World China police killer gets death penalty By Cara Anna A young man who drew a surprising amount of sympathy in China after being convicted of killing six policemen in Shanghai will get the death penalty after losing his final appeal Monday.

World Russia criticizes EU monitors in Georgia MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's foreign minister says Moscow is concerned about European Union monitors turning a blind eye to Georgian troops movements.

World Kandinsky retrospective kicks off world tour BERLIN (AFP) - A major retrospective of artworks by Wassily Kandinsky kicks off in Munich on Saturday as part of a world tour almost as peripatetic as the Russian-born modernist artist himself.

World Almost 60 stranded Brazilian penguins returned to sea RIO-DE-JANEIRO (RIA Novosti) - Fifty-eight penguins have been released into the wild off the coast of the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, national media said on Thursday.

World Sarkozy sues makers of his voodoo doll PARIS (RIA Novosti) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has filed a suit with a Paris court demanding voodoo dolls bearing his likeness be withdrawn from sale, the France-Info radio station said on Thursday.

World UK stem cell research expands LONDON (AP) - British plans to allow scientists to use hybrid animal-human embryos for stem cell research won final approval from lawmakers Wednesday in a sweeping overhaul of sensitive science laws.

Comment Russia modernizes missiles MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's efforts to upgrade its missile arsenals will help counter the planned U.S. missile defense sites in Europe, a top general said Wednesday.

Comment French minister opposes Georgia, Ukraine entry to NATO STRASBOURG (AFP) - France's minister for European affairs on Wednesday said he was opposed to Georgia and Ukraine entering the NATO military alliance for now because it would not benefit Europe.

Business His Highness talks hotels By Rebeccah Billing HRH Prince Michael of Kent made a high profile visit to the Moscow Ritz-Carlton this week for more than a spa and a champagne cocktail.

Business OPEC considers impact of cuts VIENNA (AFP) - OPEC President Chakib Khelil said on Wednesday that the cartel must weigh the impact of a prospective decision to cut oil output on both consumers and producers hit by a global financial crisis.

Columnists Big Gas Troika By Marina Pustilnik We are sitting on the edge of a new world order these days. The possibility, which for several years has been a subject of fears, gossip and speculation, is finally becoming reality.

Business The buck stops here By Ed Bentley As the world reels from the aftershock of the US financial crisis, could Russia’s wealth spearhead a global economic recovery?

Business ‘Gas troika’ creates forum for new projects TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran, Qatar and Russia - the three countries with the world's largest gas reserves - agreed on Tuesday to create a new forum for joint projects but stopped short of advocating an OPEC-style cartel.

Business Capital outflow continues MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Russia saw a net capital outflow of around $18 billion (485 billion rubles) in the first two weeks of October, continuing the trend of the past few months amid the financial crisis, a government source said.

Business A Golden Opportunity? By Vlad Grinkevich The global economic crisis, with the banking system in turmoil and stock market plunging through another floor every day, has people pondering the best ways to preserve their savings.