Despite all the security measures, the Saudi authorities were unable to carry out the Hajj this year without the death of pilgrims: on Tuesday, 14 people died in a stampede in Mecca. The tragedy occurred on the street of the Al Arab market, along which pilgrims were returning from the sacred ritual of stoning pillars that symbolize the devil. This column encountered another crowd that was heading towards them. As a result, two streams of people were unable to disperse in a confined space.

Just a few weeks after Vnesheconombank became the owner of Roseximbank at the initiative of the government, both of them demonstrated their capabilities in supporting export projects. Yesterday, as part of Vladimir Putin's visit to France, the head of VEB, Vladimir Chernukhin, signed on behalf of Vnesheconombank and Roseximbank a cooperation agreement with the association of French banks AFB-export.

Russian legislators are struggling with the problem: how to make the Internet a zone of freedom and rights at the same time. At the same time, the position of deputies does not always coincide with their party affiliation. A paradoxical, at first glance, situation arose.

Beijing supported the joint statement of France, Germany and Russia on Iraq . "We welcome any efforts that can lead to a peaceful solution to the Iraqi problem," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters yesterday. On Monday, Paris, Berlin and Moscow announced a joint statement calling for a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi crisis. The three countries spoke out for the need to continue the work of international inspectors in Iraq.

Gazzaev and Karpin are ready to work together Today the Russian national team will open the football season. Valery Gazzaev's team will have to hold two friendly matches at the tournament in Limassol. The first - with the national team of the hosts of the tournament, the Cypriots, the second, a day later, either with the Romanian team, or with the Slovaks, who made up the second semi-final pair.

A new trial of the former chief financier of the Ministry of Defense, Colonel General Georgy Oleinik, began yesterday at the Moscow Garrison Military Court. The Main Military Prosecutor's Office accuses him of exceeding his official powers by selling bills of exchange belonging to the Ministry of Defense to Voenbank at a reduced price in 1997. According to investigators, by doing so, Mr. Oleinik caused $60 million in damage to the military department.

BP, Alfa Group and Access/Renova (AAR) yesterday officially announced the merger of their assets in Russia and the creation of a new oil company, which should become the third largest oil company in our country. The final completion of the deal is scheduled for the summer, but the agreement came into force on January 1 of this year.

“Ballistics” on Moscow screens When revolutionary-minded vegetables, led by Cipollino, captured the count's castle and were preparing for a siege, Signor Goroshek was more worried than others. He did not believe that a long siege could be sustained without a general who knew strategy, tactics and ballistics. Apparently, fourteen Hollywood producers, who decided to jointly make the world happy with another hard-boiled action movie, were concerned about the same problem.

There are no arrests left in the murder of General Gamow The Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk City Court changed the preventive measure for 22-year-old Alexey Igrunov and 23-year-old Alexey Kuznetsov, suspected of murdering the head of the Sakhalin detachment of the Pacific Regional Directorate of the Federal Border Guard Service, General Vitaly Gamov, to a recognizance not to leave the place.

FIA President Max Mosley sent an open letter to Formula 1 teams explaining the need to introduce new rules. The postulates are the same: it is necessary to reduce costs, increase the service life of the engine, and limit the list of materials used. According to Mosley, the future of Formula 1 is private teams receiving engines and other components from two or three manufacturers.

Europe and the United States must work together to build the Greater Middle East It’s time for Europeans to stop trying to establish their authority in the world as a counterweight to American influence, senior Bill Clinton administration officials Ronald Asmus (former deputy assistant secretary of state) and Kenneth Pollack (former National Security Council official) believe. They are considered the main ideologists of NATO's expansion to the east.

Russian emigration found a patron for the Russian President The second day of the Russian President's stay in Paris began with negotiations at the Matignon Palace with the Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic, Jean-Pierre Raffarin. In a conversation with him, Vladimir Putin emphasized that political partnership is a good basis for the development of economic relations.

Russian viewers of the Grammy ceremony will have someone to root for this year As you know, the main surprise was the nomination of a Russian group for an award from the American National Recording Academy.

Volga-Dnepr is being rebuilt Alarming forecasts for domestic aviation were expressed yesterday by the general director of the Volga-Dnepr group of companies, Alexey Isaikin. “Bankruptcy of both the aviation industry and civil aviation is a real prospect for the near future,” said Mr. Isaikin, who was previously known for his skeptical view of the competitiveness of the air transport complex Russia inherited from the Soviet Union.

Hockey. NHL. Regular season. “Philadelphia” – “Minnesota” – 0:1, “Detroit” – “San Jose” – 5:4 – Datsyuk “D” (0+2), Larionov “D” (0+1) , Fedorov “D” (0+2), “Vancouver” – “Chicago” – 2:1. Fans of Brett Hull have been waiting for a long time for their idol to score his 700th goal. Hull came close to this mark seven matches ago, but could not cross the cherished line.