The Moscow Times

Market Matters: As Conflict Ends, Markets on Road to Recovery
After tumbling to its lowest point in almost two years on Tuesday, Russia's MICEX Index began to slowly claw its way back over the rest of the week, suggesting a possible end to the volatility that has plagued the country's markets since tensions erupted between Russia and Georgia on Aug. 8.

News

Sechin's Clan the Loser in a Week of Surprises
By Francesca Mereu / Staff Writer The Prosecutor General's Office ordered an inspection of the Investigative Committee's activities on Friday, capping a week of stinging blows to a powerful Kremlin clan led by Kremlin deputy chief of staff Igor Sechin.

Critical Kremlin Reporter Expelled
By / Staff Writer A journalist was refused entry to Russia on Sunday, just days after publishing a story that claimed the presidential administration had a secret multimillion-dollar fund that it used to finance parties during the State Duma elections.

Changes Loom for Yabloko and SPS
By David Nowak / Staff Writer After disappointing Duma elections, Yabloko decides not to support Yavlinsky in the presidential vote and SPS considers rebranding.

China Prevailing In 'Great Game'
By Mansur Mirovalev, Douglas Birch / The Associated Press The driver of the 18-wheel tractor-trailer from China idling at the Kazakhstan-China border said apples were the cargo he brought to Almaty, Kazakhstan's booming commercial center. For Kazakhs, there's a tart irony in the shipment.

Bukovsky Kicks Off Long-Shot Bid
Combined Reports Several hundred supporters gathered Sunday to nominate Soviet-era dissident Vladimir Bukovsky to run for president in March's election, but official residency requirements will make it hard for him to qualify for the race.

MN to Stop Publishing on Jan. 1
By Max Delany / Staff Writer It may have outlived perestroika and survived the Yukos affair, but now financial problems seem to have sunk the weekly newspaper Moskovskiye Novosti.

Medvedev Would Tip Scales in Gazprom's Favor
By Anatoly Medetsky / Staff Writer If elected president, Dmitry Medvedev will most likely tip the scales in favor of Gazprom in any new acquisitions and help the state-controlled gas giant with domestic prices and taxes.

News in Brief
Ryzhkov Won't RunChechen Gunbattle Kills 5Ingush Post AttackedTymoshenko Vote TuesdaySerial Killer Suspect on TrialCall for Help in CaucasusArmenia Newspaper BombSuspects Linked to Iran

Vorontsov, U.S. and UN Diplomat, Is Dead at 78
The Associated Press Yuli Vorontsov, a veteran diplomat who served the Soviet Union and Russia as ambassador to countries from Afghanistan to the United States in a career spanning the Cold War and the Gulf War, has died, the Foreign Ministry said. He was 78.

General Lashes Out at Pentagon
The Associated Press The country's top military officer on Saturday accused the United States of seeking direct confrontation with Moscow and warned again that U.S. plans to deploy missile defenses in Europe would destabilize the continent.

Fears of Turmoil as Kyrgyzstan Votes
By Bagila Bukharbayeva / The Associated Press Kyrgyz voters cast ballots for a new parliament Sunday in elections that many fear could cause further political turmoil. Opposition groups say President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's government plans to falsify the elections in an effort to oust his staunchest rivals from the legislature.

Lavrov, Brown Trade Barbs in British Council Dispute
Reuters Foreign Minister Segeri Lavrov accused Britain on Friday of systematically trying to undermine diplomatic ties, but British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had the European Union's backing in a dispute over the activities of the British Council.

Briton Charged in Murder of Wife and Grandmother
By David Nowak / Staff Writer A British citizen is in custody on suspicion of killing his new wife and her grandmother and then trying to commit suicide in their apartment in the Tver region, investigators said.

Experts See Democracy, Murder in Crystal Ball
By Simon Saradzhyan / Staff Writer Russia's resurgence on the world stage and its economic growth will continue, but the country will not evolve into a full-fledged democracy in the next decade if Vladimir Putin succeeds in transferring power to his successor and oil prices stay high, a new report says.

Zyuganov Promises to Fight Medvedev
By Dmitry Solovyov / Reuters The Communist Party on Saturday nominated leader Gennady Zyuganov to run for president in March -- a vote where he faces a daunting challenge against President Vladimir Putin's preferred successor.

Klebnikov Retrial to Start
Reuters The Moscow City Court will open a retrial Monday of two Chechens accused of murdering U.S. journalist Paul Klebnikov.

Other Russia Activist Sent to Psychiatric Hospital
The Associated Press An Other Russia activist was committed to a psychiatric hospital before government protests, supporters said Friday -- the latest in a series of incidents suggesting a punitive Soviet-era practice is being revived.

Swiss Man Asks Minsk for Asylum, Then Leaves
By Natalya Krainova / Staff Writer A Swiss citizen who asked for refugee status in Belarus has returned to Switzerland without explanation after spending 10 days in the country, Belarussian officials said.

Belarus Will Pay 19% More for Gas
Combined Reports Belarus will pay 19 percent more for Russian gas beginning next year, Gazprom said Saturday, a day after President Vladimir Putin announced $1.5 billion in loans to help its economy adjust to rising prices.

U.K. Outspends U.S. at World Bank
Reuters The United States lost its status as the largest donor to the World Bank's main fund for poor countries, the lender said Friday, as Britain pledged more in the latest funding round that secured a record amount of aid.

Catholic Church Charged With Soul Poaching
Reuters The Roman Catholic Church on Friday defended its ""right and duty"" to spread its message to nonbelievers and to welcome converts, particularly from other Christian churches.

EU Plans Mission to Kosovo in Anticipation of Independence
Reuters European Union leaders agreed on Friday to send administrators and police to Kosovo ahead of its expected secession from Serbia, which branded the mission an attempt to create a ""puppet state"" on its soil.

Turks Bomb Rebels Deep Inside Iraq
Reuters Turkish warplanes targeting Kurdish rebels bombed villages deep in northern Iraq on Sunday, killing one woman and forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes, local officials said.

Britain Hands Basra Over to Iraqis
Reuters Britain handed over security in Basra province to Iraqi forces on Sunday, effectively marking the end of nearly five years of British control of southern Iraq.

Bali Talks Agree on Road Map
Reuters Nearly 200 nations agreed at UN-led talks in Bali on Saturday to launch negotiations on a new pact to fight global warming after a last-minute reversal by the United States allowed a breakthrough.

Features

Services

Tools

MT news

Testimonials

Sponsored links

News

Currency Exchange

Weather

Hurdles Ahead.

Most Popular Stories.

Archive

Columnists