The head of the Ryazan region, Georgy Shpak, is one of the last popularly elected governors. Having been in charge of the subsidized region for a year and a half, Mr. Shpak is trying to refute the opinion that the governor general (before leaving for big politics he commanded the Airborne Forces) in Russian practice is a futile phenomenon. Georgy ShPAK told Vremya Novostei correspondent Daria GUSEVA how successful he is.

Another historical monument is being demolished in Moscow Another tram depot has been sentenced to demolition - one of those majestic red-brick complexes that appeared in Moscow at the beginning of the 20th century. This time the victim is a depot named Apakov, otherwise it is the Zamoskvoretsky tram depot. What is happening evokes a feeling of deja vu, because every time history repeats itself down to the smallest detail.

Turkish Minister Ali Babacan, who is responsible for the country's integration into the European Union, said yesterday that Turkey's membership in the EU would turn the organization "into a global force." The president of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mehmet Ali TALAT, spoke to Interfax correspondents Igor KARAVAEV and Vladimir SHISHLIN for Vremya Novostey about his point of view on the start of negotiations on Turkey's entry into the EU, as well as the role of the UN and

Tadeusz Kantor Days at the Meyerhold Center The artist, stage designer and director Tadeusz Kantor was born in 1915, died in 1990 - that is, now, in 2005, there are two anniversaries on the calendar. Ninety years since his birth, fifteen years since his death - on this occasion, Tadeusz Kantor Days opened yesterday at the Meyerhold Center.

Patients themselves reduce the number of effective medications On the eve of the next flu season, Russian infectious disease specialists and microbiologists no longer even warn, but simply implore patients not to run to the pharmacy for antibiotics every time they sneeze. “The uncontrolled use of antibiotics leads to the fact that microbes become resistant to the drugs,” said yesterday the professor of the MMA named after.

The government admitted that the people want, but cannot live in comfortable apartments After a year and a half of his premiership, Mikhail Fradkov decisively set about mastering the language of public policy. Whatever the statement, it’s a new slogan. Yesterday, at the extended board of the Ministry of Regional Development, dedicated to the national project “Affordable and comfortable housing for Russian citizens,” the head of the cabinet made an ambitious statement.

INTECO's lawyer could not be saved On Wednesday night, famous Moscow lawyer Dmitry Steinberg died at the Sklifosovsky Institute. He was hospitalized in a coma on Monday afternoon after an unknown criminal attacked him in the entrance of his home in central Moscow. This crime in itself caused a strong reaction in the Russian legal community.

Putin met Kissinger by the fireplace Yesterday, the President of Russia received former US Secretary of State, 82-year-old Henry Kissinger, in the Kremlin Fireplace Hall. This is the fifth meeting between Putin and Kissinger since 2001. The last of them took place in February 2005, also in the Kremlin. Henry Kissinger was born in Germany into a Jewish family that, fleeing fascism, moved to the United States in 1938.

Valery Zorkin told the president about the nature of appeals to the Constitutional Court Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation Valery Zorkin was invited to the Kremlin yesterday. Meetings with President Vladimir Putin have long become regular - several times a year the heads of the highest courts pay a visit to the head of state. However, one cannot help but notice that Mr. Zorkin’s conversation with Mr.

Top managers defend themselves against claims against their work Experts expect the volume of directors' liability insurance to grow in the coming years. This was stated yesterday by representatives of the international insurance broker Willis and Russian insurers during the conference “D&O, or Five Degrees of Director Protection,” organized jointly with the MICEX.

Former Kaliningrad bosses are deprived of social benefits The new Kaliningrad governor Georgy Boos has prepared a “surprise” for the Kaliningrad political elite. Having secured the support of United Russia, the largest faction in the regional legislative assembly, he intended to deprive all officials who had ever held high positions in the regional government from cash bonuses and social benefits.

Russian state employees held an all-Russian protest Yesterday, trade unions in public sectors of the economy held an all-Russian protest, demanding improved working conditions and an increase in wages by 50% in 2005 and by the same amount in 2006.

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher intends to extend his contract with Ferrari for another two years. This was stated by the agent of the German racer Willi Weber. Schumacher Sr.'s current agreement with the Italian team expires at the end of 2006, and recently there have been many rumors that Michael could then either move to McLaren or end his career altogether. “Everything is heading towards Michael ending his career at the end of 2008,” Weber said.

The region is asking to give the Yukos subsidiary a tax deferment or rather sell it for debts The authorities of the Tomsk region want to stand up for YUKOS. As Vice-Governor Vladimir Emeshev said yesterday, the regional administration intends to ask the Russian government to provide the subsidiary of the disgraced holding, Tomskneft, with an installment plan for the payment of additional taxes accrued to it for 2004 in the amount of 8 billion rubles.

The main contenders for Krivorozhstal have already been admitted to the auction Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Yekhanurov announced yesterday that ten companies are vying to participate in the competition to purchase the Krivorozhstal metallurgical plant. The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine approved the participation in the upcoming tender of ten applicants out of 12 who submitted requests for tender documentation.