Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Christmas. Festive services took place that night in Orthodox churches in Russia, Ukraine, in Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Serbia, in the city of Bethlehem on the western coast of Jordan, where, as the Gospel tells, Jesus Christ was born. In Moscow, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II spent the service.

[Radio Liberty: Programs: Caucasian Chronicles] [07-01-05] "He left earlier. Memory of Yuri Kalmykov" Presenter Ooleg Kusov Oleg Kusov: On the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the Chechen war, Russians in television, radio and newspaper materials learned something about how the decision was made to enter the troops. However, the story associated with the Minister of Justice of Russia Yuri Kalmykov remained almost unnoticed.

In St. Petersburg, in the 75th year of his life, the famous opera singer Boris Shtokolov died. For more than thirty years, Shtokolov played on the stage of the Opera and Balte Theater named after Kirov (now the State Academic Mariinsky Theater). Shtokolova - a laureate of numerous domestic and international prizes - was called around the world "outstanding Russian bass."

The program is maintained by Andrei Sharogradsky. The program is attended by Radio Liberty correspondents Yuri Veksler and Mumin Shakirov. Andrei Sharogradsky: The State Department of the United States published another report on anti -Semitism in the world. The report notes an increase in anti -Semitic sentiments in many countries, in particular in Europe.

[Radio Liberty: Programs: Economics] [07-01-05] Leading Seninsky Sergey Seninsky: Traditionally, the first issue of the transfer in the coming year is already 10 times in a row - we devote to new Russian taxes or those changes in tax legislation that entered into force on January 1. This time - 2005 ... Our interlocutor in Moscow is the author of the Russian tax reform, now - Deputy Minister of Finance, Sergey Shatalov. We start with taxes on citizens' income. Income tax - a single rate 13%.

The oil concern Yukos plans to file a lawsuit against the Russian government and participants in the auction for the sale of Yuganskneftegaz - to recover $ 20 billion from them. This was announced today by the British newspaper Faynenshl Times with reference to representatives of Yukos at the court in Houston (Texas). This court previously ordered to suspend operations with Yukos assets - including the Yuganskneftegaz sale auction, the main mining unit of the concern.

The presidents of the United States and Georgia - George Bush and Mikhail Saakashvili - discussed ways to strengthen democratic reforms in the former Soviet republics. According to the representative of the White House Scott McLellan, the center of the discussion was recent events in Ukraine. Presidents emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation between the countries of the region, in particular, with Russia.

In northern Italy, at least 10 people died and several were injured in a railway disaster. 40 kilometers north of Bologna two trains collided - passenger and commodity. Several wagons have left the rails. The reason for what happened is still unknown. Representatives of local authorities said that at the time of the collision there was a thick fog.

The catastrophic earthquake off the coast of Indonesia was actually predicted in several years. In 1997, Ron Harris (Ron Harris), a professor of geology of the University of Brigham Yang in Utah, published a work in which he pointed to the danger of an earthquake of over 8 points in the vicinity of the island of Sumatra. In this area there is an area of subduction, where one tectonic plate goes under another. The speed of mutual rapprochement of plates is about 5 centimeters per year.

The program is maintained by Andrei Shari. The program is attended by a Radio Liberty correspondent in Madrid Viktor Cheretsky. Andrei Shary: The Spanish government decided to conduct the so -called extraordinary legalization of foreign citizens who live illegally and work in Spain. Victor Cheretsky: According to unofficial data, up to two million illegal immigrants are located in Spain, including 100 thousand Ukrainians and approximately 20 thousand Russians.

In all Orthodox churches in Russia, a festive service about the birth of Christ is taking place tonight. The Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy the Second performs the worship in the cathedral of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. There are Russian figures in the service. The celebration of the Nativity of Christ is also celebrated tonight Jerusalem, Georgian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.

[Radio Liberty: Programs: Russia] [07-01-05] Merchant Trofimov Author and leading Olshanskaya Editors of flowers Mark Volotsky participate in the program - Director of the Museum of the Military Studio named after M. Gorky Vyacheslav Rebrov - Kinoved, artist, director Yuri Shvrev - film director, gratitude to Mikhail Subbotin , USA On September 9, 1919, the poet Alexander Blok made a mark in the notebook: "In the evening, we are in the cinema with any cinema.

The world community continues to assist the victims on December 26 as a result of a natural disaster in South Asia. Senior representatives of the European Union discussed on Friday in Brussels issues of coordination of humanitarian supplies to the countries of the region. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Minister visited Sri Lanka and Thailand - trying to determine the volume of necessary assistance.

The directorial guild of the United States announced the nominations for awards for the best directing. Among the applicants for the prize are Martin Scorsese (the film “Aviator”), Clint Eastwood (“Girl for a million dollars”), Taylor Hackwood (Ray Charles Biography “Ray”), Mark Foster (“Magic Country”) and Alexander Payne (“On the Road”). The name of the winner will be announced on January 29.

On January 7, the election campaign in the Palestinian territories ends. The election of the president of autonomy will be held on Sunday. The leading candidate for this post Mahmoud Abbas on Friday on the western coast of Jordan laid a wreath on the grave of the former leader of the autonomy of Yasir Arafat. In Jerusalem, another candidate for the post of head of autonomy, Mustafa Barguti, was detained. The police accused him of lack of permission to stay in the city.