The US currency reached a weekly high Yesterday, dollar quotes against the ruble reached their highest level since mid-December. The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank increased by 0.3% - from 28.66 to 28.76 rubles. The total trading volume on the MICEX amounted to $2.9 billion. The American currency also rose in price at exchange offices by 5-10 kopecks: yesterday evening cash dollars could be sold for 28.7 rubles, and bought for 28.9 rubles.

Saddam and his victims recount their suffering The fourth session of the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven of his associates began in Baghdad yesterday. Previously, meetings of the special tribunal were held on October 19, November 29 and December 5-7. Yesterday the judges heard five new witnesses from the village of Dujeil. They told terrible stories about how they were tortured with electric shockers and their arms and legs were broken with rifle butts.

The Duma continues to push through a law on control over non-governmental organizations The State Duma yesterday adopted in the second reading a bill regulating the activities of non-profit organizations, around which a scandal has erupted in recent weeks.

Dmitry Medvedev promises to control every ruble for national projects Receipt of money by citizens and the state distributing these funds. Payments on time. Control of every ruble. No bureaucratic obstacles. This is what worries the main person responsible for the implementation of national projects, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, today. It would seem such simple things. And yet, Mr.

Andrey Illarionov summed up the economic results of the year The economy in the country is over, only politics remains. Even the presidential adviser on economic issues, Andrei Illarionov, summing up the results of the year, paid much more attention to political realities. “This year Russia has ceased to be a democratic and free country,” he said. The Freedom Index, calculated by the international organization Freedom House, has been steadily declining since the 90s.

Art festival for the premiere of “The Master and Margarita” Vladimir Bortko’s new film is difficult to rip into quotes and turn into urban folklore. The success of “Heart of a Dog” is unique. The time is wrong. The material is different. Texture. Rhythm. The pace is everything else. But I think the film “The Master and Margarita” will still become loved by many. Already now, the scrupulous, sensitive attitude towards the original source, rare for our masters, is encouraging.

The Constitutional Court recognized governors as subordinates of the president Russian governors have finally turned into government top managers subordinate to the president.

Hugo von Hofmannsthal danced in Munich What to dance for New Year and Christmas is one of the most difficult repertoire problems for the ballet theater. “Nutcrackers” march in crowds, “Sleeping Beauties” awaken in some places, and tickets for such a rarity as “The Snow Maiden” are sold out even in the summer.

The institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have long been involved in introducing the latest developments into production. The status of a special economic zone and special funding from the federal budget would allow the Novosibirsk Scientific Center to reach unprecedented production capacity. Having lost the competition for SEZ status, Akademgorodok researchers now hope to implement their projects with the help of another federal program.

The Kaliningrad region may become a special economic zone by April 2006 The long-suffering draft law on a special economic zone in the Kaliningrad region was adopted yesterday by the State Duma of Russia in the second reading. With the required minimum of 226 votes, 409 deputies voted for the document, there were none against, and one abstained. It is planned that on December 23 the law will be considered and approved by the State Duma in the third and final reading.

The fourth film about Harry Potter on Moscow screens In Harry Potter's (Daniel Radcliffe) fourth year at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, they are preparing to welcome guests from all over Europe. The Triwizard Tournament is coming - one of the most important competitions in the magical hierarchy, designed to choose from the champions of different schools the one and only most powerful magician.

Ms. Voigt sang in Moscow at the opening of the Russian Winter festival This December has brought great singers from the world stage to the Moscow concert scene. In the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, Jose Carreras, who is already traditional for winter Moscow, sang. On December 27, in the Great Hall of the Conservatory, Maria Guleghina, who has already appeared with Carreras, will sing - in the program “Passion for Verismo” she most likely will not leave listeners without her famous Tosca.

E.ON and MOL fulfilled the conditions of Brussels Yesterday it became known that the European Commission allowed the world's largest private energy concern E.ON from Dusseldorf to buy the gas business of the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL.

CLUBS Steve Turre (USA). Tour of the famous jazz musician. For the past five years, America's largest jazz magazines have consistently recognized him as the best trombonist in the United States and the most versatile musician - Steve Turre performs jazz solos not only on the trombone, but also on sea shells!

One of the most ambitious projects of the Russian government for the intensive development of high-tech technologies and their introduction into production may be watered down by the efforts of federal and regional officials.