The drug purchased for HIV-infected people turned out to be defective For the second time in the last six months, Russians infected with the human immunodeficiency virus are sounding the alarm. Yesterday, the Association of People Living with HIV distributed a letter saying that some patients risk being left without the necessary treatment, since one of the main antiretroviral drugs is being withdrawn from the market by the manufacturing company. Pharmaceutical company F.Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.

The main economic forum of Russia starts The XI St. Petersburg Economic Forum begins today in St. Petersburg. This event, according to the ambitious plans of its organizers, will eclipse both the Russian Economic Forum in London and the forum in Davos, and in general become the number one event in the economic life of the country. Most likely this will happen.

Oleg Mitvol declared war on Rosneft Deputy head of Rosprirodnadzor Oleg Mitvol yesterday accused the state oil company Rosneft of deliberately covering up the accident at the Malobalykskoye field, which resulted in a serious oil spill. As the ministry's press service said yesterday, he sent a letter to the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, in which he pointed out these violations of environmental legislation.

The ISS awaits the visit of the space shuttle Atlantis Last night, the American shuttle Atlantis was expected to take off from the Cape Canaveral launch site. The shuttle's launch was scheduled for 19.38 minutes local time (3 hours 38 minutes Saturday Moscow time). 80% is the meteorological forecast that NASA had yesterday.

The Union of Right Forces is currently the only liberal party that, according to opinion polls, has a definite chance of getting into the next State Duma . Party leader Nikita BELYKH spoke about the election strategy, the possibilities of SPS participation in the presidential election campaign, and his attitude towards the “Successor” project in an interview with Vremya Novostei correspondent Ksenia VERETENNIKOVA.

Exchange trading of Russian export oil will be transferred to St. Petersburg The Ministry of Economic Development signed an agreement yesterday with the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and the government of St. Petersburg on the organization of the first International Commodity Exchange in Russia on the site of this city, to which futures trading in Russian oil REBCO (Russian export blend) is planned to be transferred in the future crude oil).

It will not be easy for Russia and the United States to begin joint use of the Gabala radar station Political and technological difficulties may arise in the implementation of President Vladimir Putin's proposal to US President George W. Bush, voiced at the G8 summit in Germany, to jointly use the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan in the missile defense system. Experts make such conclusions when commenting on this initiative.

Italy greets Bush with trial US President George W. Bush's visit to Italy today is overshadowed by the trial that began on Friday in the kidnapping and smuggling of Egyptian Imam Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Umar, from Italy . In February 2003, he was captured in Milan and transported to Egypt, where he was tortured into confessing his ties to al-Qaeda. He was released from prison earlier this year.

The dollar rose in price for a short time Positive economic statistics yesterday allowed the US dollar to significantly rise in price against major world currencies and reach a two-month high. Even before noon, quotes on the international Forex market broke through the level of $1.34 per euro, whereas the day before they remained above the level of $1.35. The official dollar-ruble exchange rate rose by 8.19 kopecks. , up to 25.92 rub.

Arnaldo Otegui, one of the leaders and chief ideologist of the Basque Batasuna (Unity) party, was arrested yesterday in the city of San Sebastian in northern Spain. Now the 48-year-old politician, who has verbally denied violence, will begin serving a 15-month prison sentence to which he was sentenced in April 2006 for “promoting terrorism” (he had previously been released on bail).

CLUBS “White prison” in “Springboard” , June 9, 20.00. “Bravo” will perform on June 9 at the Graphite club, 10 p.m. “Inhale”: Pelageya , “Friday” , Miss is Big , “Luke” , Zventa-Sventana , “Beavers” , WK? , Cheese People . As part of the "Breathe" festival. Aerodrom , June 9, 18.00. Alexey Aigi and “4`33``”. “On Strastnoy” , June 11, 20.00. CONCERTS Dolphin. As part of the Moscow International Open Book Festival . Central House of Artists , June 9, 20.30.

Vladimir Putin ended the G8 summit with a sold-out crowd The last question asked of Vladimir Putin yesterday at a packed press conference following the G8 summit in Heiligendamm did not foretell any complications. The reporter wanted to know the Russian president's opinion about the new owner of the Elysee Palace - Nicolas Sarkozy. Before Putin had time to say a word, a young man in a light suit jumped up from his seat in the very center of the crowded hall.

The summit in St. Petersburg will bring together for the first time the heads of all 12 CIS member countries The informal CIS summit, which will take place tomorrow as part of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, may turn out to be an unusual event in at least one respect. For the first time in several years, the heads of all 12 CIS member states will gather for an event in the Konstantinovsky Palace. The last to confirm his arrival in St.

Russia's Baltic neighbors again presented a surprise: while Vladimir Putin was meeting with his G8 colleagues in Germany , Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas questioned the advisability of Russia's participation in this organization. “Russia was accepted there with a large advance, expecting that it would follow the path of a market economy and democracy,” said the prime minister of the country, which, by the way, is not a member of the G8.

The Central Bank introduced a special regime of control over suspicious banks The Bank of Russia is tightening supervision over banks carrying out questionable transactions. Especially for such credit institutions, the regulator has introduced a special inspection regime since the beginning of this year, which will make it possible to revoke licenses much faster.