Newspaper stands to become ‘internet kiosks’

The Russian government is to transform some newspaper stands in the capital to provide Muscovites access to the internet. According to the Novye Izvestia news daily, the first such kiosk has opened in the north-western district of Maryino. The new facility also allows people to buy top-up cards and other services from their mobile communications provider of choice. The government hopes to install more than 150 new kiosks by 2007.