The American Aeronautics Agency and the study of space space (NASA) believes that the ship of reusable "Columbia" can continue to fly, despite the problems in the cooling system. The ship "Columbia" with seven astronauts on board started yesterday from the Cape Canveral in Florida Cape. The main goal of the 11 -day space expedition is the equipment of the Hubble orbital telescope, which was brought into orbit 12 years ago, with new solar panels and more modern optical devices.

The famous cellist Mstislav Rostropovich handed over to Azerbaijan a children's vaccine against hepatitis B worth more than a million dollars. The drugs were provided free of charge by the International Vaccination Fund for children, founded two years ago by the head of Microsoft by Bill Gates. In Azerbaijan, more than 7 percent of the population are infected with hepatitis B. The country's authorities intend to instill 80 percent of children against this dangerous disease in the next two years.

Vladimir Ivakhnenko, Kiev: The head of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Hanny Severinsen, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, expressed concern of numerous violations of electoral legislation by the authorities. According to her, the blocs and parties do not have equal access to the leading Ukrainian media, and in the regions officials prevent opposition politicians to conduct their election campaigning.

On Tuesday, after a long festive break, all Russian newspapers finally left. It is clear that they immediately fell together to analyze the results of the Olympics. Analyzed three points: they considered medals, scolded America, President of the IOC Jacques Rogg and Russian sports officials. The largest disagreement, oddly enough, happened when calculating medals.

In Chechnya, two Russian troops were killed in the Urus-Martan district center. According to local authorities, they were shot in the city market. In Grozny, Russian troops conduct an operation to search for Chechen fighters. All vehicles are subjected to enhanced check. According to the Radio Liberty correspondent, the so -called "stripping" also take place in several settlements of the Vedensky district of the republic.

Iran intends to purchase 30 passenger airliners of the Airbus brand in order to update its aircraft park - after recent airlines. As the Iranian Minister of Transport Ahmad Horran said on Saturday, it is planned to buy 10 new machines and another 20 aircraft that were in operation for some time. According to the minister, the government allocated 500 million dollars for these purposes. Now Iranian airlines have only outdated Soviet -made aircraft.

One American soldier and two Afghan fighters died during the operation of US troops and local detachments against the Taliban and militants of Al-Qaeda in the east of Afghanistan. According to the representative of the American command, several people - Americans and Afghans - were injured. US Air Force aircraft strike at the places of the alleged deployment of the enemy. According to reports from the scene, the Taliban and militants of Al-Qaeda use artillery and mortars.

In the Indian state of Gujarat, bloody clashes on religious grounds continue, as a result of which over 400 people died in four days. In large cities of the state, the commandant’s hour was introduced, the streets are patrolled by troops. India Prime Minister Atal Bikhari Vajpai called on Hindus and Muslims to show restraint and cease violence. Today, in the cities of Ahmadabad and Vadodar, the crowds of Hindus set fire to houses and shops belonging to Muslims.

In Moscow, about three thousand participants in the unprecedented television of the Vatican made a joint prayer with Pope John Pavel the Second on Saturday evening. The worship was attended by parishioners of the Moscow Church of the Immaculate Conception and other Russian Catholics. Believers from several European countries also took part in the television.

Presenter Elena Rykovtseva On Tuesday, after a long holiday break, all Russian newspapers were finally published. It is clear that they immediately rushed together to analyze the results of the Olympics. They analyzed it on three points: they counted the medals, they scolded America, IOC President Jacques Rogg and Russian sports officials. The biggest discrepancy, oddly enough, happened when counting medals.

In London, on Saturday, a rally of opponents of the US military operation in Afghanistan was held. According to official figures, about seven and a half thousand people participated in the action. The manifestants also called on Washington not to start hostilities against Iraq. On Friday, the British Foreign Minister Jeff Hong said London, if necessary, would support the US campaign in Iraq.

Musa Khasanov, North Caucasus: The command of Russian troops in Khankala today informed reporters about the successful operation of Russian rear units against Chechen detachments in the Vedensky district. According to the military, according to the positions of the Chechen detachment of 20 people today, at dawn, Mi-24 helicopters were inflicted on a missile bomb at the village of Gargo, as a result of which three Chechen fighters were killed.

From the Russian military unit located in Abkhazia near Gudauta, a contract soldier fled. It is armed with a machine gun with 60 rounds. The search for a deserter is conducted by local military and law enforcement agencies.

Israeli tanks today were taken out of the Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Jenin on the western bank of the Jordan. Yesterday, in the course of clashes with Israeli servicemen, five Palestinians died. Israeli troops continue the operation in another camp of refugees - Balata - near the city of Nabluz on the western coast. The Israeli command states that the camps are the support bases of terrorists.

According to the British police, the parcels containing toxic substances were directed by a number of high-ranking officials of Great Britain, including Prime Minister Tony Blara. The poisonous substance was disguised as samples of aromatic substances. One of the parcels was discovered by the security service in the prime minister’s residence on Daunning Street. Another was sent to the unnamed deputy of the Scotland parliament.