Stephen Corn. Photo: RFE/RL The President of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Stephen Korn publicly reported his resignation. In a farewell letter published on January 1, Korn explained that he was leaving his post exclusively for family reasons - he decided to spend more time with his children and sick father in the United States. The office of the President of Radio Liberty is in Prague.

On New Year's Eve, a group of art activists hung from Luzhkov Bridge on Bolotnaya Square Banner "Happy New Riot". Here is what one of the participants in the action Oleg Vasiliev writes : “New Year” is celebrated “New Year” - one of the holidays that form an artificial reason for joy and affirming collective identities. But a real holiday can take place only in every separate place, time and man, regardless of formal reasons and institutionalized rituals.

190 years ago, on January 1, 1823, the Hungarian poet, the ideologist and head of the democratic revolution of 1848-1849 was born, Sandor Pothefi, who fell in the battle against the Russian troops in 1849 suppressing the revolution. The corpse of the poet was never found. Therefore, there is a legend that Petofi did not die in battle, but was captured by the Cossacks and died in Siberia in the 1850s.

150 years ago, January 1, 1863, Baron Pierre de Cuberten, who revived the modern Olympic Games, was born. The decision to revive the Olympiads was made on his initiative in June 1894 at the Congress in the Sorbonne with the following formulation: “Since there is no doubt about the advantages represented by the revival of the Olympic Games, both from the point of view of sports and international, may these games be revived on the bases that meet the requirements of modern life.”

Published as an advertisement The Center for the Language and Culture of Portuguese-Speaking Countries in Moscow gives everyone the opportunity not only to learn a new language, but also to get acquainted with another culture, which will certainly enrich the cultural experience and allow them to better understand their own identity. Contact with another culture is always associated with surprise.