Russian trawlers return to Africa Two years after the cessation of fishing off the coast of Africa, Russian vessels are once again setting off to fish in the economic zone of Angola. The corresponding agreement was signed at the end of last week by representatives of the Ministry of Fisheries of this African republic, the Angolan company Pelicanus & Associados and the Vladivostok JSC Dalcomkholod.

The head of the Accounts Chamber of Russia, Sergei Stepashin, yesterday identified the main obstacles to the restoration of Chechnya. In his opinion, this process is hampered by the lack of a banking system, the uncertain size of the republic’s population and an ill-conceived system for financing work.

For Gref's arrival, the Americans have prepared new duties on Russian steel Yesterday, the official visit of Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade German Gref to the United States began. However, negotiations may be complicated by the decision of the American authorities to impose more than 100 percent anti-dumping duties on Russian cold-rolled steel. This measure will cost Russian metallurgists almost $100 million annually.

The 2005 World Athletics Championships will be held in Helsinki. These results were brought by a secret vote of 27 members of the Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations, the meeting of which was held in the capital of Kenya. In addition to Helsinki, Moscow, Berlin, Brussels and Budapest also applied for the right to host the championship. To the surprise of many, Moscow dropped out of the race after the first round of voting.

Several years ago, in the spacious hall of the residence of the President of Croatia on Zagreb's Pantovčak hill, busts of prominent characters in the national history were lined up - from the medieval King Tomislav to the creator of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, a Croat by nationality. It was clear who the next small monument should be erected, but after the death of the first president of independent Croatia, Franjo Tudjman, his bust never appeared in the Zagorka Villa.

Senators are trying to gain independence from their regions Senators dream of strengthening their position. Given that the governors who previously met in the building on Malaya Dmitrovka were replaced by no less respected people - ex-ministers, businessmen and even an oligarch, each of them could lose their seat at any moment. Therefore, members of the upper house are going to take a legislative initiative to forever rid themselves of such a risk.

State defender of human rights in Chechnya may resign The post of special presidential representative for human rights in Chechnya will be vacant by the end of this week. Vladimir Kalamanov, who currently holds this position, has been invited to represent Russia at UNESCO with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Mr. Kalamanov himself has not yet submitted his resignation and has not shared his plans for the future.

Concerns about the activity of Russian skinheads on the eve of Hitler's upcoming birthday finally reached presidential levels yesterday. On Monday morning, Vladimir Putin specifically discussed the topic of the activities of extremist groups with the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Boris Gryzlov. Quite possibly, the reason for this was the concern of foreign embassies about attacks by metropolitan skinheads, expressed in a series of official statements.

So far only legislative For the head of Yekaterinburg Arkady Chernetsky, yesterday became doubly black. Firstly, the “United Russia” bloc, on which the mayor placed his bets and included officials and businessmen close to him on the lists, lost first place to Eduard Rossel’s “For the Native Urals” bloc by a large margin.

A catalog of early Russian cinema has been published The phrase “Russian cinema,” by the way, applies not only to perestroika bastard films and current dubious films, but also to the first decade of our film history, which began with “Ponizovaya Volnitsa” (1908). Even experts can sometimes only remember from this era “Father Sergius” by Yakov Protazanov with Ivan Mozzhukhin in the title role, to say nothing of the rest.

Germany proposed its plan for resolving the conflict in the Middle East, involving the dismantling of Jewish settlements and the creation of the state of Palestine. This should be carried out after a ceasefire in the conflict zone and Israel's withdrawal of troops from the occupied Palestinian territories, said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

A viola made by the 18th-century Italian master Storioni, which belongs to the State Collection of Unique Musical Instruments, was stolen in Moscow last weekend. According to information from the Central Internal Affairs Directorate, the viola has recently been used on loan by Moscow Philharmonic musician Igor Naidin, who performs as part of the Borodin String Quartet. It was he himself who came to the police station and spoke about the crime.

Luzhkov will not be able to influence the capital’s “big” energy sector After the capital's regional energy commission, controlled by Yuri Luzhkov, only slightly increased electricity tariffs, RAO UES of Russia indicated to the mayor that it did not intend to take into account his opinion on the issue of appointing the general director of Mosenergo.

Rimas Tuminas staged at the Theatre. Vakhtangov's immortal comedy by Gogol There is no other theater in Moscow that strives so persistently and conscientiously to attract advanced directorial thought to its stage as the Vakhtangov Theater. Not only are there performances by Pyotr Fomenko, Adolf Shapiro, Vladimir Mirzoev and Evgeny Marcelli.

Among foreign-made cars, the maximum number of offers fell on cars produced in 1998 - 22% of the total number of offers, which is explained by the relatively low level of customs duties on cars older than three years. The second place according to the survey results is occupied by cars manufactured in 1997. -- 14%, third place car 1995 onwards - 11% of offers, 1993 onwards -- 10%. Fifth place in the rating belongs to foreign-made cars produced in 1996, as well as in 1992 and 1994.