The program is maintained by Andrei Sharogradsky. Melanie Bachin and Mikhail Salenkov worked on the theme - he talked with the director of the Koreuda Center of Moscow State University Mikhail Pak. Andrei Sharogradsky: A large disaster occurred on Thursday evening in North Korea. There is no doubt that it really happened, it is obvious that the number of victims is very large. However, the details, primarily because of the behavior of the North Korean authorities, are still not clear.

The Basmanny Court of Moscow limited until May 15 the deadline for familiarizing Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his lawyers with the materials of the criminal case. The prosecutor’s office insisted on limiting the deadline, which claims that the former head of “Yukos” and his defense “clearly delayed the process”. The criminal case of Khodorkovsky, accused of large theft and tax evasion, consists of 227 volumes.

Greece Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis called on the Greeks-Kiprots to support the UN plan to reunite the island. A referendum on this issue will be held on Saturday in Cyprus. If both communities approve the UN proposals, the united Cyprus can join the EU. Most of the Cipriot Turks support the UN plan, offering to create the Federal Republic of Cyprus consisting of two states - Greek and Turkish - which will connect the Central Government.

North Korea has not yet confirmed information about yesterday's railway disaster, but Pyongyang representatives have already turned to the International Red Cross for help. According to the authorities of South Korea, in the collision of two trains with oil products at the Renchon station near the border with China, up to three thousand people were injured. A powerful explosion almost completely destroyed the village near the station and scattered fragments for many kilometers around.

In the Iraqi city of Karbela, in a battle of the coalition forces with the detachments of the radical Shiite leader of the Moktada, the Bulgarian soldier died. The rebels fired at a military column from a grenade launcher. The soldiers responded fire. As-Sadr, whose detachments are controlled by En-Vadzhaf and Karbel, threatens with terrorist attacks if the coalition troops try to enter these sacred to the Shiites of the city. In the city of El Falluja, relative calm remains.

Elena Fanailova , Moscow: Today, April 23, in Moscow the sixth festival "Panorama of the Cinema of the countries of the European Union" begins. This year it is dedicated to the upcoming on May 1 to join the European Union of ten new countries. The festival will present 33 films from 25 countries of Europe, including Estonia and Latvia, will be held in the Kino Cinema and the Museum of Cinema, and it was opened by the Austrian film Danube, Danube.

President Vladimir Putin today signed a law under which suspects in terrorism may be arrested for up to 30 days - without a charge. The relevant changes in the Criminal Procedure Code of Russia were already approved by the State Duma and the Federation Council.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky was taken to the building of the Basmanny Court, where today the Prosecutor General’s request will be considered to restrict the terms of familiarization of the former head of the Yukos and his lawyers with the materials of the criminal case. Khodorkovsky is accused of embezzlement, tax evasion and non -fulfillment of a court decision. The term of its detention expires on May 25, the investigation period is May 30.

The Parliament of Belarus today has been the latter ratified the agreement on the creation of a single economic space (EEP) of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The agreement on the formation of the EEP was signed by the presidents of four countries in Yalta on April 19, 2003.

The command of the coalition forces in Iraq is reviewing the attitude towards members of the disbanded baas party. About 400 thousand military - party members - lost their work last spring, when both the army and security forces were dissolved. Now, apparently, the command intends to attract them to work again - with the exception of members of the party leadership and persons accused of crimes. Member of the ruling council of Iraq Ahmad Chalabi - objects to such a decision.

In Saudi Arabia in the city of Gidd, employees of security forces shot two alleged extremists, wounded another and two. 6 militants settled in a house under construction. The shootout lasted several hours. Yesterday, the number of victims of the recent terrorist attack in Riyadh reached five after one of the wounded died in the hospital. In total, 145 people were injured, including 12 children. Responsibility for the explosion was taken by the Saudi Islamic group "Al-Haramein Brigade".

Defense Minister Denmark Sven Oge Ensbu resigned. The minister explained his decision with the desire to protect the government and his family from the persecution of the persecution against him. The scandal erupted after the former intelligence officer admitted that the report prepared by the Military Department in weapons of mass defeat in Iraq contained inaccurate information. The opposition demanded the resignation of the Minister of Defense.

The United States consider the possibility of attracting former functionaries of the BAAS party and officers of the dissolved Iraqi army to the public service in Iraq. The representative of the US Department of State Richard Bucher said that this initiative will not affect the Supreme Baas party, involved in the crimes of the Saddam Hussein regime.

In China, cases of atypical pneumonia are again detected. Two patients are hospitalized. Two are quarantined. 170 people who have contact with patients are under medical supervision. The epidemic of atypical pneumonia broke out for the first time in China at the end of 2002 and quickly spread to 30 countries. 800 people died, more than 8 thousand were infected.

Yesterday, the semifinal round of the UEFA Cup began. In both first meetings, there were no heads - 0-0, so they played Newcastle with Marseel and Villarreal with Valencia. The response will be held on May 6. In Kazan, the “final of four” Fiba’s basketball Euroleague began. In the semifinal matches, the local UNICS prevailed over the Perm “Ural Grait”-93:68, and the Greek “Maruss” won the “Hapoel” from Tel Aviv-92:74. Thus, tomorrow in the final will meet UNICS and Marussi.