Large Russian business in search of a survival strategy There was no reason to assume that after the sale of Yuganskneftegaz there would be an attempt at an equal dialogue in the relationship between business and government. Moreover, it seemed that business was silent forever. Suffice it to recall how cautiously the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs tried to defend its own member, Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Gas burners replaced central heating in Georgia Since 1992, the central heating system in Georgia has not been functioning. In general, after the collapse of the USSR, in Georgia, serious problems began with the supply of electricity and natural gas, with all the ensuing (sometimes, alas, in the literal sense of the word) sad consequences for the population.

The Antimonopoly Service opened cases against Alfa Bank and Bank of Moscow The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) continues to fight what officials consider to be inadequate advertising by banks.

The film “Russian” was released The best brand of the PR campaign for the film “Russian” is, of course, Eduard Limonov, the eternal Russian newsmaker, who still attracts the attention of a jaded public. He is interviewed, his name is invited to the premiere, he is filmed for television stories. But those hoping for an exciting and revealing pamphlet in the spirit of “Russian Psycho” will be disappointed with the film.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), will hold their first important meeting on February 8 in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, a famous resort on the Red Sea. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will participate in the meeting. Perhaps the Jordanian King Abdullah will also arrive.

Winter turned out to be an unpleasant surprise for the peninsula The snowfall that hit the Kamchatka Peninsula paralyzed life in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Yesterday, a state of emergency was declared in the Kamchatka capital. The regional headquarters of the Ministry of Emergency Situations strongly recommends that residents of the regional center not leave their apartments. Classes in all educational institutions have been cancelled, and food stores in the city have been closed.

The US President spoke for 40 minutes, excluding applause. Yesterday evening (today at five o'clock in the morning Moscow time), US President George W. Bush addressed a joint meeting of both houses of Congress with his annual State of the Union address . This happened just two weeks after Bush's inaugural speech. This speech was especially anticipated - in it, George Bush spoke about the government's specific program of action for the year.

The government has not figured out how to support small and medium-sized businesses Comrade Kalugina - the heroine of "Office Romance" and part-time head of a certain statistical department - argued that interruptions in certain goods arise because they were not planned on time by her "rotozey" subordinates. The explanation from today's perspective is quite controversial. However, we are not talking about the features of the Soviet planned economy.

Mikhail Fradkov does not want to decide the fate of Rosneft and Gazprom Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov did not want to get drawn into the conflict between the Kremlin groups overseeing Gazprom and Rosneft. A source in the White House told Vremya Novostey that the Prime Minister recently sent Gazprom’s investment program for revision to the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Industry and Energy without specific instructions.

The Bolshoi Theater explained itself to the public On February 18, the Bolshoi Theater will show another opera premiere - Verdi's Falstaff, staged by the legendary Giorgio Streller. The famous 1980 production lived at La Scala until February 2004, where it was carefully maintained in perfect condition, and was acquired by the Bolshoi for perpetual use. Director Marina Bianchi took part in the transfer - she worked with Streller and became the heir to his productions and method.

Latvians thought for a long time about how to write the surname Kirkorov In Latvia, Russian, which is the native language of 40% of residents, will soon be allowed to be used more widely in visual information texts - on signs, in advertisements, etc. The reason for the relaxation is pressure from the European Union, of which Latvia became a member last spring. On the poster in Riga, announcing the tour of singer Philip Kirkorov, it is now written in capital letters - Filips Kirkorovs.

Sergei Ivanov sends conscripts to the crossbar Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov yesterday went on a three-day inspection tour of the Siberian Military District (SibVO). And although the head of the military department promised before the trip that he intended to find out “all the subtleties associated with the implementation of the law on replacing benefits with monetary compensation,” the voyage program is diverse both in topic and geography.

They want to take away the cook and waiters from Kuchma Today, the Ukrainian Parliament is deciding the issue of appointing Yulia Tymoshenko to the post of Prime Minister. Political scientists predict 44-year-old Tymoshenko, a former deputy prime minister for the fuel and energy complex and an ally of the new President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko in the Orange Revolution, will have a triumphant return to power.

In an interview with Vremya Novostey's own correspondent in Tbilisi, Mikhail VIGNANSKY, the situation in connection with the death of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania was commented on by the former President of Georgia Eduard SHEVARDNADZE. - You once said that Zurab Zhvania is the most talented of your students . - Yes, that's true. We worked together, together we created the Citizens' Union. Zhvania has come a long way. I would say - a glorious path.

The prosecutor of St. Petersburg appreciated the work of the city police Without exaggeration, a grandiose defeat was inflicted yesterday on the St. Petersburg police by the city prosecutor Sergei Zaitsev, who only took this post four months ago. According to him, the number of registered crimes has increased by almost 20%, but the detection rate is only 35%. By his own admission, the prosecutor cannot put up with such figures.