The famous British writer Terry Pratchett wrote letters to Russian journalists - to the browser cutters and the leaders of the culture departments of leading Russian media. The writer sent his unusual message in the company's company envelope, specializing in the delivery of international correspondence. In his letter, Pratchett said that he was soon going to pay a visit to Russia and would be glad to get acquainted with Russian journalists.

A group of scientists from the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in France ( INSERM ) became interested in the question of how young people, moving from adolescence to adulthood, experience their sexuality, the French television channel TF1 reports. (Translation of the material on the website inopressa.ru ). 24 students of the University of Franzilian took part in two surveys conducted with an interval of 4 months.

The famous London Hyde Park is closed by the police in connection with the investigation of a night attack on a passerby. According to RIA Novosti , all the entrances to the Hyde Park and the adjacent Kensington gardens are closed - one of the favorite places of morning runs and walks of Londoners and guests of the capital. The police sealed the fence with special ribbons. The press service of Scotland Yard explained that this was done in connection with a night attack on a man in a guide park.

Two foreign hostages are released in Iraq, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the AL-JAZeera satellite television channel. Two drivers - Citizens of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - were stolen at the end of October with an extremist group "Islamic Army in Iraq". They worked for the Kuwaiti transport company that transports goods for American troops in Iraq. The circumstances of the release of hostages are not known. Currently, both drivers are at the Sri Lanka embassy in Baghdad.

Candidates for the president of Ukraine Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, most likely, went beyond their election funds. This opinion is held by Sergey Kivalov, who led the CEC during the first two rounds of the presidential elections in Ukraine, ITAR-TASS reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that safe conditions have not yet been created in Iraq to return Russian companies to this country. The head of state said this at a press conference following negotiations with the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Sapatero, Interfax reports. "Our companies are ready to return to Iraq as soon as the necessary conditions are created from the point of view of security.

Due to the shortcomings in accounting and storage, part of the humanitarian aid to the victims of the attack in Beslan turned out to be spoiled, Interfax reports. Juices, mineral waters and baby food, which were stored on an open area under a canopy at the Phoenix plant, turned out to be frozen. And the humanitarian aid stored in the warehouse of Rosgorsnab ruined the rodents.

The DPRK is recalling two of his diplomats from Bulgaria, who were detained the other day in neighboring Turkey with a large batch of drugs. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the AP agency. After the expulsion of diplomats from Turkey, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry turned to Pyongyan for clarification. In response, the North Korean side stated that the diplomats Ryan Tae won and Kim Song Chin will be withdrawn.

Russian Roman Sludnov won “gold” at a distance of 100 m Brasses at the European Swimming in the Capital of Austria. The result of the winner is 58.73 seconds, which is exactly one second worse than his own European record. The 24-year-old swimmer from Omsk brought the first “gold” to the Russian national team at this European Championship. “Silver” was won by Ukrainian Oleg Lisogor - 58.81, “bronze” went to another representative of the Ukrainian national team Igor Borisika - 59.70.

The collapse of the quotes of Russian shares provoked by tax claims against Vimpelkom, yesterday continued against the backdrop of information about the presentation of the competitor - Megafon. The tax authorities asked for the North-Western GSM, the base operator of MegaFon, to pay a modest amount of $ 4 million . However, the analysts quickly calmed down, considering that this is a trick in order to take the suspicions of investors from the reasons for the tax audit of the Vimpelcom.

On Friday morning, Moscow time in Thamecle (California), ex-champion of the world in two weight categories, Michael Moorer won by technical knockout in the ninth round of the ex-IBF champion Vasily Zhirova. The first half of the battle took place with a tangible advantage of fat, constantly ahead of his opponent, Allboxing notes.

The Seim of Latvia submitted to the commissions a bill providing for the introduction to the list of festive weekend dates - as the Orthodox and Old Believer Christmas of Christ , the Blagovers -Info reports. It is noteworthy that for this proposal was voted twice, since representatives of the association of political organizations “for human rights in the United Latvia” (Stevel), and then deputies from the Party of Priests, spoke at a meeting dedicated to amendments.

According to the results of the morning single trading session, the dollar in Russia went up another 9 kopecks. The official course set by the Central Bank at the ETS rate with the calculations "Tomorrow" at 11:30, - 28,1243 rubles per dollar and 37,2788 rubles per euro. The head of the Ministry of Finance, Alexei Kudrin, said that withdrawal by leading countries from the reserves of the dollar could lead to its further weakening.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, CEO of the State Reserve "Moscow Kremlin" Elena Gagarina, academician of the RAMS Leo Bakeria are named among the laureates of the National Prize "Man of the Year-2004" of the Russian Biographical Institute. In total, 29 people in 17 nominations became the winners of this award. The diploma, as well as the silver cross today, the prize laureates were presented by the General Director of the Russian Biographical Institute Svyatoslav Rybas.

The Chinese company was fined 240 thousand for a low salary to employees. The company is fined is located in the special economic zone of Shenzhen and produces electronics. The salary of its ordinary employees was significantly less than the minimum wage in this area - $ 74 per month. According to RIA Novosti , this gave them the opportunity to send a complaint to the local labor and social guarantee inspection. After the investigation, the company was fined.