A New York-based architectural firm was on Tuesday awarded a prestigious contract from billionaire Roman Abramovich to design an island in Russia's imperial capital Saint Petersburg.

The WORKac firm was announced the winner in a private tender organized by the Millhouse investment firm of the billionaire businessman that oversees the design of the New Holland project.

The French chef who cooks for President Dmitry Medvedev in the Kremlin said Friday that he "does not have the right to make a mistake," but stayed tight-lipped on the Russian leader's favorite dish.

"It's a lot of stress and a huge personal commitment. You have to be available 24 hours and constantly keep an eye on things," Jerome Rigaud told Agence France Presse as the chefs who cook for world leaders held a regular summit in Moscow.

A modern ballet with music by cult U.S. rock band The White Stripes has wowed Bolshoi Theater audiences, helping the company shake off a conservative image as it plans a return to its historic home.

"Chroma", British choreographer Wayne McGregor's 2006 exploration of the influence of psychology on movement, is a sharp contrast to the 19th-century narrative ballets that have been the staple of the Bolshoi repertoire.

A debate has emerged among the Lebanese forces allied to Syria over Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat’s recent positions, with some sides voicing their disappointment with them, revealed a March 8 source to al-Jumhuriya newspaper on Wednesday.

“We are monitoring his stances” in apprehension of any shift in his alliance, it added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi will visit Moscow at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss Tehran's controversial nuclear drive, an official said on Tuesday.

"Regarding Mr. Lavrov's invitation to Mr. Salehi ... the topics of discussion will be elevating bilateral relations, studying regional and international developments," Foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a media conference.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has unveiled that he held a telephone conversation with former Premier Saad Hariri thanking him for his latest stance on Jumblat.

The Druze leader told An Nahar daily published Friday that he heard “moving words” from Hariri but refused to give further details.

A mysterious Internet video has emerged urging young Russian women to rip off their clothes as an army to encourage Vladimir Putin to return to the Kremlin in 2012 elections.

"He's a worthy politician and an awesome man. He is adored by millions," says the provocative video by supporters dubbed "Putin's Army."

Four Russian policemen were killed and nine others wounded Monday in two separate blasts in Russia's restive North Caucasus, news agencies quoted local law enforcement officials as saying.

Two policemen were killed and seven injured in the wooded mountains of restive Chechnya, Interfax quoted a law enforcement official as saying.

Russian officials on Monday confirmed 11 people had died when an overcrowded cruise ship carrying nearly 200 people capsized on the Volga river.

Sunday's accident happened three kilometers from the shore near Syukeyevo village in Tatarstan, some 800 kilometers east of Moscow.

Two bottles of the world's oldest champagne are expected to fetch record-breaking bids at an auction in Finland's autonomous island province of Aaland Friday, wine experts said.

Samantha Compono, spokeswoman for the specialty wine auctioneer Acker Merrall & Condit told Agence France Presse that the bids should exceed the previous record set in 2008, when a bottle of 1959 Dom Perignon sold for $40,000 (27,600 Euros).