The past year was marked by the entry into the market of the regional aircraft RRJ. This machine, its creators, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC), promise, will become a fundamentally new word in the domestic aircraft industry as the first aircraft created in Russia according to the world (i.e. Western) canons of commercial aircraft design.

New Year's performances do not change much from year to year. Traditionally, they involve Father Frost and the Snow Maiden, Baba Yaga (the Evil Witch or the Snow Queen), who is trying to ruin the children's holiday (stealing gifts, the newly born New Year, etc.), and brave heroes who always manage to return what was stolen, punish the dirty tricks and save the holiday.

The main and most significant deal of the outgoing year would undoubtedly have been the concentration of a controlling stake in Gazprom in the hands of the state and its purchase of Sibneft, if not for neighboring Ukraine. Within a year, the government of Viktor Yushchenko managed to nationalize and re-privatize the Krivorozhstal metallurgical plant. This became not only the largest privatization deal in the CIS, but also a model of fair and transparent privatization.

Deutsche Bank has completely mastered the FGD One of the largest Russian investment banks became entirely German this year. Founded in 1994 by the former Minister of Finance, and now a member of the board of directors of Gazprom, Boris Fedorov, the United Financial Group (UFG) became the first Russian investment bank that managed to sell itself profitably to a Western investor.

The opinions of Russian and foreign foreign exchange market participants regarding the dollar exchange rate in 2006 turned out to be directly opposite. Domestic traders and analysts do not believe in the growth potential of the American currency next year and expect that its exchange rate against both the euro and the ruble will gradually decline.

By the end of the year, Interros finally managed to partially get rid of its 74 percent stake in Power Machines. RAO UES of Russia became the blocking shareholder, having purchased an additional 22% of shares in addition to their 2.57% stake for $101.4 million.

2006 is the year of the Winter Olympics and world championships in the most popular team sports. The determination of the strongest national teams on the planet in football, basketball and volleyball takes place every four years, so the titles won are especially highly valued. Alas, this time Russia will not be represented either at the football championship in Germany or at the men's basketball championship in Japan.

The Moscow government has not approved the capital's development program for 2006 The last meeting of the capital's government before the new year, of course, was devoted to plans for the next year. Reviewing yesterday the work program of the city executive branch in 2006, Yuri Luzhkov once again proved that, as befits a boss, he looks ahead much further than his subordinates. As a result, all documents were sent for radical revision.

The Russian team at the 2006 Olympics in Turin must win 25 awards of various denominations. “Our forecast plan includes seven gold, five silver and 13 bronze medals,” said Leonid Tyagachev, president of the Russian Olympic Committee. - But this forecast is approximate. In some events we may fall short of medals, but in others, on the contrary, we may succeed.

The government will approve the draft medium-term development program for the country Today the government must finally approve the draft program for the socio-economic development of Russia for the medium term (2006-2008). It was adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers as a basis back in the spring.

The economic results of the year were summed up by Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade German GREF in an interview with Vremya Novostei columnist Vera SITNINA. - It's the end of December. It’s probably already possible to sum up the economic results of the year. — I would say that this year turned out to be much more positive than last year. Despite the fact that the growth rate is slightly lower than last year.

At the end of the year it became finally clear that serious changes had taken place in society, and a third force, the public, was involved in the cause of culture. Its interests were not taken into account in Soviet times, it was ignored during perestroika, when the situation was determined by the elite part of the intelligentsia, but today the systems have become established, and the opinion of the broad masses has turned out to be a real lever acting on the entire mechanism.

The flagship of the domestic auto industry has become controlled by the state This year a real revolution took place in the Russian automobile industry. The state decided to independently manage AvtoVAZ and the entire industry as a whole. What will come of this is still unknown, since production plans have not been clearly announced. In October, unexpectedly for many, Vladimir Kadannikov, who led the enterprise for many years, submitted his resignation.

In my childhood, gifts on New Year trees were most often given in paper boxes - with painted animals, Christmas tree balls, streamers and, of course, Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. At the most prestigious Christmas trees, this coveted gift - two "Bear in the North" candies, a large chocolate medal, waffles, cookies, a tangerine and several Golden Key toffees - was packaged in a red plastic fish, Christmas tree or star. Such things were then stored for years.

The Catholic world has lost the Great Pope. This is exactly what Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who led the funeral service, called John Paul II who died on April 2, 2005. Karol Wojtyla passed away at the age of 86, after 27 years on the throne of the Apostle Peter. Two weeks later, a conclave of cardinals chose a new, 265th, pontiff. This was the 78-year-old Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, known for his conservative views, who took the name Benedict XVI along with the papal tiara.