The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow will host the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League Final. The prospect of an all-English showdown even could make the Premier League move the Final venue to the UK. But Moscow insists on the UEFA regulations and all preparations done not to lose its right to hold club football's most prestigious event. The furthest East cup final could cause some tourist visa hindrances for English or Spanish or just all football supporters who are eager to get to the match.

The last summit for the present Russian and American presidents took place in Sochi, Saturday, April 5. The two presidents without breaking though signed a Strategic Framework Declaration, which will be the base for the future relations between Russia and the USA under new presidents.

Russian- Armenian integration will be growing. The fact that the newly elected Armenian president Serge Sarkisyan has made its first official visit to our country has emphasized the importance of the bilateral relations.

Richard Sorge is one of the best spies of the WWII and the best Soviet spy working in Japan before and during the war. He called the exact day of Operation Barbarossa and warned the Soviets that Japan would not attack the Soviet Union that year, what became the key points in World War II.

Yesterday Moscow and Kiev ended the gas row rather unexpectedly. The recent Gazprom ultimatum to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine resulted in Ukraine’s promise to pay off its debt and the revising the major gas supply scheme, worked out after the gas conflict of 2005-2006. The gas supply operators are to be changed; two joint companies of Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogaz will appear.

Russia has declared it’s ready to resolve the North Territory issue with Japan. This disputable question prevents two countries from signing peace for more that sixty years. The negotiations marked on May this year between the present Russian president and Japanese premier and the meeting at G8 summit with the new Russian leader are to play a key role in further developing of bilateral relations.

Russian premier minister has come to Yerevan, Armenia for two-days bilateral negotiation on trade-economic, investment, energy, nuclear energy and transport issues.

Earlier in December Russia has announced about the obligatory closing down of all out of Moscow offices of the British Council. The lack of legal basis and problems with taxation were called the main reasons. Now the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs reveals other aspects of mutual reclamations and expects Britain to make advances.

Yesterday the three day official visit of the Greek MP Costas Karamanlis to Moscow was over. It was the fifth Russia-Greek meeting at the high level for the last two years. The main result of the meeting is the Russia’s claim to supply double as much gas to Greece up to 2040.

Kosovo may declare its independence early in 2008. The U.S. and leading allies would prefer proceeding under the supervised statehood plan, even without a U.N. agreement. Russia is pressing for more talks, pointing out that Kosovo separation can provoke a precedent for other countries.

Russia's Navy has resumed its continual presence in different regions of the world's oceans since December 5, 2007. The expedition to the northern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea is aimed at ensuring a Russia naval presence and establishing conditions for secure Russian navigation.

Everybody working in an office has to mix with different type of people. And except enjoying a good society of one’s firm-mates one has to put up with irritating habits of the colleagues. Here are some common workplace personalities in Russia and in the UK.

PM of Finland paid a visit to Russia on November 27, 2007. The Prime Ministers of the two countries discussed ways of improving operations at the Finnish-Russian border, questions relating to the forest sector such as export duties on timber, cooperation in the field of energy and EU-Russia relations. They also discussed bilateral trade and economic relations and cooperation in the field of transport and the environment.

Summit Russia-EU, which is to be held in Mafra, Portugal, is rather a habit than a real necessity. Though Russia and EU were planning to sign an agreement on partnership a year ago, now this question is not on the agenda at all, because EU can’t help noticing the conflict between Russia on the one side and Poland and the Baltic states on the other.

Bernard Kouchner, Foreign and European Affairs Minister of France, has presented the interests of the new French government during his two-day working visit in Moscow on September 17 and 18. Since Nicolas Sarkozy is French President, the position of the two countries differ on some issues, including unilateral recognition of Kosovo independence, the Irannian nuclear issue and antimissile defense system.

The yesterday resignation of Russian government produced lots of questions with not only the world society but even with Russian citizens themselves. Who is Viktor Zubkov? Who will remain in the cabinet of Ministers? How the main Russian policy will change? And, of course, did President Putin call his successor or it’s just a technical move? Today at briefing Mr. Zubkov said he regards his running for president as possible.

Within the APEC summit, which is held in Australia this week, Australia and Russia are planning to increase their economic cooperation in many fields, including peaceful use of uranium. Australian businessmen regard Russian market as developing and promising. At the same time the Russian side is to keep on investing into Australian natural assets industries.

‘Mr Bashmet is probably the most formidable exponent of the viola today. More than that, he is a string player of altogether uncanny powers. His tone is vocal, expressively vocal, devoid of artifice. He can move without a break from the most hushed, liquid legato to a huge, hall-filling fortissimo.’ - THE NEW YORK TIMES

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is released for sale in Moscow on July, 21, 3 a m. This is the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series of novels by J.K.Rowling.

The First international festival of Finno-Ugric nations "SHUMBRAT, FINNO-UGRIA!" will be held in the capital of Mordovia - Saransk on July 19-21. Numerous delegations from Hungary, Finland, Estonia, all Finno-Ugric republics of Russia, representatives of more than 30 Russian regions - more than one a half thousands people - will arrive in Saransk.