World watch

Years of neglect have been removed at the stroke of a paint brush from the face of the giant clocks and temperature gauges mounted on top of Moscow State University's imposing Stalin-era main tower. Returning students were greeted with bright royal blue and gold devices in sharp contrast to the grey, faded and peeling image of last June. The renovation means that students - and Muscovites passing the vast university campus on buses and trolley buses - can now tell the time and check the air temperatures without guessing because grime obscured the dials.