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

The Chinese city's officials warn that the water is still not drinkable, while the benzene slick inches downstream toward Russia.

For centuries, the British have been notorious for heavy drinking. Attempts to curb this by high taxes and restrictions on the sale of alcohol have had declining success.

Call it history's revenge or the Nixon-goes-to-China syndrome run amok: Events in the Middle East now force political leaders to eat vows never to do certain things and then pronounce the dish tasty.

During U. S. President George W. Bush's recent trip to Asia, there was a sharp contrast between his public call for more freedom and democracy in China and his closed-door meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Oil Field Taxes Russia may grant oil companies tax breaks for developing new fields as early as next year, Prime-Tass reported, citing Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Shatalov. The tax amendments will probably be passed next year, Prime-Tass said, citing comments by Shatalov on Thursday. The government plans to levy the tax according to scaled rates in 2007, Prime-Tass reported, citing earlier comments by Finance Ministry official Mikhail Motorin. (Bloomberg) St. Pete to Get Oil Cash The federal government decided to spend 17.9 billion rubles ($620 million) to build a highway near St. Petersburg beginning next year, amid concerns that planned increases in state spending may fuel inflation, Vedomosti reported. Budget revenue is increasing because of high prices for oil, the country's biggest export earner. The country plans to spend 69.7 billion rubles on investment projects next year and about 70 billion rubles per year in 2007 and 2008, the newspaper said, citing a government resolution.