Notebook

Moskva Upgrade

According to the Moscow city administration, the hotel Moskva will soon be given a major facelift. Specifically, organizers plan to create a high-class hotel from the Soviet-era behemoth, complete with conference rooms, posh restaurants, a swimming pool, health facilities and a central courtyard covered by a transparent roof. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has already allocated $4 mn from the city’s hard-currency fund for the project, which is expected to cost $250-300 mn.

Immigrant Rush