Pedal power challenge as the Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme ultra-stage bicycle race heads from Moscow to Vladivostok.

Hopes for significant rise of Chinese visitors and special fares between April and October to encourage young Russians to travel to Baikal.

To the outside world, the resort of Sheregesh is as well known for Yeti as skiing or snowboarding.

'The Siberian pine is just divine: that is the overwhelming verdict of riders hurtling round the thrilling new velodrome at 2012 Olympics', reported Reuters.

'We've got to punish singers financially', Irina Ruzankina's lawyer said, adding that there will be '12 claims altogether, like 12 apostles'.

The unnamed third year student from Dagestan was excluded for wearing a headscarf against the university's rules.

Schoolboy 'finds giant footprint in clay near campsite'.

Vlada Dzyuba, 14, was dreaming of catwalk stardom, but now her parents 'cannot afford to fly her body home' to bury her.

He emphasised the importance of the economically buoyant Asian-Pacific region as critical to the development of Russia as Western markets stall.