A brief look at the stories making headlines in the Russian-language press

Andrei Artyomenko can pinpoint the day he believes he became infected.

Semyon Tokmakov stretches out his hand and points to a thick scar he got from assaulting a black U.S. Marine six years ago.

Easing Visa Rules MOSCOW (AP) -- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signed an agreement Tuesday with France and Italy that should make it easier for some Russians to receive visas, Interfax reported. The agreement, which now must be approved by the State Duma, would ease visa regulations for certain travelers, particularly young people, individuals taking part in cultural and educational exchanges, lawmakers and other government officials. The proposal also calls for easing the issuance of five-year, multi-entry visas for some travelers, Interfax said. Kultura Eyes Parfyonov MOSCOW (MT) -- Fired NTV journalist Leonid Parfyonov has been offered the post of general director of state television station Kultura, Gazeta reported Tuesday. The newspaper said state-controlled Channel One television is also interested in hiring Parfyonov.

The continent-wide elections for the European Parliament have produced plenty of headlines for national politicians because so many voters seized on the poll to register a protest against incumbent governments largely on domestic issues.

In the past week, Russia celebrated the 14th anniversary of its declaration of state sovereignty, and a state funeral in Washington marked the death of Ronald Reagan, the United States' 40th president.

In his state of the union address last month, President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia's GDP could be doubled by 2010.

Oleg Tinkov sees himself as something more than Russia's ""beer oligarch,"" as he has been called.

The new Iraqi government wants custody of Saddam Hussein and all other prisoners by the time sovereignty is handed over at the end of this month, the interim prime minister said.