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

Wow, like probably every other Canadian who reads The Moscow Times, this is a question I never thought I'd hear.

Sajida Rishawi shocked the world when she appeared on Jordanian television and admitted her role in the plot to blow up a wedding at a hotel in Amman on Nov. 9.

This year, World AIDS Day is different. For years, Russian journalists have conscientiously produced print and television reports on the scourge each Dec. 1 -- and that was about all the attention Russia paid to AIDS.

The experience of Star TV, part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire, is an exception to the rule that multi-national corporations discover more tangible business opportunities in China than in India.

A major chemical spill last month in the Chinese province of Jilin created panic not only among the 3.8 million residents of nearby Harbin but also in a number of Russian cities that rely on water from the Amur River. In the spill, the Songhua River was contaminated with 100 tons of benzene, making it unsafe not only for drinking but for all household uses. The Songhua flows into the Amur southeast of Khabarovsk. The spill occurred on Nov. 13, but the first press reports did not appear until last Thursday, more than 10 days after the accident.

When Peter, from New Zealand, arrived in Moscow several years ago, he was ""brimming with excitement"" at the idea of starting his stint as an English teacher.

London-based oil and gas financial advisory firm Harrison Lovegrove & Co. has announced the appointment of Robin Matthews as managing director for Eurasia.

UEFA Cup holder CSKA Moscow looks to put the gloss on the most successful year in its history by sealing qualification to the knockout stage on Thursday.