Deputies legalized the new election system Yesterday, the State Duma adopted in the second reading a bill introducing a number of fundamental changes to election legislation. As is usually the case with fateful initiatives, the changes were introduced by the head of state for consideration by the chamber. The law will change the party system in Russia, reshape the face of the State Duma, and affect the future of many deputies.

The commercial series “Golden League” starts in Paris On July 1, the first of six commercial tournaments of the prestigious Golden League athletics series starts in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. Following the French capital, the hosts of the competition will be Rome (July 8), Oslo (July 29), Zurich (August 19), Brussels (August 26) and Berlin (September 4). The final of the prestigious competition will take place in Monaco on September 9-10.

Randy Brecker brought a dream team to Le Club Unexpected glimpses occur in the summer-sluggish concert life of Moscow. Moreover, where no one is waiting for them. For example, trumpeter Randy Brecker has performed at Le Club a hundred or two hundred times already, and everyone knows it. And that he is good in all compositions (“a living classic”, what can I say) - also a well-known plot.

The 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar was celebrated with a colorful reenactment at sea On Tuesday, Great Britain recalled the glorious days of its history - the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar was solemnly celebrated near Portsmouth. For England, which for several centuries rightly bore the title “Mistress of the Seas,” this battle is the pinnacle of domestic naval glory.

The visit to Moscow of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, which ended yesterday, left an awkward feeling of reticence. Although Karimov spoke, as always, a lot, emotionally, and sometimes even convincingly. In any case, when he tried to explain why he was against an international investigation into the events in Andijan.

Last year's winner of the British Open, world number one and leader of the annual ATP classification, Swiss Roger Federer, reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon. Yesterday he beat Chilean Fernando Gonzalez - 7:5, 6:2, 7:6 (7:2). Federer's opponent for the next round of competition was revealed before rain fell on the outskirts of London, disrupting the afternoon's schedule. The Swiss will have to face Lleyton Hewitt.

YUKOS property put on international wanted list The excitement around the Lithuanian asset of YUKOS - the Mazeikiu Nafta concern - is growing stronger every day.

English director Peter GREENWAY was one of the honorary guests of the Moscow Film Festival. His films have not participated in any competitions for a long time. But they please Russian fans of intellectual cinema. At the XXVII MIFF, the director presented his own program entitled “Peter Greenaway: Russian Version”. There are only two films in the program - the first and second parts of the film “The Suitcases of Tulse Luper”. Olga KUZNETSOVA spoke with Peter Greenway.

CLUBS Randy Brecker & Bill Evans Soulbop Band (USA) consisting of: Randy Brecker (trumpet), Bill Evans (saxophone), Dave Kikosky (piano), Hiram Victor Bullock (guitar), Bailey (bass), Joel Rosenblatt (drums). The last concert of the Moscow tour of the star ensemble.

Yulia Tymoshenko banned Naftogaz of Ukraine from re-exporting gas The head of Naftogaz, Alexey Ivchenko, who failed in negotiations with Gazprom and Turkmenbashi (see Vremya Novostey, June 27), received another blow - in the back. The government of Yulia Tymoshenko, having approved the corresponding decision of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, actually prohibited the state-owned company from re-exporting gas until its shortage in Ukraine was eliminated.

On July 1, a new federal energy law came into force in Germany, adopted by both houses of the German parliament after difficult debates. This legislation belatedly implements EU requirements at the national level, planned for 2003. The law, due to its importance and universality, has been dubbed the “constitution of the electricity and natural gas markets,” liberalized seven years ago.

The Latvian National Opera ends its season with a festival The Latvian National Opera (LNO), which in recent years has become one of the most intriguing European theaters, organized a festival at the end of the season, showing four premieres along with repertoire hits - “Tosca” and “Aida”. One could hear and see works from the 18th to 21st centuries, performed at the highest level, which remains a pipe dream for Moscow.

America is ready to suffer in Iraq indefinitely America does not intend to withdraw troops from Iraq until it “fulfills its duty.” US President George Bush announced this yesterday. He performed at the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina. His speech, which was broadcast on major US television channels, was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the formal transfer of power to the interim Iraqi government.

The sentence of physicist Danilov came into force The guilty verdict against Krasnoyarsk physicist Valentin Danilov has entered into legal force. Yesterday, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld virtually unchanged the decision of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court, which found Danilov guilty of high treason and fraud, reducing the sentence by only one year - from 14 to 13 years in a maximum security colony.

The state announced support for aircraft leasing companies The Ministry of Industry and Energy announced yesterday how much budget funds it decided to allocate this year to replenish the authorized capital of two aviation leasing companies eligible for state support - Ilyushin Finance Co (IFK) and Financial Leasing Company (FLK).