An American helped a Russian escape from a Los Angeles prison 38-year-old Russian Yuri Mikhel was awaiting trial in the ten-story Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center, located at the crowded intersection of North Alameida and Aliso streets, along with about a thousand other prisoners. He faces the death penalty on charges of kidnapping five people whose bodies were recovered from the bottom of a reservoir in Northern California.

Tax oppression is gradually pushing him out of Germany The head of Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann, yesterday in Frankfurt am Main gave open vent to the dissatisfaction with the tax policy of the Gerhard Schröder government, which has been growing in recent months within the walls of this largest private financial institution in Germany. The immediate reason for the sharp remarks was the fact that at the end of the second quarter, taxes “absorbed” 46% of Deutsche Bank’s profit.

Highland Gold Mining Ltd. acquired from Deerfield Universal Inc. 100% of the shares of Mayskoye OJSC, which owns the license to develop the Mayskoye gold deposit in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The total geological resources of Mayskoye are estimated at 280 tons of gold with an average gold content of 11.4 g/t. The transaction amount is $34.9 million. As a result of the purchase of the Highland Gold Mining deposit, its assets more than doubled - to 543 tons of gold and gold equivalents.

Famous Ukrainian boxers Vitaly and Vladimir Klitschko, living in Germany, recently visited the Russian capital. The question that primarily interested journalists was addressed to the elder Klitschko, Vitali: will a rematch with Lennox Lewis take place?

The number of refugees from Russia has increased by one and a half times Despite the continuous stabilization of life in Russia, the number of Russians seeking asylum abroad suddenly increased by one and a half times this year. These surprising findings are contained in a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Residents of Russia apply for refugee status in economically prosperous countries almost as actively as Iraqis.

Preliminary results of the Venice Film Festival Tomorrow evening the results of the 60th Venice Festival will be announced at the Palais des Festivals on the island of Lido. And although in the main competition there will be another potential contender for the prizes - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's film "21 Grams" - it is time to sum up the preliminary results. These results seem important not only for the anniversary Venice, but also for the festival movement as a whole.

IMF recommends abandoning production support The Belarusian Ministry of Finance has sent the government a draft deficit-free budget for 2004. It is assumed that the volume of income will be 7.408 trillion Belarusian rubles (current exchange rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation: 1 thousand Belarusian rubles - 14.5 Russian rubles), expenses are planned at the same level.

The low growth rates of the English economy, which have recently become the country's main problem, did not allow the Bank of England to change the interest rate yesterday. It remained at the minimum level in 48 years - 3.5% per annum. Theoretically, the Bank could well make a downward decision, taking into account the need to stimulate exports and increase consumer spending, as was the case last time in July (then the Bank announced a rate cut from 3.75 to 3.5%).

Georgy Yartsev may return from Dublin as a hero Two weeks have passed since the victory over the absolute evil nestled in the very center of Russian football. It was in this light that Valery Gazzaev’s resignation from the post of head coach of the national team was presented. During this period, the bright beginning, personified by Georgy Yartsev, developed frantic activity.

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY A program for a week First Monday, September 8 6.00 Good morning 8.00, 9.00, 12.00, 15.00, 18.00 News 8.10 people and law 9.20 "Seekers of the lost ark." Hood.

The UN unites the world against an unknown enemy Yesterday in New York, the leading countries of the world jointly developed documents that should strengthen coordination in the fight against international terrorism.

Deputy Minister of Finance Sergei Kolotukhin - about Russian debt policy The topic of Russia's debt payments naturally faded into the background of public attention when it became finally clear that the foreign trade situation allows the country not only to solve the “problem of 2003”, but also to live with a surplus budget. However, Russia has not yet passed the “market test” of what the placement of Eurobonds should be.

Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas yesterday asked the Palestinian Parliament for support in implementing the Road Map peace plan. In his speech, the prime minister noted the existence of a “number of problems” between the Palestinian government and the PNA leaders. Abbas is seeking to expand his powers in the security sphere, which PNA head Yasser Arafat is resisting.

Regional bankers - for the branches of their foreign colleagues Today the traditional banking forum of the Association of Regional Banks opens in Sochi. This time she intends to convince the Central Bank that foreign banks can still be allowed to operate in Russia through branches. At the same time, bankers are asking for protection of their business from the consequences of the country's accession to the WTO and the liberalization of foreign exchange controls.

Parliamentary campaign will cost more than a billion dollars How much the December elections to the State Duma will cost the state has been calculated and recorded. At yesterday's meeting, the government decided to allocate 3.5 billion rubles for their preparation and implementation. As Chairman of the Central Election Commission Alexander Veshnyakov stated a little earlier, 2.5 billion of this amount will be sent to the regions.