The Moscow Times

Business: RenCap Cuts RTS '08 Target to 2,350
Renaissance Capital on Monday slashed its year-end forecast for the benchmark RTS Index from 3,000 to 2,350 and increased its equity risk premium for the country from 4 percent to 5.5 percent in a sign of continued investor jitters.

News

Defense Ministry to Auction Off Own Bases
By Anatoly Medetsky / Staff Writer The Defense Ministry is looking to play auctioneer for the first time as part of a plan to sell billions of dollars' worth of property to help fund the construction of much-needed housing for officers.

Norilsk Deal Shaky Ahead of Vote
By Catrina Stewart / Staff Writer United Company RusAl's multibillion-dollar bid for a blocking stake in Norilsk Nickel, the world's largest nickel and palladium miner, is hanging in the balance amid reports that Mikhail Prokhorov's Onexim Group is objecting to a key clause in the deal.

News in Brief
Sochi Blast Injures 2China Happy With HotlineAzerbaijan Election Date

BoNY Wants Case Dismissed
Reuters The Bank of New York fought for the dismissal on Monday of a $22.5 billion lawsuit, arguing that a Russian civil court cannot enforce U.S. criminal laws against it and questioning the size of the claim.

Putin Hints at Splitting Up Ukraine
The Moscow Times President Vladimir Putin hinted at last week's NATO summit in Romania that Russia would work to break up Ukraine, should the former Soviet republic join the military alliance, Kommersant reported Monday.

Clinton Sacks Top Strategist
The Associated Press Hillary Rodham Clinton is turning to her communications chief to plan her presidential election strategy after giving the boot to a polarizing top aide because of his work on behalf of a trade agreement that Clinton opposes.

EU Allows Cell Phone Use in Planes
The Associated Press The European Union on Monday opened the way for air travelers to use mobile phones to talk, text or send e-mails on planes throughout Europe's airspace.

Sadr Will Disband Troops in Case of Religious Ruling
Reuters Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr offered on Monday to disband his militia if the highest Shiite religious authority demands it, a shock announcement at a time when the group is the focus of an upsurge in fighting.

Sri Lanka Strikes Tamil Base After Minister Killed in Blast
The Associated Press Sri Lankan air force jets destroyed a suspected training base for Tamil Tiger suicide attackers Monday, while new fighting in the civil war killed 49 rebels and one soldier, the military said.

Zimbabwe Election in Suspense
The Associated Press Zimbabwe's top opposition leader was in South Africa on Monday, holding meetings on the same day he issued a call for international help in getting President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Tibet Protesters Disrupt Torch Relay
Reuters Chinese officials called off a chaotic relay of the Olympic torch through Paris on Monday after thousands of pro-Tibet protesters tried to block its path and the flame had to be extinguished at least twice.

Polyus Shareholders Head Off Potanin Bid for Stronger Hand
Reuters Shareholders in Polyus Gold elected on Monday to retain the firm's current board of directors and voting charter, thwarting an attempt by a co-owner to strengthen his hand in Russia's largest gold miner.

DNA Tests May Solve Tsarist Mystery
By Stephanie Reitz / The Associated Press Answers to the mystery of what befell the heirs of Russia's last tsar nearly a century ago may rest behind locked laboratory doors in Moscow and New England.

United Russia Will Tap Putin
Reuters United Russia will invite President Vladimir Putin to become its leader, party chief and State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said Monday.

White House Limits Reporters to Press Room, Toilets
The Moscow Times Under new rules introduced Monday, journalists are no longer free to walk around the White House meeting government officials.

Matviyenko Suspects Freed
Combined Reports Jurors at the St. Petersburg City Court on Monday acquitted three people of trying to assassinate St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko.

U.S. Pastor Admits Partial Guilt
By Natalya Krainova / Staff Writer A U.S. pastor arrested in February for bringing rifle rounds into Russia told a prosecutor on the first day of his trial Monday that he was ""partially"" guilty of the charges.

Analyst Links Attack to Vote Fraud Claim
By Francesca Mereu / Staff Writer A political analyst has been hospitalized following an attack by unidentified assailants that he believes was connected to claims he made of electoral fraud in the Dec. 2 State Duma election.

World's Tallest Man Struggles to Fit In
By Olga Bondaruk / The Associated Press Leonid Stadnik's phenomenal height has forced him to quit a job he loved, to stoop as he moves around his house and to spend most of his time in his tiny home village because he cannot fit in a car or bus.

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