* The Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry said foreign trade had reached $331.4 billion in the January-November period, with a surplus of $113.8 billion
* The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said several dozens of people had been poisoned with an unknown gas, dispersed in two trade centers in St. Petersburg
* The Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry said natural gas output had stood at 577 billion cu m in January-November 2005, up 0.6% year-on-year
* The Council of the Moscow Chamber of Attorneys decided not to disbar Albert Mkrtychev, a lawyer for jailed Yukos founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky
* Russia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to conduct annual meetings and joint projects on energy security
