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

Russian Anastasia Myskina has attributed her subdued year in which she has failed to win a single WTA title to fatigue following a busy 2004.

Last week, world leaders met for what UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan described as a ""once-in-a-generation opportunity to take bold decisions in the areas of development, security, human rights and reform of the United Nations.""

My friend has known for a couple of years that he is infected with HIV. In this time he has learned that 55,000 copies of the virus per 1 millimeter of blood is the critical level -- the moment when one should start receiving treatment. It is a difficult moment for anyone with HIV, the time when one becomes a lifetime patient, the point of no return.

After the drama of the German election comes the time for the eating of words.

An election campaign is under way in Russia. Or rather, a whole slew of election campaigns are under way. Local government elections are scheduled in a number of regions this fall, and according to the law on local self-rule the new crop of officials should be at their desks by Jan. 1.

After lashing the Florida Keys, Hurricane Rita was upgraded on Wednesday into a more powerful Category 4 storm as it headed across the Gulf of Mexico on a course that could take it to Texas and dump more rain on Katrina-battered Louisiana.

A leader of Germany's Greens on Wednesday knocked down conservatives' hopes that the party would help opposition leader Angela Merkel become chancellor in a coalition government, citing major differences with her Christian Democrats and their pro-business ally.