If Minsk recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, then the participation of Belarus in the new program of the Eastern partnership of the European Union will be in question, says Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, presiding at a meeting of the EU Council.

More than 60 pupils of the kindergarten in the Purvsims of the Latvian capital fell ill with Salmonellosis, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the local TV channel TV 5. According to the media, over the past three weeks, 65 children who visit the Kindergarten N 231 have been infected with salmonellosis.

US President Barack Obama instructed Vice President Joseph Biden to control the implementation of an anti-crisis plan adopted by the US Congress. Obama said this on Monday at a meeting of governors, RIA Novosti reports. According to the president, Baiden will be obliged to ensure that $ 787 billion allocated to support the economy serve as a right goal and go where it is required, quite promptly.

In France, a trial began in the case of the largest industrial disaster - an explosion at the AZF factory. The explosion thundered in the industrial zone southwest of the city of Toulouse September 21, 2001, that is, 10 days after the attacks in the United States, ITAR-TASS reports. The force of the explosion was huge - it caused a concussion equal to an earthquake of magnitude 3.4. At the site of the explosion occurring in the warehouse of chemicals, a large funnel formed.

Until the end of February, North Korea can launch a medium-range ballistic missile, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the American-British military weekly Jane's Defense Weekly. His experts came to this conclusion on the basis of analysis of the images of the Musudan launch landfill in the province of Hamgen-Pooms received from the commercial satellites of Digitalglobe on February 18.

The apparatus of regional officials will be reduced by 15%, which "will save about 60-70 million rubles," said the Governor of the Kirov region Nikita Belykh on the air of the Echo of Moscow radio station. "These are not very large numbers, but they are important. We reduce not only officials, but also the costs associated with government," Belykh said. According to him, out of 2.2 thousand officials, about 300 people were reduced.

The new US Prosecutor Eric Holder flew on February 23 to the US Navy base in Guantanamo (Cuba) to inspect the infamous prison for people accused by Washington of terrorism. He refused to take journalists with him, ITAR-TASS reports. According to Holder's assistants, the Prosecutor General intends to personally get acquainted with the conditions for the maintenance of prisoners, to talk with the guards. It was he who was instructed to close this special President Barack Obama during the year.

In Russia, on February 23, the defender of the Fatherland is celebrated. The celebrations began with Vladivostok - there the holiday was opened by the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers to the eternal fire of the Memorial "The Battle Glory of the Pacific Fleet".

Sri Lanka authorities abandoned the proposal of the separatist group "Tigers of the Liberation of Tamil Ilama" (Toti) to conclude a truce and demanded a complete surrender from them.

The famous Russian figure skater Evgeny Plushenko confirmed 23 Fevoal in the Czech capital intention to return to big sport soon, ITAR-TASS reports. The 2006 Olympic champion, three -time world and five -time European champion in men's solitary skating with the beginning of the next season will again take part in competitions. "I also want to fight for medals at the upcoming Olympics in the Canadian Vancouver," he said. “I’m training at full strength,” Plushenko said.

The United States had another ally in Europe on the placement of OP elements in Europe - Albania announced her readiness to provide its territory for this if Washington appeals to such a request, RIA Novosti reports. “So far, a specific proposal from the United States has not been received on this issue.

In Cairo near the cafe in the tourist area, an explosion thundered: a 17-year-old Frenchwoman died, over 20 people were injured. According to the police, among the victims 13 Frenchmen, three citizens of Saudi Arabia and four citizens of Egypt. In addition, the German Foreign Ministry said that there was one German among the victims. The condition of the six wounded is evaluated by doctors as serious. Most wounded are young people and girls aged 14 to 17 years.

The emergency regime was introduced in the Buresky district of the Amur Region in connection with a massive disease of cattle brucellosis in the Alekseevsky agricultural cooperative, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the regional prosecutor's office. According to the investigation, the measures binding in this situation are not fully implemented.

The former Minister of Internal Affairs and the Chairman of the Supreme Court of South Ossetia, Alan Parastaev, accused the president of the republic Eduard Kokoita of terrorism and banditry, Echo of Moscow reports. In an interview with the Georgian television channel, Imedi Parastaev said that Kokoita allegedly ordered the murders of people, in particular, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic Oleg Alborov.

On Monday, the Hungarian parliament voted twice against self -development. This issue was included on the agenda of the meeting of the Hungarian Civil Fund for Democracy, as well as on a public initiative, in whose favor the collection of signatures was organized. In both cases, 170 deputies out of 385 voted for self -sampling, and ITAR -TASS reports against - 204 and 205, respectively.