President Held a meeting on the issues of providing housing for military personnel to sum up the interim results of the work to solve this problem and analyze the relevant proposals of the Ministry of Defense.

CLUBS Ben Sher (guitar). Concerts of the American guitarist as part of the New Generation of Jazz cycle. March 19 and 20 at Le Club , 20.00. St. Patrick's Night. At a six-hour festival dedicated to St. Patrick, groups from six Russian cities will perform, playing not only Celtic, but also Balkan and Armenian, Karelian and Finnish, Gypsy, Russian and country music. Participants: Mervent, Russian-Celtic Orchestra Reelroad, Skylark, Maxis, Racoons, Taraf Kharakoz. March 19 at Tochka , 20.00.

The RTS index broke 700 points The main indicator of the Russian stock market - the RTS index yesterday overcame another psychological milestone of 700 points and reached a new historical maximum - 711.52. Investors are warmed up by the results of the presidential elections and new expectations: the market is already anticipating an upgrade of Russia's sovereign rating by Fitch and Standard & Poor's to investment grade.

The forwards of the Moscow club did not score anything again Yesterday the second matches of the opening round of the playoffs in the Russian Super League took place, which brought noticeable clarity to the balance of power in the pairs of quarterfinalists. Two wins at the beginning of the series (up to three wins) guarantee passage to the next round. Until last spring, this rule knew no exceptions.

The Baltics fear al-Qaeda The wave of terror, which began last week with a series of explosions in Spain, is very worrying for the Baltic countries, in particular Lithuania. There are reasons for concern. Considering the obsequious “whatever you want” Lithuania demonstrated last year by unconditionally and actively supporting all US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yesterday the threat of terrorism was discussed by the Committee on National Security of the Lithuanian Parliament - the Sejm.

Gazprom seized the initiative from the government Less than a week has passed since Vladimir Putin finally dashed hopes for reforms at Gazprom during his presidency, and the monopolist has already come up with a vision of its own future in new conditions.

Akhmat Kadyrov promises “sensational revelations” Yesterday in Grozny, the new head of the cabinet, Sergei Abramov, was officially introduced to the ministers of the Chechen government. True, some ministers may not have to work with Mr. Abramov: Chechen President Akhmat Kadyrov said that the republican government could soon be reorganized along the lines of the federal government - some ministries would be merged with each other. In addition to personnel changes, Mr. Kadyrov has other wishes.

The former “telekiller” will appear on Channel One in a new capacity The host of the cult program from the times of perestroika “600 seconds”, and subsequently one of the telekillers of the early Putin era, Alexander Nevzorov returns to television screens in an unusual quality. The former stuntman, loader, and church singer finally managed to combine work with his longest hobby. The first episode of his documentary “The Story of a Horse” will premiere next weekend.

NATO is unable to stop the pogroms Yesterday, in the autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija (officially Kosmet, but for brevity it is often called Kosovo), the embers of ethnic passions that had been smoldering since 1999 flared up with unprecedented force. The first victims of violence were 22 killed and 500 wounded. But clashes continue, with machine gun fire resounding in towns across Kosovo, so there will be more deaths.

Mobile phones were confiscated from Georgian ministers The Georgian president, who first arrived in the city of Poti, 40 km from the Adjarian capital, entered Batumi yesterday with great pomp and at the same time caution. No one knew for sure which route and on what route he would go to the Adjara Autonomous Region.

Forecast for the coming days Warm weather will continue in the central regions in the coming days. But there will be more precipitation. It will be especially stormy and windy on Sunday, when an active Atlantic cyclone will blow in from the west, causing precipitation, mostly rain. In the capital on March 19, cloudy, with clearings, light rain in places, maximum temperature +3...+5оС, western wind. 3--8 m/s.

Yesterday the Rada scheduled presidential elections for October 31, 2004. “This is a pure formality, since according to our constitution, elections are always held on the last Sunday of October,” ex-President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk explained to VN. The Rada also approved the law on presidential elections, cutting off Leonid Kuchma's path to a third term.

The Vremya publishing house published “Modern Patericon” by Maya Kucherskaya Once upon a time there lived a girl. This is how you can start any story, unless, of course, this story is about a married lady, widow or man. This is how Maya Kucherskaya begins the story “The Writer,” with which “Reading for those who have tasted the sweetness of true faith in recent times” opens.

The army team won a fundamental victory in Spain CSKA basketball players victoriously completed perhaps the most important match of the second stage of the ULEB Euroleague. On the road in the Spanish city of Vitoria, Serbian head coach Dusan Ivkovic's team won against the local team Tau Ceramica - 80:77. The results of the first round in Group “D” inspire optimism - the army team won all three meetings held and are confidently ahead at the equator of the “Top-16” stage.

The blockade of Adjara has been ended Last night, the economic blockade of Adjara, which lasted three days, was lifted. This was the main result of the negotiations between Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the head of the autonomy, Aslan Abashidze, that ended yesterday in Batumi. The meeting of the two leaders can certainly be called a historical event in the modern history of Georgia.