They want to compensate for the abolition of trade union privileges by tightening employer liability The government's intentions to deprive activists at enterprises of immunity before dismissal, which were expressed in amendments to the law “On Trade Unions” introduced to the State Duma at the end of last week, caused a flurry of indignation in the trade union community.

200 years ago Abkhazia became part of the Russian Empire Like many dates associated with the history of Russians in the Caucasus, the 200th anniversary of Abkhazia’s entry into the Russian Empire is a very controversial anniversary.

The great Arkhipova was 85. The fact that she was a truly great singer had been known for decades. A unique case - Arkhipova conveyed her greatness until her last days, neither the passage of time nor she herself ever called it into question and did not violate its amazing, somehow untimely integrity. She was called “the queen of Russian opera,” “the era,” “the standard,” and even “a milestone on the path of Russian art.” The list of official titles is less original, but just as impressive.

The inauguration of the President of Abkhazia will take place against the backdrop of scandals in Russian-Abkhaz relations Today is a solemn day in Sukhumi. Russian officials from the State Duma, the Federation Council, the presidential administration and the Central Election Commission were invited to the inauguration of Sergei Bagapsh, who was elected president of Abkhazia for the second time on December 12 last year.

February 15--21, 2010 Monday, February 15 FIRST 5 . 00, 9.00, 12.00, 15.00, 18.00 News 5 . 05 Good morning 9 . 20 Malakhov + 10 . 20 Fashionable verdict 11 . 20 Test purchase 12 . 20 Section 13 . 20 Detectives 14 . 00 Other news 14 . 20 Understand. Forgive 15 . 20 "WEDGING RING". Series(S) 16 . 20 "SLEEPING AREA". Series(S) 16 . 50 Federal Judge 18 . 20 Let's get married! 19 . 10 "NEXT". Series 20 . 00 Wait for me 21 . 00 Time 21 . 30 "PALM SUNDAY". Series(S) 22 . 30 "Reluctant fathers." Doc.

How Moscow and Beijing became friends and allies Sixty years ago, on February 14, 1950, in Moscow, in the presence of Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong, a Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance was signed between the USSR and the PRC. It was signed by Foreign Ministers Andrei Vyshinsky and Zhou Enlai. The document summed up the previous 55 years of bilateral relations, when the national interests of our country and China coincided in repelling Japanese aggression.

The State Duma will continue to liberalize penalties for economic crimes Deputies intend to continue liberalizing criminal legislation regarding economic crimes. Yesterday, a group of deputies led by State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov introduced a bill aimed at limiting the use of detention in relation to persons who do not pose a public danger.

Pharmacies may be left without vital drugs The Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare and Social Development (Roszdravnadzor) will soon have to work seven days a week in order to register maximum selling prices for all vital and essential drugs (VED) within the deadline set by the government - before April 1. In accordance with the administrative regulations, officials are given a maximum of 35 working days to carry out this bureaucratic procedure.

The airport defended its third place The flow of passengers passing through Vnukovo decreased in 2009, but not as much as the airport administration expected. In terms of the scale of operations, Vnukovo retained third place among the country's airports and even slightly increased its market share in the Moscow aviation hub. This was announced yesterday by the General Director of Vnukovo Airport OJSC Vasily Alexandrov.

Renault lost 370 million euros to AvtoVAZ last year Ownership of a 25 percent stake in AvtoVAZ brought the French automobile group Renault a loss of 370 million euros last year; in 2008, losses from this asset amounted to 117 million euros. In general, Renault's net loss at the end of 2009 was 3.07 billion euros, compared to a profit of 599 million euros a year earlier.

Sexual minorities celebrated the New Year with new lawsuits The long-running debate over whether to allow same-sex couples to register their marriages has reached a peak in the southern United States. Moreover, the discussion has already migrated to the courthouse in San Francisco, where several representatives of sexual minorities turned in search of protection.

Israeli Prime Minister will talk with Russian leadership about Iran At the end of this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) arrives in Moscow for a three-day visit. As a Vremya Novostey correspondent was told at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, on Monday, February 15, Netanyahu will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The next day he is scheduled to hold talks with the head of the Russian government, Vladimir Putin.

Sociologists analyzed the situation on the personal front of Russians Most Russians believe that finding their soulmate is difficult, there are more and more lonely people, and live communication is giving way to virtual communication. At the same time, only a few people personally consider themselves to be in the lonely camp, and many single people are quite happy with their lot.

Criminal investigation officers detained on suspicion of robbery Last Wednesday, in the center of Moscow, the capital police neutralized a gang of robbers, among whom were two active criminal investigation officers. According to the investigation, the criminals were waiting for their next victim at the building of the central office of Master Bank in Runovsky Lane, from where the businessman, according to their information, was supposed to leave with a large sum of money.

Today at 10 o'clock Canadian time (in Moscow it will be 21.00) the XXI Games of the Winter Olympics will begin with ski jumping competitions in Whistler, 126 km from Vancouver. 86 sets of medals will be played in 15 sports. The plan has always and everywhere been a sacred thing for us. In sports, not a single team went to international competitions without a so-called medal plan. And let's not even talk about the Olympic Games.