The Presidents of Russia and Slovakia agreed on cooperation Russia hopes for a quick solution to the issue of a visa-free regime with the EU, President Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday in Bratislava following negotiations with his Slovak counterpart Ivan Gasparovic. In turn, the President of Slovakia said that his country “is a very open and comfortable door for Russia to the European Union.” “I told Mr. President that we are ready to actively enter this door,” Mr. Medvedev said in response.

In the Swiss "paradise" tax evaders are increasingly less comfortable Switzerland continues to lose its status as the world's main tax haven. Last year, under US pressure, the country was forced to hand over information about many of UBS's American clients and endure a wave of intense criticism from Germany and other European neighbors.

The Golden Mask off-program continues The educational fervor of the national theater award and festival is enough not only to demonstrate in Moscow the achievements of years long past. Having gained considerable experience with “legendary names,” the organizers of the 2010 festival brought to Moscow a dance team that here, and in Europe, for that matter, also has almost no “name” at all.

What prevented the Earth from turning into an ice ball billions of years ago? Scientists have managed to solve one of the mysteries of our geological past: why didn’t the Earth become a huge block of ice 4 billion years ago, when the radiation from the Sun was much weaker than today? Previously it was believed that the problem was the high content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the resulting greenhouse effect.

Scientists have managed to grow bone from stem cells for the first time Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, a professor of biological medicine at Columbia University, was the first to grow a whole bone from adult human stem cells. The prototype was the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which was grown from stem cells obtained from bone marrow. Professor Vunjak-Novakovic shares the results of his achievement in the April issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dmitry Medvedev decides who is in charge in the North Caucasus The official website of the Russian President reported that Dmitry Medvedev approved a list of his instructions given following a meeting with security forces in Makhachkala on April 1, hot on the heels of two explosions in the Moscow metro and a terrorist attack in Kizlyar, Dagestan . Now this series has been supplemented by explosions in the Ingush Karabulak .

CONCERTS "Umka and an armored car." Veteran of the hippie movement, Oberiut researcher, psychedelic connoisseur. Mezzo Forte , 20.00. Gamma Ray. Power metal from Germany. Presentation of the new album To the metal. "B1 Maximum" , 21.00. CLASSIC Chamber orchestra "Moscow Virtuosi". J. Haydn, F. Schubert. Conductor V. Feltsman. House of Music , 19.00. THEATERS “The Potudan River” by A. Platonov. Directed by Sergei Zhenovach.

Power has changed in the country In Kyrgyzstan, chaos and virtual anarchy ended with the loss of power of the ruling family group led by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Five years ago, under similar circumstances , the then President of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akayev was forced to leave the country . True, unlike the current government, he did not use force against the raging crowds. Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his relatives left the country in the evening in an unknown direction.

Russian scientists filled in the 117th cell in the periodic table The persistent search for the missing element of the periodic table of chemical elements was crowned with success. Yesterday, scientists from the Flerov Laboratory of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna announced that, together with their American colleagues, they were able to obtain a new superheavy metal - the sought-after 117th element of the periodic table.

Gorbushka workers are forced to go out on night cleanup Public money in the pockets of the authorities is melting quickly, but the authorities want a unanimous popular impulse. So we decided to hold two all-Russian cleanup days in a row this April. Older people know what this event is. For those who are younger, I will explain: a subbotnik is free, as if voluntary, work in a place indicated by the authorities. Subbotniks were called “Leninist” subbotniks.

In the north-west of the European territory of Russia, in the front part of the Atlantic cyclone, the weather will be cloudy, light rain in places, temperature at night 0...+4оС, during the day +8...+14оС. In Central Russia on Thursday due to the front there will be short-term rains in places, at night 0...+5оС. It’s warm during the day on both Thursday and Friday, +12...+17оС. In the capital there is light rain, minimum temperature +2...+4оС, during the day +12...+14оС, variable wind, 2--7 m/s.

Automakers Renault-Nissan and Daimler announced a strategic partnership , which involves the exchange of shares, technologies and joint development of projects. As the INTERFAX agency reported with reference to a press release from Daimler, Renault and Nissan will each own 1.55% of shares in Daimler, which in turn will receive 3.1% shares in Renault and Nissan.

Dmitry Medvedev approved a ban on arrests for certain economic crimes Russian President Dmitry Medvedey yesterday signed a law on strengthening criminal legal protection of relations in the field of economic activity.

Leaders of independent trade unions approached Sergei Mironov The A Just Russia party, following United Russia, has intensified its activities in the trade union field.

Gazprom Neft received permission to purchase 100% of Sibir Energy The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has approved the purchase by Gazprom Neft of 100% of the shares of Sibir Energy. In the event of such a transaction, the company will be obliged to comply with the requirements of the FAS. However, this permission is only a formality: Gazprom Neft contacted the service at the end of September, when it really intended to become the sole owner of the British company.