The Central Bank reported yesterday on its exchange rate policy in the first half of the year, which was carried out, as its experts put it, using the mechanism of “managed floating” of the exchange rate. The Central Bank believes that it was able to maintain economically feasible exchange rate dynamics. Despite the “non-resistance (of the monetary authorities. - Ed.

TNK is ready to surrender to BP Amoco In a year and a half, quite serious changes may occur in the Russian oil “field”. The Tyumen oil company, which since yesterday has been considered the main shareholder of Sidanco, may come under the control of BP Amoco. Analysts, however, believe that this is just talk. The path to the possible transition of TNCs under the control of BP was, to put it mildly, not easy.

The investment company “New Commonwealth” announced yesterday the termination of financing of the Ulyanovsk plant “Aviastar”. According to the company's management, without its money, the plant will experience financial collapse and a social explosion on a regional scale. In this way, the company is seeking to transfer to it a 26 percent stake in Aviastar-SP CJSC. The transfer is provided for in the investment agreement concluded on April 18, 2001.

Sergei LIVNEV is not yet forty, but he has already tried almost all professions related to cinema - from screenwriter and director to director of the largest Russian film studio. The experiment in producing low-budget films, which he carried out at Gorky's studio, was not very successful, although it resulted in one or two good films.

Negotiations to resolve the situation of the Albanian diaspora in Macedonia are being resumed today in Ohrid, Macedonia. Yesterday the negotiators had a rest - Independence Day was celebrated in Macedonia. It was not possible to celebrate the holiday with an agreement on the final settlement of the conflict, as international mediators wanted.

They want to cancel “presidential” payments Until yesterday, a passenger of any type of transport could expect that in the event of an accident or, God forbid, a catastrophe, he (or his relatives) would receive insurance. And not only the one provided for by the Civil Code and which involves liability insurance for carriers, but also a special one, the so-called presidential one. This possibility is now seriously questioned.

Summer is a legitimate time for relaxation and entertainment, carefree reading, noisy performances, dizzying action films, sparkling comedies and light music. And although all these genres are dear to us in autumn, winter, and spring, it seems reasonable to talk about entertaining art (and its relationship with serious art, as without it!) in the summer. Moreover, contrary to human nature, the Russian summer is by no means replete with desirable cinematic, theatrical, concert premieres.

Makiko Tanaka retained her post Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, over whom, according to sources close to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, dark clouds were gathering, managed to avoid resignation. Ms Tanaka agreed to fire all senior officials, as the Prime Minister insisted.

Brand rating published The influential American business weekly BusinessWeek published yesterday its annual ranking of brands (trademarks). The list includes 100 international brands, each worth more than $1 billion. The leaders are food, high-tech, entertainment, pharmaceutical and automotive companies. In order for a company to be included in the rating, at least 20% of the revenue from sales of its branded product must come from outside the country of origin.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has completed the investigation of the so-called “statisticians’ case,” which caused a real stir three years ago; then charges were simultaneously brought against the entire top of the State Statistics Committee. In total, according to investigators, officials caused 7 million rubles in damage to the state, and during a search they found more than $2.5 million in cash.

The “reforged” American is released The scandalous story surrounding the American John Tobbin, convicted in Russia for drug possession, is nearing its end. Today he will most likely be released on parole from the general regime colony in the city of Rossosh, where he was serving his sentence. John Tobbin was detained in Voronezh: there he was doing an internship at a local university. The American had several grams of marijuana on him, and the court sentenced him to one year in prison.

Illegal activities in the provision of bath and massage services were stopped by employees of the operational department of the Federal Tax Service for the city of Moscow. One of the many advertisements for the provision of such services, published in the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper, attracted the attention of operatives.

The latest Russian literature has received a worthy portrait The three-volume textbook by Naum Leiderman and Mark Lipovetsky “Modern Russian Literature” (Moscow, URSS) is the first full-fledged experience in describing Russian literature of the second half of the 20th century.

After a daily lull (remember, on August 1, 33 cholera cases were registered, and this figure remained unchanged for one and a half days), the number of cholera patients in Kazan began to grow again. According to the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision of the Republic, there are already 47 of them, and 26 of them are children. Doctors note that the cause of infection is not only swimming in the ill-fated lake, but also unwashed hands, dirty vegetables and fruits.

The government yesterday approved the basic principles of the new privatization concept proposed by the Ministry of Property and the Russian Federal Property Fund. According to First Deputy Minister of Property Relations Alexander Braverman, the developers had three priority tasks: the sale of state property should be carried out in line with structural changes in the economy, cover the budget target and contribute to the activation of the stock market.