PRAVDA, for so long the official organ of the Russian Communist party, has finally ceased publication. Once serving over 11 million people, it has not found a place since the break-up of the Soviet Union, with circulation falling below 200,000. Its Greek owners, who took it over in 1992, have now decided to shut up shop. one said that newspaper had an image problem - it published nothing worth reading.

The Margin is reminded of the old joke of two Russians meeting. One said: "Have you heard the latest election results?" The other replies,"You're behind the times, I read them in Pravda last month."