Italy has been announced on the conduct of the international competition of singers in memory of the outstanding tenor of Luciano Pavarotti. It will be held in the hometown of the singer - Moden, where he is buried. The beginning of the application was announced by the acting minister of culture Italy Francesco Rutelli.

Mass poisoning of children is registered in the city of Kamen-on-Obi of the Altai Territory. Eleven schoolchildren were poisoned in the dining room of school No. 3. According to an employee of the press service of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia in the Altai Territory, five of them were hospitalized. According to the Ministry of Emergencies, on February 18, eleven school students turned to the Central District Hospital of the Kamensky district.

On Wednesday, Serbia decided to withdraw ambassadors from Germany and Austria after the leadership of these countries decided to recognize the independence of Kosovo, which was proclaimed by the regional authorities. The relevant statement was made by the Foreign Minister of Serbia Vuk Yeremy, who is now on a visit to Strasbourg. Earlier, Serbia revoked ambassadors from Australia, Great Britain, USA, Turkey and France, which also recognized the independence of Kosovo.

The Italian energy company ENI discovered a giant gas deposit in the North Sea. This was reported today by the Finansavisen newspaper, representatives of the Italian company said. The discovered Aphrodite deposit is west of Sogne-Fjord. The ENI refused to name the alleged reserves of the deposit, saying that official information will be distributed in March after repeated drilling at Aphrodite. On the site, ENI acts as an operator and it owns a 45%share in Aphrodite.

In Suzdal, a resident of Shui of the Ivanovo region was detained, who is suspected of committing a fabric of a non -residential wooden house on the night of February 8, where Muslims gathered to send a religious cult.

The “unique space of trust” historically developed in Russia today called by young participants in the XII World Russian People’s Cathedral, the chairman of the department of external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Cyril . “Only in dialogue and cooperation with others can we build a really harmonious society that can accommodate all the existing many cultures, religions and traditions,” Metropolitan said.

The huge money, which poured into Israel, led to a sharp jump in prices for apartments. In recent months, prices have been declining, however, according to realtors, this will not last long, and the following foreigners in the Israeli real estate market will be citizens of the Russian Federation, involved in Israel, the expected cancellation of the visa regime in March, reports Newsru.co.il with reference to the Maariv newspaper.

GMK Norkel received a letter on February 18 from Dresdner Kleinwort. The bank proposed to the Board of Directors of Norilsk Nickel to consider the possibility of a transaction with Metalloinvest. " The letter did not contain specific parameters. According to Kommersant , the company's management will discuss the situation at the next meeting of the Norilsk Nickel board of directors on February 29.

The cockroach in the frame led to massive dismissals on Turkmen state television. The incident occurred in early February, after which the group of employees was dismissed, up to three dozen were reprimanded.

After the proclamation of Kosov’s independence , three territories immediately declared their claims to the quickly possible recognition of their independence. The day before, having enlisted the support of Russia, independence decided to demand Abkhazia and South Ossetia. On Tuesday, it became known about the secret plan of the third autonomy of the post -Soviet space - Transnistria. But the list did not end there.

The new president of Armenia was Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan, today the chairman of the CEC of Armenia Garepin Azaryan after processing 100% of the ballots said. According to the CEC, Sargsyan confidently won the first round of elections, gaining 52.86% of the votes. Azaryan emphasized that according to the 51st article of the Constitution of Armenia, the president of the republic is a candidate who gained 50% + one vote of voters who came to pounds for voting.

President Paraguay Nikanor Duarte Frutos, in all likelihood, deliberately tried to poison mineral water mixed with hydrochloric acid. This was announced to reporters on Tuesday, the chairman of the military court, General Carlos Liseraz, responsible for the investigation of this case. "We adhere to the version that there was an attempt to attempt on the president, if not with the aim of his physical elimination, then at least causing severe harm to his health," he said.

Laureates of the British Musical Award Brit Awards will be called February 20 in the British capital. The winners of the prestigious award - the "British Grammy", annually awarded by the National Association of the Soundwriting Industry, are determined during a survey conducted among representatives of the British musical business, ITAR -TASS reports.

A large traffic accident occurred in the American state of Minnesota. The school bus collided with several cars at once. According to local authorities, as a result of the car accident, three people were killed, including a child, and more than ten were injured. According to the representative of the Minnesota authorities, the bus with 40 schoolchildren ran into several cars on Tuesday in the city of Cottonwood in the southwestern part of the state, RIA Novosti reports.

Republican Senator John McCain, after his victory at Primmeriz in the state of Wisconsin, announced that he would become an official candidate of the Republicans for US Presidential. "Thanks to Wisconsin for bringing us to a position in which even such a superstitious naval pilot, like me, can confidently and humility to say that it will be nominated by our party to the post of president of the United States," McCain said at a pre -breed rally in a columbus (Ohio).