The FINANCIAL -- Sales of Russian artworks netted about $13.8 million at an auction at Sotheby's in New York, well above the estimate of $6-9 mln and despite the global economic crisis, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.

The FINANCIAL – The first year students of Shota Rustaveli Theater and Cinema State University of Georgia took a solemn oath in renovated Marjanishvili House-museum. The distinguished celebrities symbolically ‘baptised’ the future actors by the makeup and blesse them on the road to big stage.

The FINANCIAL -- Michael Jackson film “This Is It” earned more than £61m worldwide in its first five days, topping the US box office. "This Is It," is Sony Pictures' film made from rehearsal footage for Jackson's planned London concert series.

The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, the U.S. rhythm and blues queen, Beyonce, will perform in MOSCOW on November 2 during her world I Am...Tour.

The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, Hollywood's Oscar-winning actor and political activist Sean Penn has visited Venezuela, where he met with the country's President Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan media reported on October 29.

The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, a two-hour documentary, a tribute to Michael Jackson's extraordinary life and career, has premiered simultaneously in 18 places in five continents.