In Nizhny Novgorod, they plan to produce 65 thousand licensed American machines After two years, the Chrysler and Dodge will begin to produce American cars in the Gorky Automobile Plant in two years. The new Russian-American project is largely repeated by the Soviet-Italian “Project of the Century”, from which the history of AvtoVAZ began at the turn of the 70s.

Participants in the competitive program of the Cannes Film Festival, which will open on May 17, are announced. Among the 19 paintings in the competition are the new films of the Spaniard Pedro Almadovar, American Sofia Coppola, British Ken Louch, Italian Nanny Moretti, Finn Aki Kaurisma and others. Among the invited stars are Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Kirsten Dunst, Hugh Jackman. The festival will end on May 28.

The tax burden on the Russian economy in the period from 2001 to 2005 decreased from 33.6% of GDP to 27.4%, and the number of taxes from 54 to 19, said the representative of the Ministry of Finance of the country, Alexander Ivanev. Now, according to him, the highest tax burden - 52% - is observed in the mining sector, and the lowest - about 19% in agriculture. In the processing sectors of industry, according to the Ministry of Finance, the tax burden is an average of 19%.

The State Duma of Russia plans to consider today in the first reading amendments to the legislation, providing for the abolition of identification of a person’s personality during operations with cash for small amounts. In particular, the bill allows credit organizations not to demand passport data from citizens in the implementation of transfer of funds in an amount not exceeding 30 thousand rubles, as well as when buying or selling foreign currency in an amount of less than 15 thousand rubles.

The problem of AIDS is the main topic of the meeting of the State Council of Russia in Moscow. As the report prepared for the meeting, the epidemic situation with HIV infection acquired a dangerous, progressive character in the country. As stated in the document, the number of registered cases of HIV infection in Russia exceeded 350 thousand. The vast majority of infected are young people.

The King of Nepal Gyendra promised to return the power to the people. Speaking on Friday with a television personality to the nation, he suggested that political parties nominate the candidacy of the new Prime Minister. In Nepal, despite the prohibitions of the authorities and the order to tear fire on the violators of the commandant’s hour, for more than two weeks, protests against the usurpation of power by the king continue for more than two weeks, demanding to return democratic freedoms.

The Chairman of the PRC Hu Jintao completes the visit to the United States. Today he performs at Yale University. Yesterday in Washington, negotiations of the Chinese leader with US President George Bush took place. The parties failed to bring the positions on the problem of Iran. The United States considers it necessary to introduce sanctions against Tehran if he does not refuse the production of enriched uranium. China insists on the diplomatic settlement of the conflict.

Tatyana Tkachuk: Probably, with each it happened that life suddenly ceases to delight. And not that everything was bad at this moment - no, on the contrary, everything seems to be normal. But for some reason the book does not read, the film does not look, boring with friends, children are annoying, sex does not seduce, from work-no satisfaction ... A terrible feeling: to understand that everything is fine, but not to feel pleasure from any pleasure ... Why does it happen?

Japan extended the term of its military contingent in Afghanistan for six months. The decision was made by the government today. In Afghanistan, Japanese auxiliary troops are deployed that do not directly participate in combat operations.

The US Ministry of Defense published a list of Guantanamo prisoners Kazan faced the problem of preserving the old architecture

The program is conducted by Dmitry Morozov. The Radio Liberty correspondent in Kazan Oleg Pavlov takes part. Dmitry Morozov: Having laid down the 1000th anniversary and having completed a program for eliminating dilapidated housing, the capital of Tataria faced the problem of preserving old architecture. The new houses that appeared on the site of ancient buildings cannot replace them in any way, and those that still remain are in a deplorable state.

Irina Yasina, top manager of the Open Russia TV channel

As President Putin can improve relations with the United States . Interview with Senator John McCain Irina Lagunina: The name of Senator John McCain has recently again more and more often mentioned in the press. He is subject to the main presidential candidate from the Republican Party of the United States in the next elections in 2008. The 69-year-old John McCain himself does not exclude the opportunity to recover his candidacy.