin says Russian opposition lacks goals and leaders

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the opposition of lacking goals and leaders and promised a transparent presidential election next year, in his first comments since a mass protest against his rule over the weekend.

16/12/2011 | World

Russia says seized radioactive material en route to Iran

The Russian customs service said it had seized radioactive material found in the luggage of a passenger bound for Tehran at Moscow's Sheremetyevo international airport.

18/12/2011 | World

Russian drilling rig sinks off Sakhalin, 49 missing

An oil drilling rig with 67 crew on board capsized and sank off the Russian far eastern island of Sakhalin today when it ran into a storm while being towed, leaving 49 of the crew unaccounted for, the regional Emergencies Ministry said.

21/12/2011 | World

Multinational crew blasts off for space station

A trio of astronauts blasted off aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket on Wednesday on a mission to bring the International Space Station back up to full manpower after an August cargo launch accident disrupted flights.

07/12/2011 | World

Russian police block new anti-Putin rally

Plans for big new protests against Vladimir Putin fizzled after a show of force by Russian police who have detained more than 1,000 people in a crackdown since a parliamentary election dismissed by Kremlin foes as a fraud.

10/12/2011 | World

Russians take the streets to protest against Putin

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of cities across Russia today to demand an end to Vladimir Putin's rule and complain about alleged election fraud in the biggest show of defiance since he took power more than a decade ago.

11/12/2011 | World

Medvedev orders Russia poll inquiry, gets insults

President Dmitry Medvedev ordered an investigation into allegations of fraud in Russia's parliamentary election, one day after tens of thousands of protesters demanded it be annulled and rerun.

03/12/2011 | World

Russia vote watchdog head detained before election

Russian customs officers held the director of an independent election watchdog for 12 hours at a Moscow airport on Saturday and seized her laptop computer in what the group said was an attempt to stop it monitoring Sunday's parliamentary election.

05/12/2011 | World

Thousands protest against Putin after Russia vote

Several thousand protesters took to the streets to demand an end to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule after voters cut his party's parliamentary majority in an election that was condemned as unfair by European monitors.

06/12/2011 | World

Russian police crack down on anti-Putin protests

Hundreds of people demanded an end to Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule in protests in Russia's two largest cities, despite a crackdown by riot police and spoiling tactics by pro-Kremlin youth.

11/11/2011 | World

Putin defends Kremlin comeback, praises Berlusconi

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin praised outgoing fellow political veteran Silvio Berlusconi and defended his own decision to remain in power for years to come in front of an audience of foreign experts.

24/11/2011 | World

Russian anchor off air for finger gesture in Obama story

A famous Russian TV anchor has been taken off the air for making an obscene gesture after mentioning US President Barack Obama in a live newscast, the channel said.

26/11/2011 | World

Medvedev suggests prosecution for Russia space failure

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev raised the prospect of criminal prosecution for space mishaps on following a series of failed launches that have embarrassed Russia.

11/10/2011 | World

Russia's Putin says little role for BRICS in euro crisis

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that the crisis-hit euro zone had enough resources to resolve its own troubles without support from Russia and fellow BRICs countries.

17/10/2011 | World

Putin says Russia wants friendly ties with West

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in remarks broadcast that Moscow wants friendly ties with the West and other nations.

08/11/2011 | World

Russia rails against release of IAEA report

Russia criticized today the release of information in a UN nuclear agency report on Iran's nuclear programme, saying it would reduce hopes for dialogue with Tehran and suggesting it was aimed to scuttle the chances for a diplomatic solution.

24/09/2011 | World

Putin to return as Russian president

Vladimir Putin declared he was ready to return to the Russian presidency after current head of state Dmitry Medvedev announced he would bow to his mentor at March's election.

26/09/2011 | World

Russian finance minister ousted in power struggle

Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin was ousted today in an unusually bitter and public conflict with President Dmitry Medvedev that has exposed deep cracks in unity over Vladimir Putin's plan to return to the Kremlin.

27/09/2011 | World

Russia's Putin names Siluanov as acting Finance Minister

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin named today Deputy Finance Minister Anton Siluanov as acting Finance Minister, replacing Alexei Kudrin who was ousted a day earlier.

15/08/2011 | World

Iran's 'nuclear partner' Russia seeks to revive global talks

Russia will look to revive nuclear talks between Iran and the world's biggest economic and military powers this week, hoping its special relationship with Tehran can help jolt back to life negotiations that some analysts consider "dead in the water."

07/09/2011 | World

Dozens killed in Russian hockey team plane crash

A passenger plane carrying a Russian ice hockey team to a season-opening match crashed after takeoff from a provincial airport today, leaving 43 people feared dead.

08/09/2011 | World

Russia mourns loss of hockey team in plane crash

Candles flickered beside mounds of red carnations at the stadium of one of Russia's top ice hockey teams today after almost the entire team was wiped out in a plane crash that killed 43 people.

11/07/2011 | World

Russia: 128 feared dead in Volga river accident

Russia said there was little hope of finding any more people alive today after an overloaded tourist boat sank in the Volga River, killing as many as 128 people in Russia's worst river accident in three decades.

13/07/2011 | World

Death toll in Russian boat disaster reaches 100

Divers widened their search for 29 remaining missing boat passengers after the death toll in Russia's worst river disaster in three decades reached 100, the Emergencies Ministry said today. Officials say 79 of 208 passengers survived the sinking of an ageing, overcrowded tourist boat when it sank in the Volga River on Sunday.

22/07/2011 | World

Women strip to bras to back Putin return as president

About 20 young women stripped to their bras in central Moscow to show their support for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to return as Russia's president.

20/06/2011 | World

Russia says plane crash kills 44, eight injured

At least 44 people were killed and eight injured when a passenger plane broke up and caught fire on coming into land in fog in north-western Russia, an Emergency Ministry spokeswoman said.

27/06/2011 | World

Russia sees Iran nuclear plant running in August

Iran's Russian-built nuclear power plant is likely to become fully operational in early August, Russian news agencies quoted a senior diplomat as saying today.

10/07/2011 | World

Over 100 missing after boat sinks in Russia's Volga

More than 100 people were missing and feared drowned after a tourist boat sank in Russia's Volga river, emergency services officials and survivors said.

14/06/2011 | World

Major economies losing growth momentum, OECD says

Major economies, with the exception of the United States, are losing momentum as the outlook for growth worsens in European and developing countries, the OECD's leading indicator for April showed today.

16/06/2011 | World

Russia backs Ban Ki-moon for 2nd UN term

Russia joined other permanent UN Security Council members today in publicly backing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for a second term.

20/06/2011 | World

Russia opposes UN vote on Syria, EU to expand sanctions

Russia emphasized its opposition to a UN resolution condemning Syria's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and urged the opposition to sit down with President Bashar al-Assad's government for talks on reform.

26/05/2011 | World

US names Caucasus Islamist group to terrorism list

The United States named an Islamist insurgent group in Russia's North Caucasus to its official list of terrorist groups and offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the location of its leader.

27/05/2011 | World

Russia's Medvedev says 'Gaddafi should go'

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on Muammar Gaddafi to give up power and said that Russia would not give shelter to the Libyan leader.
Medvedev said he had sent an envoy to the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi as part of efforts to resolve the conflict.

03/06/2011 | World

Europe's lethal E.coli strain may be deadliest yet

More than 1,600 people have been infected by a toxic strain of E.coli bacteria that has killed at least 17 and may be the deadliest yet in human history, health officials said. E.Coli spread among people through human contact, World Health Organization said today.

12/04/2011 | World

NASA sending retired space shuttles to US museums

The three retiring US space shuttles will be going on display at museums in Florida, California and Virginia, the US space agency NASA said.

16/04/2011 | World

Russia to regulate net laws, looks abroad

Russia is looking to the experience of other countries, including China, to "regulate" Internet use, though Moscow has no plans to broaden web censorship, a government spokesman said.

06/05/2011 | World

Libya: France expels 14 diplomats, Russia opposes foreign intervention

France expelled 14 Libyan diplomats loyal to the government of Muammar Gaddafi, the French foreign ministry said. France, the United States, Britain and others are trying to go beyond the NATO bombing campaign. Russia said opposes any foreign ground operation in Libya.

22/12/2010 | World

US Senate approves nuclear arms treaty with Russia

The US Senate approved a landmark nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, giving President Barack Obama a major foreign policy victory in his drive to improve ties with Moscow and curb the spread of atomic weapons to other nations.

25/03/2011 | World

Last relative of Soviet founder Lenin dies aged 89

Olga Ulyanova, the niece of Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin who campaigned for his embalmed body to stay in a mausoleum on Moscow's Red Square, died in the Russian capital. She was 89.

04/04/2011 | World

Japan seeks Russian help to end nuclear crisis

Japan has asked nuclear superpower Russia to send a special radiation treatment ship used to decommission nuclear submarines as it fights to contain the world's worst atomic crisis since Chernobyl, Japanese media said.

30/09/2012 | Sports

Russia to spend US$20 billion on 2018 World Cup

Russia plans to spend almost US$20 billion on hosting the 2018 World Cup, the country's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said.

12/08/2012 | Sports

Powerful Russia wins gold after come-back

Russia beat Brazil to win the Olympic men's volleyball gold medal, fighting back from the brink of a straight-sets defeat to take the decider and seal a 3-2 victory.

05/09/2012 | Sports

Russia to reveal 2018 World Cup host cities this month

The host cities for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be announced this month, the tournament's organisers said.

29/09/2012 | Sports

Russia to have 12 stadiums for 2018 World Cup

Twelve venues, located in 11 Russian cities, will host the 2018 World Cup finals, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and the tournament organisers announced during a live television show today.

21/07/2012 | Sports

Capello will be unveiled as Russia coach on Wednesday

Former England manager Fabio Capello will be officially unveiled as Russia's coach on Wednesday, acting president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Nikita Simonyan said.

06/08/2012 | Sports

Isinbayeva considering Rio Games

Double Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva is considering putting her retirement plans on hold after winning only bronze behind American Jennifer Suhr at the London Games.

12/08/2012 | Sports

Russia beat Argentina to grab bronze

01/06/2012 | Sports

Italy's troubles mount with defeat to Russia

Italy's troubles mounted as they produced some slapstick defending in a 3-0 defeat by fellow Euro 2012 finalists Russia in their only warm-up match for the tournament.

11/06/2012 | Sports

Warsaw calls for calm over Russian march

Warsaw authorities appealed for calm ahead of a planned march by around 5,000 Russian fans to Warsaw stadium to watch their team's Euro 2012 Group A match against Poland, which could be a potential flashpoint of the tournament.

13/06/2012 | Sports

Russia accuses Polish fans of provoking clashes

Russia accused Polish soccer fans of provoking street battles with Russian supporters on the night of their countries' Euro 2012 match and urged Warsaw to prevent further clashes in the tournament.

18/03/2011 | Sports

Putin to head supervisory board of 2018 World Cup

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will head the supervisory board of the 2018 World Cup to be hosted by Russia, the country's government said.

26/03/2011 | Sports

England and Russia wary of Euro 2012 slip ups

England and Russia are fully aware of the potential pitfalls of facing weaker opposition when they tackle Wales and Armenia respectively today.

11/10/2011 | Sports

Russia to use 12 stadiums for 2018 World Cup

The 2018 World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums located in 11 Russian cities, head of the local organising committee (LOC) Vitaly Mutko said.

18/12/2012 | Entertainment

With new home, Mariinsky builds Russian roots

With the imminent opening of its third home venue, St. Petersburg's Mariinsky opera and ballet will ramp up an already prodigious output but may ease back on hectic foreign touring, director Valery Gergiev said today.

20/12/2012 | Entertainment

Putin offers Depardieu a Russian passport

President Vladimir Putin offered French actor Gerard Depardieu a Russian passport today, saying he would welcome the 63-year-old celebrity who is embroiled in a bitter tax row with France's socialist government.

05/01/2013 | Entertainment

French actor Depardieu in Russia to meet Putin

French film star Gerard Depardieu arrived in Russia today to meet President Vladimir Putin, who granted him citizenship after a public spat in France over his efforts to avoid a potential 75 percent income tax.

10/10/2012 | Entertainment

British singer Sarah Brightman to be Russia's next space tourist

British singer Sarah Brightman announced today she had bought a seat to fly on a Russian spaceship, describing the journey as a chance to fulfil a childhood desire "beyond her wildest dreams."

11/12/2012 | Entertainment

Russian opera's Galina Vishnevskaya dies at 86

Galina Vishnevskaya, the Russian opera singer whose soprano voice entranced composer Benjamin Britten and persuaded violinist Mstislav Rostropovich to become her third husband has died at the age of 86, her theatre said today.

11/12/2012 | Entertainment

Lady Gaga accused of illegal gay rights promotion in Russia

A political ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking legal action against US pop star Lady Gaga for promoting gay rights to minors during a concert on Sunday.

21/02/2011 | Entertainment

Cirque du Soleil puts record US$57 million in Russian show

Canadian circus company Cirque du Soleil will invest a record US$57 million in a new show in Moscow next year to test the ground before launching a permanent show in Russia by 2015, its president said.

09/08/2012 | Entertainment

Madonna supports gay rights in Russia concert

Pop star Madonna spoke out for gay rights at a concert in St Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin's home town, where activists say a law adopted this year to curb homosexual "propaganda" is discriminatory.

18/08/2012 | Entertainment

Madonna adds her voice to critics of Pussy Riot verdict

Madonna, who had already voiced her support for the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, today joined a chorus of celebrities in slamming a jail sentence handed down in Moscow to three women from the group over a protest against President Vladimir Putin.