Russia's financial situation is being tested One of the key points discussed in the expert community and government circles is the timing and scale of reducing the value added tax rate . The question is serious. We are talking about tax, which is the most important source of funds from the federal budget. When discussing changes in its base rate from 18 to 12-13%, one must understand that this is not a matter of particulars.

Lukashenko will tell parliament how to live further Today, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will address his annual message to parliament. The topic of the speech was not announced in advance, but the president usually dwells in detail on foreign policy, including relations with Russia. And he also makes policy statements on internal issues, including social ones.

Sergei Mironov called for strengthening the family without regard to the government The first on-site meeting of the Council of Legislators, dedicated to the interaction of the state and civil society in ensuring children's rights and family support, took place yesterday in Penza under the strict leadership of the Chairman of the Federation Council Sergei Mironov.

Three books about “eternal values” in politics Real politics is based on a number of conceptual frameworks, which very often become subjects of speculation. The authors of the books presented today strive to clear old concepts from centuries-old layers of dust in order to reveal their still relevant semantic core. In search of eternal peace Jurgen Habermas. The Divided West / Transl. with him. O.I. Velichko and E.L. Petrenko. -- M.: Ves Mir, 2008.

St. Petersburg officials and insurers propose to establish a mechanism for insuring risks in government procurement St. Petersburg insurers decided to team up with city and municipal officials responsible for holding state competitions for various types of services in order to jointly develop and propose amendments to Federal Law No. 94 on government procurement .

Russian-Ukrainian cooperation has received an incredible boost Industry experts were greatly surprised by yesterday's statements by the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Russia Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Zubkov on cooperation between the two countries in the aircraft industry. Having met in Kyiv, the two prime ministers outlined joint prospects in this area so optimistically that they raised doubts among professionals about the authenticity of what was said.

Valery Gergiev opened the seventh Moscow Easter Festival Year after year, the opening of the Moscow Easter Festival - an event, as we like to say, of national importance - resembles a decorous ceremony, like the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall: everything is calculated to the minute, and everything is always predictable.

In most of the European territory of Russia, with the continued influence of the anticyclone, it is warm and dry. In the northwestern and central regions, the average daily temperature will exceed the climate norm by 2-4 degrees. Both days there are no precipitations, at night +2...+8оС, during the day the prevailing temperature is +17...+22оС, in the north-east of the central region it is 2-4 degrees cooler. At night +2...+8оС, during the day +16...+22оС, in the west +10...+15оС.

Russian reality through the eyes of Western documentaries The Visions du Reel (Images of Reality) film festival in Nyon, Switzerland this year placed a special emphasis on Russia. At the same time, almost without resorting to the forces of Russia itself. “Images of Reality” is a festival of extremes and radicalism. Which is quite consistent with the personality of its director Jean Perret, one of the best European film experts.

Railway unions did not support the action of Moscow region drivers On the eve of May 1, Muscovites and residents of the Moscow region inevitably remembered that the “red day of the calendar” is not only the Day of Spring and Labor, accompanied by mass trips to the country, but also the day of workers’ struggle for their rights. The drivers of the locomotive crews of the Moscow Railway (MZD) celebrated May Day the way the classics of Marxism envisioned it - with a strike.

The young singer Dinara Aliyeva is called “Russian Maria Callas”. And the matter is not limited to just external similarity. Although the first thing that captivates in the singer’s appearance is the equally bright and majestic beauty combined with aristocracy and a sense of style, which created the exquisite and hitherto unique hypnotism of the great Greek Callas.

The "Siberian steppe" is closing in Berlin Berliners were separated by a new “wall”. In the German capital, discussions are ongoing about the fate of Tempelhof, one of the three airports in Berlin. However, a citywide referendum held last Sunday delivered its verdict: Tempelhof will be closed until the end of the year, most likely at the end of October.

Georgia puts pressure on Russia in international organizations Yesterday, a new stage of the Georgian-Russian confrontation unfolded, provoked by the air incident over Abkhazia on April 20. Tbilisi is also dissatisfied with Moscow's desire to strengthen ties with the unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Now the Georgians are trying to involve the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), whose 56 members include both Russia and Georgia, to sort things out.

Stuttgart personally returned the main trophy of German football to Bayern Zenit's opponent in the UEFA Cup semi-finals, Bayern, is traveling to St. Petersburg in a great mood. Last weekend, Ottmar Hitzfeld's team practically secured another championship title. Theoretically, both Werder and Schalke can still catch up with the Munich team. But neither the pursuers nor the leaders consider such a fantastic plot. “You can congratulate Bayern on the championship.

Hugo Chavez threatens to expropriate the country's largest steel company Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez made another scandalous statement . Appearing on his weekly TV program "Hello, President" on Sunday, he threatened to expropriate the country's largest steelmaker, Siderurgica del Orinoco (Sidor), unless the owner of 60% of its shares, Luxembourg-based Ternium, agreed to sell its stake on the government's terms. Representatives of Ternium SA management have not yet commented on the situation.