An informal meeting of the heads of state and government of the European Union countries in the format of a dinner will take place on May 23, according to an official statement from the press service of the European Council. The head of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, has previously repeatedly announced his intention to convene such an informal meeting at the EU summit before the end of May.

The main event of philharmonic life in May will be the personal subscription of the outstanding conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky, a living legend of Russian musical art.

Jack White's first album The catalyst for the new wave of garage blues, Detroit guitarist Jack White is in three bands, all of which are in varying stages of breaking up (or reuniting, whatever you like): The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. Each of these groups is a phenomenal concert group, and it’s not to say that the frantic efficiency and enthusiasm of the leader alone makes them all the money.

Foreign trade turnover of the Volgograd region decreased The foreign trade turnover of the Volgograd region in the first quarter of 2012 decreased by 4.4% compared to the same period in 2011 - to $644.3 million, the regional government reported. At the same time, the export figure decreased by 16.4% - to $395.9 million, import - increased by 24%, amounting to $248.5 million.

Investigating an outbreak of infection The number of children infected with a purulent infection in the maternity ward of Orenburg Regional Hospital No. 2 has increased to 21, the Rospotrebnadzor office for the Orenburg Region reported on Thursday. “The children’s condition is satisfactory. Treatment of six newborns has been completed, the rest are under treatment.

Stanislav Kucher. The number of tests per year is 84. The average mileage per week is 400 km. For him, the car is like a Mustang for an Indian. Test drive car - Nissan Juke 4WD. I don't tend to be nostalgic for the past. I like to remember my youth (it was fun), but I almost never fantasize about the topic: “But if only then I…”. The exception was the day I got behind the wheel of a Nissan Juke. At first I decided that it was a crossover coupe, the rear doors were so invisible from the outside.

Case of theatrical fraud completed The investigative unit of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the North-Western District (IC GU MVD) completed the investigation into the case of Alexey Bavchenko, who posed as a high-ranking officer of the central apparatus of the FSB of Russia.

The governor of the Novosibirsk region Vasily Yurchenko and his wife Natalya reported on their income for 2011. According to information posted on the regional government website, the head of the region earned 1.68 million rubles. This is 157 thousand rubles. more than in 2010. Ms. Yurchenko, who declared 3.57 million rubles, earned more than twice as much as her husband. — compared to 2010, the increase amounted to 1.5 million rubles.

The capital's mayor's office supported tougher penalties for rallies. As the head of the regional security department of the city of Moscow, Alexey Mayorov, said, the organizers of mass actions must bear greater responsibility. United Russia deputy Robert Schlegel commented on this initiative by presenter Ksenia Turkova.

Former detective officer of the Kazan police department "Tankodrom" Rishat Mukhamadshin has been charged with beating a detainee. In addition, the ex-policeman may be involved in crimes in the Dalniy department in 2010, RIA Novosti reported on May 11, citing the regional investigative department of the RF IC. The Kazan police department “Dalniy” became notorious in early March when, according to investigators, several of its employees tortured a detainee to death.

On May 11, the Moscow City Court recognized as legal the extension of the arrest of the third alleged member of the punk group Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, accused of hooliganism in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Thus, all three accused in this criminal case - Ekaterina Samutsevich, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova - will remain in custody until June 24. Earlier, the court rejected the cassation appeal of Maria Alekhina's lawyers, who insisted on the release of the accused.

NAC reported on the prevention of terrorist attacks in Sochi 2014 The National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) yesterday announced the prevention of terrorist attacks that Chechen militants and Georgian intelligence services planned to carry out during the Sochi Olympics. The terrorists have already prepared several anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems, dozens of grenade launchers, anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, machine guns and ammunition.

Anonymous characters in paintings by famous painters will soon be able to be identified: Californian art historians are developing the Faces project, which will allow for an appropriate analysis. However, Kommersant FM’s interlocutors predict failure of the technical innovation. Art historians are closer to solving the mystery of the Mona Lisa. American scientists have found a way to find out who is depicted in the paintings of painters.

About 760 million rubles will be spent on the construction of the airport in Saburovka The government of Saratov Governor Valery Radaev has secured the allocation of federal funds for the construction of a new airport in Saburovka, and some work on the site will begin this year. The regional administration hopes for the speedy completion of construction, but does not dare to talk about specific dates. Experts are afraid to talk about prospects until money from Moscow reaches the region.

Investigators have completed collecting evidence in the criminal case regarding the crash of the passenger diesel-electric ship "Bulgaria" in Tatarstan in July 2011, official representative of the Investigative Committee Vladimir Markin told reporters on May 11.