The total population of Russia in the first five months of 2008 decreased by almost 120 thousand people, the Federal Statistics Service said. This is 45% less than the first five months of last year, when it exceeded 175 thousand. By June 1, 2008, the total population of Russia amounted to 141.9 million people.

Georgia and South Ossetia are negotiating the release of detained Ossetians and Georgian

The program is conducted by Kirill Kobrin. The Radio Liberty correspondent in the Moscow Region Vera Volodin takes part. Kirill Kobrin: The owner of the Crocus group Araz Agalarov and President Tron Holf Had Hinton signed a contract under which the American company received a golf club for 15 years, under construction in the Agalar Estit complex in the Istra district of the Moscow Region.

In Moscow, a fire was extinguished in the train car at the Otradny metro station. There are no victims. According to law enforcement, the fire occurred as a result of a short circuit. The fire was eliminated using a fire extinguisher. The movement along the Temiryazevsko-Serpukhov metro branch was restored. The emergency composition was sent to the depot.

The program is conducted by Kirill Kobrin. The Radio Liberty correspondent in Kyiv Vladimir Ivakhnenko takes part. Kirill Kobrin: Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel is conducting negotiations in Kiev today with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The main topics are economic cooperation, interaction in the field of energy security and prospects for the integration of Ukraine into European structures and NATO.

Alexander Genis: Today, visiting the American hour, journalist and writer Peter Prung, author of the first books about Vavilov in America. The book that recently appeared on the shelves of bookstores read it can be judged by the recall of one of their ordinary readers. So, a certain Larson from Ontario shares his impressions of what he read. Announcer: “Until the brilliant book of Peter Princess, only a few specialists in the West knew about Nikolai Vavilov.

In St. Petersburg, with the support of local authorities , the “Moral Code of the Petersburger” is developed, which the authors propose to enter the city charter and even put in the passports of citizens - in the form of a special liner. “The true Petersburger is an example of all compliance with the laws of society. The true Petersburger sacredly believes in good and his victory, adhering to the highest human ideals and values.

The Central Bank of Zimbabwe announced today the introduction of a new bill - a face value of 100 billion Zimbabvian dollars. Inflation in the country, according to official figures, exceeded 2 million percent per year. According to independent experts, it is at least 7 million percent. For one American dollar in the unofficial market they give 800 million Zimbabvian.

The volume of the state external debt of Russia in the second quarter decreased from $ 44 billion to 41 billion, the Ministry of Finance said. This is a little more than 10% of the total external debt of Russian companies and banks, both state and private, which, according to the Bank of Russia as of April 1, amounted to 436 billion dollars. Of these, 40% accounted for debts of Russian banks.

Scientists from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland developed an X -ray diffraction microscope. This unique installation allows you to shine through the sample with powerful x -ray radiation and get a picture of not only surfaces, but also internal areas. Training radiation is recorded by a special detector, which in the scanning process retains tens of thousands of images. They are analyzed by a special algorithm that reconstructs a complete three -dimensional picture.

The arrival of the President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez is deposited to Moscow until Tuesday. Initially, the visit was planned for today. This was reported to the agencies by an unnamed source in the Russian Foreign Ministry. According to the France Press agency, also referring to the Russian diplomatic source, the visit is postponed at the request of Karakas. The reason for this is unknown. The signing of a number of contracts for the supply of Venezuela of Russian weapons is expected.

In Poland today, the famous politician Bronislav Geremyk, who died in a car accident on July 13, is buried today. Many political and public figures will arrive at the mourning ceremony, among them - Polish President Lech Kachinsky, former US Secretary of State Madlin Olbrait, as well as Lech Valens, the leader of the Solidarity trade union, who was led by the Communist regime in Poland.

In Tbilisi, they talked about the possible resumption of war in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow Region compiled a list of buildings subject to demolition today in America. Barack Obama seems to the world: the Americans are observing intently. The United States refuses to carry out large -scale tests of the new AIDS vaccine: will we win the virus

Now flights through the Atlantic have become a routine and are performed every day The 75th anniversary of the flight of the Lithuanian pilots of Darus and Girenas through the Atlantic was marked by the grand international aviation holiday in Kaunas. The flight of Lituania, an airplane, one of the first to make a non -stop flight through the Atlantic, ended tragically: the pilots did not reach the airfield a little and crashed on the territory of modern Poland .

The candidate for the president of the United States from the Democratic Party of Barack Obama, on a visit to Iraq, met on Monday with the head of the Iraqi government Nuri Al-Malika. According to Obama, the discussion was very constructive. In the event of his victory in the presidential election in November, Obama promises to withdraw troops from Iraq in 16 months.