Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to Algeria begins today. It is expected that as a result of negotiations with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 14 intergovernmental agreements may be signed, including a contract for the supply of combat aircraft, anti-aircraft missile systems and tanks worth $4 billion. There is also the problem of settling Algeria’s debt to Moscow, amounting to about 4.5 billion dollars.

Southern Russia attacked by Hurricane Fion The authorities of almost all regions of southern Russia yesterday began calculating the damage from a powerful hurricane that raged on their territory, as soon as it became clear, since March 4. The consequences of the hurricane turned out to be so large-scale that local rescuers, following the example of their American colleagues, even gave it their own name - “Fion”.

Chisinau and Kyiv claim that Tiraspol carved itself Ukraine and Moldova have headed for the economic isolation of Transnistria. This statement was made yesterday by Ambassador at Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Valery Kenyaykin. He headed the Russian interdepartmental group, which, on March 7-9, studied the situation in the region after the decision made by Kiev on March 3 not to allow Transnistrian cargo through the Ukrainian border without customs clearance from the Republic of Moldova.

“Eclipse” on the stage of Lenkom Should I play Ken Kesey now? The sixties are far away, even further away are the American sixties. The beatniks, who proposed too simple solutions to complex problems (let's free a person - and quickly, and the quickest way to snatch him out of an oppressive society is with the help of LSD and magic mushrooms) is already ancient history.

Nessim Gaon and Russia switched roles The Ministry of Finance continues to remain silent about the deal, which may rid Russia of the claims of the notorious Swiss Nessim Gaon and his company Noga. The fact that an American of Russian origin, a native of Omsk, Alexander Kogan, bought out Russia’s debt to Noga in the amount of $63 million, recognized by the Stockholm Arbitration Court in 1997, became known three days ago. Mr Kogan claims he acted in the interests of the Russian government.

On Sunday, January 15, in the Great Hall of the Conservatory, the production center “Classics Viva” will present Gluck’s opera “Orpheus and Eurydice” in a concert performance with the participation of European stars, the Chamber Choir of the Moscow Conservatory and the orchestra of authentic instruments Pratum Integrum. The opera will be conducted by Teodor KURENTZIS. Before the concert, Mikhail FIXTENGOLTS talked with the conductor.

Exhibition by Georgy Pervov "Languages ​​of walls and street art" Moscow is a mutant city. And Pervov is his prophet. A strange city of continuous outskirts, through which the photographer walks and looks with an aloof look at what is happening to this world. And the further he gets, the stranger and stranger is what he encounters. Pictures on fences, garages and garbage dumps live their own special life. Luzhkov's campaign to beautify Moscow courtyards led to strange aesthetic results.

The United States spared Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment Ukraine has overtaken Russia in the negotiation process for accession to the WTO. On March 8, the US House of Representatives repealed the Jackson-Vanik amendment regarding Ukraine. In November 2005, the US Senate took a similar step. Delighted President Viktor Yushchenko thanked George Bush in writing “for consistent support of reform steps” and Kyiv’s course towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

FIRST Monday, March 13 5 . 00 News 5 . 05 First program 6 . 00 Good morning 9 . 00 , 12 . 00 , 15 . 00 , 18 . 00 News 9 . 10 "DEATHING POWER". Series 10 . 20 Detectives 10 . 50 “EULAMPIA ROMANOV. THE INVESTIGATION IS BEING CONDUCTED BY AN AMATEUR.” Series 12 . 20 "Witches of our days." Doc. movie 13 . 10 "DOUBLE FAST AND FURIOUS". Hood. movie 15 . 10 Lolita. Without complexes 16 . 00 "TALISMAN". Series 17 . 00 Federal Judge 18 . 20 "BIG GIRLS". TV series (S) 18 . 50 , 21 . 30 "TWO FATES".

Don Cossacks are seeking to rename streets named after the leaders of the revolution The all-great Don Army has found a new way to express itself by launching a large-scale campaign to rename the streets and squares of Russian cities that today bear the names of the so-called enemies of the Cossacks. The main goal of the action is to erase the names of the Bolsheviks, whom the Cossacks blame for their troubles, if not from the face of the earth, then at least from the topographic maps of Russia.

Watch from March 10 on Moscow screens “Angel-A” (France, 2005, Luc Besson). Besson's first directorial work in six years (since "Joan of Arc"), a black and white fairy tale about the one-armed, homely and unlucky Andre (Jamlier Debbouze - "Amélie", "Asterix and Obelix", "She Hates Me") , who, desperate to pay off his bills with half of criminal Paris, decides to jump from a bridge.

Federer and Nadal will try to surpass last year's record Today in the American city of Indian Wells (California) the first tournament of this season in the Masters series, which has existed since 1990, starts. It includes nine competitions, which in terms of importance and the amount of the prize fund are second only to the Open Championships of Australia, Great Britain, France and the USA, which are part of the Grand Slam series, as well as the final tournament of the year, the Masters Cup.

David Blatt officially became the new head coach of the Russian men's basketball team yesterday. Thus, the Israeli became the first foreign coach of the Russian team in the history of basketball. The contract with Blatt will be valid until the end of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and if the Russian team does not qualify for Euro 2007 or the 2008 Olympics, the Russian Basketball Federation has the right to terminate it. Ilya TRISVIATSKY

On March 7, FSB officers in Moscow again detained Ravil Gumarov, one of the so-called “Russian Taliban” who were once captured by US intelligence services in Afghanistan and held at the Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba. All the “Russian Taliban” were extradited to Russia several years ago, but here they were soon released due to lack of evidence of guilt.

OPEC is not going to reduce production despite falling demand At the session of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held in Vienna on Wednesday, the cartel ministers decided not to reduce the current quotas for raw material production, maintaining them at the level of 28 million barrels per day. As a result, oil prices on the New York stock exchange fell below $60 per barrel.