14:39 The Russian soul
Nikita Mikhalkov has only praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin. "No one can hold a candle to him as a leader," he says, adding that he is "worried to the depths of my soul about what will happen in 2008, the year in which Putin is going to resign.

14:03 Academy To End Animal Testing
The St. Petersburg Veterinary Academy this week committed itself to bringing an end to vivisection for educational purposes, becoming the first university in Russia to do so.