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.

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Last Dance in Sochi for Outgoing Presidents
By Anna Smolchenko / Staff Writer President George W. Bush and his host, President Vladimir Putin, didn't allow what have been strained relations and a host of unresolved issues between their countries to put a damper on their last dinner together.

Putin and Bush Find Nothing to Sign
By Anna Smolchenko / Staff Writer Presidents Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush didn't resolve their differences on missile defense but agreed to deepen cooperation, speaking warmly, almost nostalgically of each other during their farewell meeting on Sunday.

Putin Tries Surprise NATO Offensive
By Nabi Abdullaev / Staff Writer President Vladimir Putin warned NATO against further expansion toward Russia's borders and criticized a NATO plan for joint missile defense as inferior to a deal Russia has proposed to the United States.

Poland Faces Pressure Over Missile Defense
Reuters NATO's blessing of U.S. plans for a missile-defense system in Europe and signs it will get the tacit consent of Russia has put pressure on Poland to wrap up talks with Washington on hosting the hardware.

Bush Meets Turkmenistan's Leader
Reuters U.S. President George W. Bush held talks with Turkmenistan's president on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Bucharest -- their first official meeting since the Turkmen leader came to power in 2006.

NATO Deal Built on Ambiguity
By Paul Taylor / Reuters The Americans are delighted, the Georgians and Ukrainians elated, the French and Germans happy, and the Russians not too angry.

Several Newspapers Taunt Tbilisi, Kiev
By David Nowak / Staff Writer Several national newspapers on Friday taunted Ukraine and Georgia over NATO's decision to postpone bringing them into the alliance.

Ex-KGB Officer Claims Poisoning
The Moscow Times British police are investigating claims by former KGB officer Oleg Gordievsky that he was poisoned in an attempt on his life.

Ukraine's Ex-Premier Fined $20M
Reuters A U.S. judge ordered a former Ukrainian prime minister on Friday to pay nearly $19.5 million to a Ukrainian businessman who said the politician demanded cash and half ownership of his firm in exchange for favored treatment.

Lukashenko Hopes for Better Relations With U.S.
Reuters Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday that he hoped ties with the United States, beset by a dispute over sanctions and human rights, could soon be improved.

Rocket Readied Amid Rust and Stray Dogs
By Douglas Birch / The Associated Press The rocket scheduled to carry the first Korean citizen into space rolled to the launch pad Sunday, hauled across the scrubland of the Central Asian steppes by a locomotive at dawn.

Investigators Reopen Probe of Shchekochikhin's Death
The Moscow Times The Investigative Committee has formally opened a criminal investigation into the mysterious 2003 death of Yury Shchekochikhin, a liberal State Duma deputy and Novaya Gazeta journalist, Interfax reported Friday.

Opposition Agrees to Unity Talks
AP, Reuters, MT Representatives of the liberal opposition signed a resolution Saturday aimed at uniting their forces.

Protesters Hijack a Red Square Wedding
Reuters, MT Police detained at least 25 people on Saturday who demonstrated on Red Square after they used a wedding procession to reach the restricted area.

Referendum Restrictions Clear Duma
AP, Reuters The State Duma on Friday imposed new restrictions on national referendums, ignoring vehement opposition from Communists.

UN Chief to Visit
Bloomberg United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will arrive in Moscow on Wednesday for talks with President Vladimir Putin and his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, the UN said.

Explosion That Killed 3 Blamed on Students and a Blow Torch
The Moscow Times An explosion Friday evening that killed three people in northern Moscow is being blamed on a welding torch used by students to make medieval weaponry.

Bus Tours to Britain Canceled
By Anna Malpas / Staff Writer Russia's biggest bus tour operator acts after more than half of a group is denied British visas.

Microsoft Cuts Software Prices for Some Media
By Natalya Krainova / Staff Writer Microsoft has announced that it will sell its software to less wealthy media outlets at discount prices in an effort to help them avoid pressure from the authorities based on the possession and use of pirated programs.

Montenegro Votes in Its First Presidential Election
The Associated Press Montenegrins were voting Sunday in the tiny Balkan state's first presidential election since it split from Serbia two years ago, with incumbent Filip Vujanovic favored to win.

Mugabe Demands Recount
The Associated Press Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's ruling party demanded a vote recount -- and a further delay in the release of results from Zimbabwe's presidential election, the state Sunday Mail newspaper reported, prompting outrage from the opposition party.

Actor, Activist Charlton Heston Dies
By Sandra Maler, Bill Trott / Reuters Oscar-winning U.S. actor Charlton Heston, whose chiseled features and commanding presence won him epic roles from Moses to Michelangelo, died on Saturday night at the age of 84, his family said.

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