* A new Moscow-St. Petersburg electric train equipped with world-class comfort, safety and technology will begin its first journey from Leningradsky Station. Presidential Envoy to the Central Federal District Georgy Poltavchenko and Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin will attend the ceremony.
* The 11th World Sambo (self-defense) Championship will be held.
ST. PETERSBURG
* Russian Naval Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Masorin will oversee the beginning of construction of a new sea rescue vessel, the Ivan Belousov.
BEIJING
* Japanese-North Korean bilateral talks on the normalization of relations will open (until December 25).
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