The Asia-Pacific region, where oil consumption is constantly growing, continues to attract commodity exporters. At the end of last year, Russia announced the start of construction of an oil pipeline from Eastern Siberia to the Pacific coast, and now Venezuela has announced its intention to become a serious player in the region.

The Krasnodar governor is being sold even in neighboring regions In the office furniture section of the “From A to Z” shopping center in Rostov-on-Don, along with tables, cabinets and armchairs, a portrait of the Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachev is now sold. The version that the store employees simply decided to increase the political literacy of Rostovites by presenting them with a gallery of gubernatorial portraits does not stand up to criticism.

37-year-old State Duma deputy (United Russia faction) Kirill Ragozin, known in the north-west of Russia as one of the most influential businessmen in the region, died on Saturday in an absurd tragic incident. Together with his friend, he rode a snowmobile among the hummocks of the Gulf of Finland in the Vyborg region, thereby violating the categorical prohibition of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The Hydrometeorological Center celebrates its 75th anniversary with a promise to reduce subjectivity in forecasts The anniversary of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center - its 75th anniversary - in Moscow was marked by frosts and a severe snowstorm, which became almost a natural disaster for the Russian capital.

Roman Kozak directed Andrei Platonov’s story “Dzhan” The performance is performed on the stage of the branch of the Theater named after. Pushkin, there are only three performers. Alexander Matrosov plays the hero of the story, Nazar Chagataev, who in the theater became simply Nazar. A surname is something superfluous and annoyingly specific. Kozak staged “Dzhan” as a parable, and living people had to give way to certain generalized figures.

Capital does not survive in Russia The Russian economy remains unattractive for investment. According to the Central Bank, in 2004, the net outflow of private capital (the difference between inflow and outflow) amounted to $7.8 billion. Moreover, this figure could have been more impressive if not for the “saving” fourth quarter, when 10 more people came into the country.

Hydro-OGK is going to minimize taxes RAO UES of Russia yesterday admitted for what purpose it registered a wholesale generating company (Hydro-OGK) being created in the Krasnoyarsk Territory on the basis of the largest Russian hydroelectric power plants. As Vyacheslav Sinyugin, a member of the energy holding board and head of Hydro-OGK, stated in an interview with Interfax, this was done to minimize taxation.

Intelligence agencies deciphered the personal archive of the new “al-Qaeda man” in Chechnya Russian special services have solved the mystery of one of the most dangerous international terrorists - the Arab mercenary Abu Haws, who, according to them, is now an emissary of Al-Qaeda in Chechnya. In principle, operatives knew about the existence of this person and his influence on the situation in the North Caucasus for quite a long time.

Sergei Darkin will become the first appointed governor Yesterday it became known that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to deputies of the legislative assembly of the Primorsky Territory the candidacy of Sergei Darkin as his candidate for governor. There is nothing unexpected in the fact that the head of state supported the candidacy of Mr. Darkin, who became the first of the current regional heads who risked turning to Vladimir Putin with a question of trust.

Palestinian leader counts on Russian support Yesterday, the new head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, who is making his first international tour, met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The choice of route of the Middle Eastern guest showed the whole world that Russia is gaining real chances to restore its influence in the region. Currently, the United States plays the role of the most significant foreign mediator in the Arab-Israeli peace process.

The Belarusian opposition is looking for a replacement for Lukashenko The Belarusian opposition began preparations for the 2006 presidential elections. The issue of a single candidate was discussed by opposition members in Vilnius last weekend. More than ten people declared their readiness to become an alternative to Alexander Lukashenko. Among those wishing to compete for the presidency are well-known politicians.

Forecast for the coming days Over the territory of Russia there is a confrontation between heterogeneous atmospheric vortices. The Siberian anticyclone staunchly protects its territory from the invasion of cyclones; the front of the struggle between them runs from the European North through the central regions to the south of Russia. It is in this zone that the weather is unfavorable, with strong winds, snowstorms and snowfalls.

No one else will answer for the murder of Deputy Skorochkin Today the ten-year statute of limitations for bringing to justice the people who killed State Duma deputy Sergei Skorochkin expires. According to investigators, the crime was committed by six people from the Moscow region and Nizhny Novgorod. The case against them has been going through courts of various levels since 1998.

Sergei Semak made his debut in the French Championship The French Championship has now become closer and dearer to Russian fans. Already ex-CSKA captain Sergei Semak made his debut in the French championship for his new club Paris Saint-Germain.

The military's justification was considered absurd The Military Collegium of the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday overturned the acquittal of five military officers accused of a high-profile attempt on the life of a businessman.