Historic cities of Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk ideal to connect country to buoyant Asian markets.

The aim? To put in place a Moscow government 'friendly' to Washington, and to protect US interests and citizens.

'Turn to the East', which started a year ago, is gaining popularity

The Russian government is to give priority to Siberia and the Far East as it puts modernisation on fast-forward, insists Dmitry Medvedev.

Residents complain of 'severe carbon monoxide poisoning' as satellite images show blanket of smoke across eastern Siberia.

Recent reports showed 89 wildfires in Siberia and 25 in the Russian Far East as a new season of damage to forests gets underway.

Bid to put Russian island on the world's surfing map.

The discovery of an ice-preserved female mammoth comes amid a debate on whether scientists should try to recreate the species using DNA.

Fresh water supply crisis looms in parts of Siberia as critics accuse hydroelectric firm of 'excessive drainage' from lake.