The conflict between Russia"s ruling pro-Kremlin...

The conflict between Russia"s ruling pro-Kremlin party United Russia and upper house speaker Sergei Mironov over the latter"s disagreement with the prime minister ended peacefully when the sides signed an agreement.

MOSCOW, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - The...

MOSCOW, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - The largest in Europe and the only in Russia indoor speed skating centre opened in Moscow on Thursday. At the opening ceremony Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov expressed gratitude to the International Skating Union for "trust due to which it was decided to hold the world speed skating championship of 2005 in Moscow back before the beginning of the construction of the centre." "The time when we held the championships of Russia in Berlin has passed, and new champions will now come into being here, in Moscow," Mr. Luzhkov said. The Krylatskoye speed skating centre is included in the Olympic River programme of building sports facilities. It is Russia"s only indoor complex with a 400-metre international-level speed skating track and the world"s sole skating rink where specially prepared water will be used for making ice. The new centre is an up-to-date five-storey building including an ice arena with three speed skating tracks and a circular track, and ice-hockey and figure skating rinks. The stands have a seating capacity of up to 10,000. A medical centre, a hotel for athletes with accommodation for 50, and a parking lot for 500 motor vehicles also form part of the centre. The complex with an artificial ice field will enable athletes to train all year round. From February 4 to 6 the Krylatskoye centre will host the world speed skating championship in which more than 1,000 athletes from 20 countries are expected to take part.

Russian and U.S. negotiators will wrap up...

Russian and U.S. negotiators will wrap up a new strategic arms reduction pact in the very near future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.