Comment Russia’s stress test Tim Wall Like the U.S. financial system, the entire Russian economy is also facing a huge stress test - but one where we won't know the complete answer for some time to come.

Comment A parallel universe of positive Soviet facts Anna Arutunyan This is the second of three articles looking at the history of The Moscow News, from 1930 to the present day.

News Cop’s rampage excites tabloids Andy Potts A crackpot cop on the rampage in a suburban supermarket is everything a tabloid newspaper dreams of, and when there's high-quality in-store CCTV footage to splash on the Internet it's hard to imagine an editor resisting the chance to show some "shocking" footage.

News Anger at Sochi poll Andy Potts Landslide for United Russia leaves beaten candidates crying foul beside the Black Sea

News Bigger May Day protests planned Ed Bentley and Anna Arutunyan The Communists and independent trade unions are teaming up to stage demonstrations against job cuts and the deepening recession

Business Raging bulls VTB is patting itself on the back despite an 86 per cent profit slump.

Business Car workers get soapy, Unilever strikes sauce deal Andy Potts and Ed Bentley From car-making to car-washing, the crisis has taken its toll on staff at General Motors' St. Petersburg factory - where work-starved staff have taken to scrubbing down cars to earn an honest rouble.

Business Foreign visitors fall by one-fifth in Moscow RIA Novosti The number of foreign tourists visiting Moscow has dropped 19 per cent in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period last year as the financial crisis takes hold, the city's tourist head said on Wednesday.

Business Gas figures seen up Ed Bentley Gazprom expect positive numbers but analysts anticipate bad news behind the headlines

Business ‘Hardline’ reaction to crisis feared Andy Potts Rising unemployment and increasing social unrest bring a real risk of a return to "hardline Putinism", according to an influential think tank.

Business All pigs are downwardly mobile Ed Bentley The bear market rally is ailing, if not completely finished, as the MICEX slipped 3.6 per cent amid concerns over swine flu and the health of the economy.

Business Medvedev to top bill at St. Pete forum RIA Novosti The president is expected to unveil the Kremlin’s latest plans to tackle the global economic downturn

Concerts Concert - A brilliant baritone Ayano Hodouchi The Stanislavsky theatre has the honour of hosting a performance by Sergei Leiferkus, a globe-trotting star of the opera world

Ask the experts Interview - Talking music with Sergei Leiferkus Ayano Hodouchi Was music your first choice for a career?

Culture Cultural highlights 30 April - 7 May