The European Union confirmed its readiness to sign the political part of the association agreement with Ukraine on March 21 and assured of its intention to continue to provide comprehensive assistance, Interfax reports, citing the council’s conclusion. “The Council welcomes the European Commission’s proposal to temporarily lift customs duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU and hopes for its speedy adoption.

Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Sergei Shatalov said that he does not rule out the introduction of special tax regimes for Crimea for the transition period if the peninsula is included in Russia. “The likely annexation of Crimea to Russia will require significant changes in tax legislation - the formation of a customs service, a tax service, tax registration of legal entities and individuals, and rules for adaptation to the Russian tax system.

The US and EU measures will affect seven Russian officials, including Vladislav Surkov, Dmitry Rogozin, Valentina Matvienko Western countries have moved from threats to real action. The United States has published a list of Russian and Ukrainian officials whose assets will be frozen due to their role in the Ukrainian crisis.

LetterOne, part of the Alfa Group, has reached an agreement with the German RWE to purchase the oil and gas production company Dea, the German concern reported. The transaction amount will be about €5.1 billion. RWE has been trying to sell Dea since March 2013, and the offer of LetterOne, which was going to invest the funds received by Alfa Group from the sale of a stake in TNK-BP, was considered one of the most expensive.

The State Duma plans to consider on March 21 all the bills necessary for Crimea to join Russia. “We assume that on the 21st, at the plenary session, we will discuss those necessary bills that should resolve the procedure for the Republic of Crimea to join the Russian Federation,” State Duma Deputy Speaker Sergei Neverov said on the Rossiya 24 TV channel.

Jessica Lange showed "Invisible" Last week, the International Month of Photography in Moscow “Photobiennale 2014” opened at the Multimedia Art Museum (MAMM) (cultural details in the issue dated March 14).

Serbian Novak Djokovic won the Association of Tennis Professionals tournament in American Indian Wells (prize fund - $4.7 million). In the final match, he defeated the Swiss Roger Federer - 3:6, 6:3, 7:6 (7:3).

A passenger plane flying from Moscow to Goa was forced to land in Astrakhan due to a fight caused by drunken brawlers on board. A source in the air traffic control services of the Astrakhan air hub reported this to the Interfax agency. “The charter flight was operated by the North Wind company.” During the flight of the airliner over Rostov-on-Don, passengers who had had too much alcohol started a fight on board.

An accident on a high-voltage power line this morning caused a power outage in the central part of Krasnodar, according to the city administration website . “The accident temporarily cut off power to residential buildings, social and engineering infrastructure facilities in the blocks bounded by Kommunarov, Oktyabrskaya, Sovetskaya, Postovaya, Pushkin, Mira, Krasnoarmeyskaya, Komsomolskaya streets,” the message says.

The world said goodbye to Gerard Mortier Last week, the world said goodbye to Gerard Mortier, the legendary intendant of the Salzburg Festival, the Paris Opera and Madrid's Teatro Real. Over the past decades, he has determined not only the agenda on the opera stage, but also the cultural climate throughout Europe. Photo: EPA/Photo ITAR-TASS Dmitry Renansky “Opera Reinvented” was the title of Mortier’s biography, published a couple of years ago in Paris.

The new composition of the Assembly of the Serbian Parliament, which will be formed following the results of the early parliamentary elections held on March 16, will have to take the oath no later than April 19, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the Republican Election Commission. According to preliminary data from the Republican Election Commission, the “progressives” receive about 50% of the votes, which will allow them to occupy 156 deputy seats in the country’s 250-seat parliament.

Natalya Radulova - about how to become weak and feminine How to become weak and feminine? Natalia Radulova This question is asked by a girl named Lena on one of the psychological forums. “I have a strong character,” she explains. “In our family, my mother was in charge of everything. My father and grandfather not only did not have the right to vote, but simply did not interfere in household affairs.

Their sales growth will be minimal Cellular retail Photo: Roman Yarovitsyn, Kommersant There will no longer be multiple growth in tablet sales, warns research company IDC. If in 2012 the volume of the Russian market in physical terms increased fourfold, and in 2013 it doubled, then this year the increase will be no more than 10%. At the end of 2013, the tablet market grew in volume terms by 108%, to 8.58 million units, says an IDC report.

SPI is interested in Whyte & Mackay Yuri Shefler's SPI group, which sells Stolichnaya vodka in foreign markets, was among the contenders for the acquisition of the Scottish whiskey producer Whyte & Mackay, whose distribution in Russia is handled by Rust Inc. Rustam Tariko. Competition for this SPI asset includes Campari and several Western funds. The acquisition could cost Mr. Scheffler €420 million.

Gerontology Materials prepared by Elena Kudryavtseva Photo: Fotolia/PhotoXpress "The Ministry of Health warns!" — such warning labels may appear on meat packages, since the harm from large amounts of protein food has been equated to the harm from smoking. Doctors from the University of Southern California (USA) suggested minimizing the consumption of cheese and meat for people over 50 years of age and under 65.