$50 billion has created a dream Winter Olympics resort - but Siberia also has great mountains.

Flights late on Thursday and on Friday suffered disruption due to smog caused by blazes in dry woodland made vulnerable by the current heat wave.

Altai floodwater could be sent to parched Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, says Russian agriculture minister.

With smoke having blown as far as the US and Canada, experts now say 'the trend is positive' in controlling fires raging from the Urals to the Pacific.

Ukraine has moved its Consulate General from Vladivostok to Novosibirsk. The former Soviet state has other Consultates General around Russia already.

Rescue effort underway to provide emergency feeding sites for the helpless animals, with the wild boar population also in trouble.

New field will enable eventual exports to China via 'western route' through Altai Mountains.