Victor Zhivov , philologist, historian, deputy. Director of the Institute of Linguistics named after V.V.

The Cuban parliament proclaimed the "heroes of the Republic of Cuba" of the five Cubans sentenced in the United States to various terms of conclusion for espionage. This was announced at yesterday's meeting of the Cuban parliament in Havana. At the beginning of this month, the court in the American city of Miami sentenced a group of Cubans for espionage to a period of 10 years to life imprisonment.

In the capital of Peru - Lima - at least 60 people died on Saturday as a result of a strong fire in one of the shopping centers. 40 people are missing. The fire arose from due to the explosion in the store of pyrotechnic supplies. Fire destroyed three buildings. The tragedy occurred at the moment when the store was filled with people who bought crackers and fireworks to celebrate the New Year.

In different areas of Europe, due to abundant snowfalls, a difficult situation has developed. In the north-east of France and in the western part of Germany, many roads are brought, some settlements in the mountainous areas are cut off from the outside world. In Switzerland and Liechtenstein, powerful avalanches came in the mountains, as a result of which at least two people died and are several more considered missing.

All political parties of India agreed to support the country's government in the event of a war with Pakistan. After the meeting of representatives of the parties with members of the cabinet, convened by Prime Minister Atala Bahari Vajpai, the Minister of Parliament Parliament Pramod Mahajan said that India did not want war, but if it still begins, the country should unite.

Leading Ivan Tolstoy Our Nabokov. A new cult in a new era. Writers, philologists, museum workers, summer residents are talking about “their own” Nabokov. Zhdanovich: My mother in the 60s was brought from America “Others” in English. For the first time, we did not know who Nabokov did not hear about him. I was a girl, studied at school. She read in English and translated everything to us. And then my parents went here to the estate.

12 countries of the European Union are preparing for the introduction from January 1 into the circulation of bills and coins of a single European currency - Euro. On Sunday, in the center of Brussels, the electronic clock began counting the last 2002 minutes before this event. On the first day of the New Year, Spain will become the chairman of the European Union for 6 months, replacing Belgium.

The emergency has developed in the Yakut city of Lensk. The 50-degree frosts are not withstanding at home, built for residents of the city, who lost their shelter as a result of severe floods last spring. The thin walls of the houses freeze, the temperature in corner apartments is below 15 degrees. The pipes in the basements of houses burst. Experts talk about the need to change the entire heating system.

In the southeast of Australia, extensive arrays of forests and shrubs are covered by fires. Smoke is shrouded in the largest city in the country - Sydney. Due to poor visibility, the flight schedule at the Sydney airport is violated. A particularly strong fire was noted in the National Reserve to the west of Sydney. Over 10 thousand firefighters and rescuers fight fire. The level of air pollution in the Sydney area reached a threatening mark.

A meeting of the heads of the six Arab countries of the Persian Gulf of Persian, at which the prospects for economic integration in the region, are discussed, opened in Oman on Sunday. The meeting participants are expected to decide on the unification of customs legislation. This will give them the opportunity to conclude an agreement on free trade with the main foreign partner - the European Union.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government of Afghanistan Abdullo Abdullo said that an agreement on the deployment of international security forces in the country has been reached. However, he did not answer the questions of journalists about whether the formal signing of the agreement was held and refused to name any details of this document.

Russian units fourth day hold a large -scale special operation in the foothills in the south of Chechnya. According to Interfax, the settlements of Chiri-Yurt, new and old Atagi at the entrance to the Argun Gorge are blocked. On the streets is almost deserted, only armored vehicles and Ural vehicles with the military are traveling. According to the Grozny District Administration, the Grozny-Shattu-Itum-Kale road, passing next to the old Atami, was blocked.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said that Osama Bin Laden will be issued to the United States - if he is discovered and detained in Pakistani territory. In an interview with the television company, Si En En En Sattar, however, expressed doubt that Bin Laden is really in Pakistan - as representatives of the new Afghan authorities have repeatedly stated this.

The authorities of Pakistan blocked the bank accounts of two atom-workers and a major entrepreneur suspected of relations with the international terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Sultan Bashir-Ud-Din Mehmud and Abdul Majid worked in the State Atomic Energy Commission before retirement in 1999. Since then, scientists have repeatedly traveled to Afghanistan, where they met with bin Laden.

US President George Bush called on the leaders of India and Pakistan to do everything to resolve the current crisis between the two countries. According to the White House, George Bush conducted a telephone conversation with Pakistan President Perevz Musharraf, in which he asked him to take measures to curb extremists who provoke a war with India and destabilize the international anti -terrorist coalition.