"Orlando" by Handel for the first time in Russia In the Tchaikovsky Hall, through the efforts of the Moscow Philharmonic, for the first time in Russia, Handel's opera Orlando was performed in concert - one of those numerous Handel masterpieces that in recent decades certainly appear on almost all the world's opera stages: in festival programs and in the seasons of respectable theaters .

The government is ready to review the principles of long-term gas supply contracts The “take or pay” principle in the Russian gas trading system did not last even two years.

Moldovan communists benefited from global problems According to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission, as a result of the parliamentary elections in Moldova on Sunday, April 5, the Communist Party won again, gaining 49.9% of the votes. Three right-wing opposition formations also entered parliament: the Liberal and Liberal Democratic parties (12.9 and 12.2% respectively) and the Our Moldova alliance (9.8%).

A strategic plan for providing military personnel with media and the Internet has been developed The social development strategy of the Russian Armed Forces until 2020 also includes an independent section - “improving information support, creating a qualitatively new information environment.” The purpose of these actions is clear: citizens must know better about the army, and the army must be better informed about the life of society, the country and the world.

The premiere of the opera “Macbeth” staged by Dmitry Chernyakov took place in Paris Through the efforts of the famous intendant of the Parisian opera, Gerard Mortier, a new version of Verdi's Macbeth, staged by Russian director Dmitry Chernyakov, is presented on the stage of Opera Bastille. This is already the second work by Chernyakov, which the Parisian public, known for its conservatism, became acquainted with (and not the first, made for the European theater).

The White House advises Robert Gates to curb his appetites US Department of Defense spokesman Jeff Morel announced that “fundamental changes” are expected in the country’s military budget. The Pentagon believes that in 2010 it needs at least $584 billion for regular military spending, that is, excluding funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The White House so far agrees only to 533.7 billion, which is 20.7 billion or 4% more than this year.

The new president of Macedonia was the candidate from the ruling internal Macedonian revolutionary organization - the Democratic Party of Macedonian National Unity, 48-year-old Georgiy Ivanov. During the second round of the presidential election on April 5, he received more than 63% of the vote. His main rival from the opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, 51-year-old Lubomir Frckoski, scored less than 37%.

President Dmitry Medvedev promised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived in Moscow yesterday, that Russia will continue to provide political and material support towards the creation of the state of Palestine.

Deutsche Bank CEO fears social tensions The head of Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann, yesterday in an interview with the all-German newspaper Bild, called for people to follow his example and, in the face of crisis shocks, to refuse to receive bonuses. At the end of last year, Mr. Ackermann voluntarily refused to accrue bonuses to him and received only 1.39 million euros (the base rate of the head of the board). Thus, Mr.

Spanish clubs prepare for the Champions League The clubs of the Spanish Primera League - the only ones capable of challenging British dominance in the Champions League - are approaching the European Cup matches with different moods. A rested Barcelona scored three “duty” points with “little loss”, and Villarreal suffered a crushing defeat from Almeria. The Yellow Submarine surfaces for the second time in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Prime Minister promised employers an anti-crisis deferment The crisis will not be an obstacle to pension reform, but the state does not intend to aggravate the situation of enterprises by increasing contributions to the Pension Fund.

Former Kaliningrad civil servants complain about local officials to Berlin and Strasbourg The story of “pensioners of special importance” has been going on in the Kaliningrad region for almost three and a half years - exactly as long as the westernmost region of the Russian Federation has been led by former Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Georgy Boos. Thanks to his light hand, local retired civil servants lost monthly bonuses to their pensions.

Adobe is a leading manufacturer of graphics software. Programs such as Photoshop, Adobe Reader, Adobe Acrobat have long been popular among users. Adobe Vice President for EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Stefan VAN HERK told our correspondent about the features of the Russian market, the company's pricing policy in connection with the crisis and cooperation with the Russian public sector. -- How does the company approach the problem of piracy in Russia, where its level is still quite high?

Economists on Putin's report to the Duma Vremya Novostey correspondents Vera SITNINA, Irina SKLYAROVA and Yulia MIRONOVA decided to ask economists whether the Prime Minister's report to the Duma shows the logic of the government's future actions and what can be expected from the implementation of the anti-crisis plan.

The Federal Customs Service wants to make export duties transparent A year after Gazprom, with the support of the newly elected Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, repelled an attack by the Ministry of Finance, which tried to increase the tax rate on gas production, attacks on the fiscal status quo in the gas sector have resumed. This time, the Federal Customs Service is the applicant for additional fees from Gazprom.