Today, man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAMs), which are part of the military equipment of the Operational Group of Russian troops stationed in the region, were delivered from Transnistria to Russia on two Il-76 military transport aircraft. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the airlift from Transnistria to Russia of this type of weapons and ammunition is intended to thwart possible terrorist plans to seize MANPADS and missiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the management, employees and veterans of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, rescuers, firefighters and military personnel of the civil defense forces on their professional holiday. As the press service of the head of the Russian state reported, the congratulations, in particular, say: “Citizens of Russia know that in difficult times you will always come to the rescue.

The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation today refused to register an initiative group that supported the self-nomination of entrepreneur German Sterligov as a candidate for the upcoming March 2004 elections. presidential elections. According to the resolution adopted by the Central Election Commission, the documents presented by the above-mentioned group do not contain a notarized protocol of its first meeting.

The number of victims of the earthquake in the Iranian city of Bam reached 20 thousand people, about 50 thousand people received injuries of varying severity. This was reported by a high-ranking source in the Iranian government, according to Reuters. About 70% of the buildings of the city were destroyed, which still remains without water, electricity and fuel at sub-zero temperatures.

As a result of the tragic incident on the Indonesian island of Java, 18 people were killed and at least 5 were injured of varying severity. According to the AP, an army tank returning from a training exercise in Magelang crashed into a minibus and then ran over it. According to eyewitnesses, the tank driver probably lost control, as the car was literally “thrown” from one side of the road to the other. Two of the dead were military personnel in the tank, the rest were passengers in the minibus.

Two explosions occurred in the city of Karbala in southern Iraq. According to eyewitnesses, the local administration building was shelled with mortars. In addition, a car filled with explosives exploded near the university. According to the AP, an American delegation was in the city at that time. As a result of the militant attack, 20 coalition soldiers were injured. Meanwhile, the American military command does not yet have information about whether there are deaths among the victims.

A number of countries around the world have announced a ban on the import of American beef after the first case of mad cow disease was confirmed in the United States. According to the AP, among the Latin American countries that announced the adoption of this measure today are Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Earlier this week on the South American continent, Mexico, Brazil and Chile resorted to such measures.

The first since the arrest on November 20, 2003. A 30-minute interview with the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson will be broadcast on December 28 by CBS, whose journalist met with M. Jackson on December 25, AP reports. In an interview, the singer, in particular, said that he would “rather cut his wrists than harm a child.” Let us remind you that the 45-year-old singer has been charged with indecent assault on a 14-year-old boy.

NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft, orbiting Mars, failed to catch a signal from the Beagle 2 spacecraft, confirming the fact of the vehicle's successful landing on the surface of the Red Planet. This was announced by the official representative of the American government agency for research in physics and astronomy, Peter Barrett.