Slava Zaitsev Gallery and Jean-Charles de Kastelbazhaka opened Russian Fashion Week

Collections of the season autumn-winter 2009/2010 Russian fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev, and the French couturier Jean-Charles de Kastelbazhaka opened Russian Fashion Week (RFW), which will be held from 28 March to 4 April at the World Trade Center at Krasnaya Presnya, said in an interview with "Fashion Week producer Alexander Shumsky.

"We will have a large opening on the first day of the RFW, which will present their collections, two PC World of Fashion - Vyacheslav Zaitsev and French designer Jean-Charles de Kastelbazhak. Zaicev show collection dedicated to the 100 th anniversary of Diaghilev" Russian Seasons "in Paris" - Shumsky told.

Among the Russian designers to present their collections in the week - Julia Dalakyan, Tatiana Parfenova, Elena Makashov and Irina Khakamada, Egor Zaitsev, Elena Suprun, Masha Kravtsova and many others.

West, according to the interlocutor agency, expressed interest in Russia's week. Milano Moda Donna delegated to the Russian Fashion Week of the young Italian designers that have been recommended for participation in RFW National Chamber of Italian Fashion.

The second time his collection on RFW catwalk submit Spaniard Toni Francess, but with a fashionable debut in this season will make Maria Lafuente. Also on display Designer Shoes from Spain for the second time will be presented to the leading Spanish shoe brands, such as Pura Lopez, Chie Mihara, RAS, Rebeca Sanver.

In addition, under special RFW expected, seminars and press conferences. Charitable fund "life line" will hold a special event in support of sick children.

U.S. Senate approved the easing of sanctions against Cuba

U.S. Senate approved a bill lifting restrictions on the sale to Cuba of food and medicines, as well as to facilitate the travel of U.S. citizens on the island, reports BBC.

These measures include, as part of the bill on the financing of government activities in the 2009 fiscal year. Previously, the document has already received the support of the House of Representatives, and now for the entry into force it must be signed by U.S. President Barack Obama.

Two Cuban-American senator initially opposed the lifting of these restrictions, but changed its position after President Barack Obama has assured them that these measures do not mean lifting the economic embargo against Cuba.

As with previous U.S. president, Obama said that it would consider lifting the blockade only after the Cuban Government has made significant strides towards democracy, in particular, hold democratic elections.

In accordance with the rules, to strengthen the regime of trade and economic blockade of Havana, which has been in operation since 1962, Cuban-Americans allowed to travel to the island once every three years for a period not exceeding 14 days. In doing so, they are not allowed to spend more than $ 50 a day.

Now proposed to allow U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba once a year for an indefinite period and there to spend $ 170 a day.

According to the AP, the law will also broaden the definition of family members, which, in addition to parents, children and grandparents, will include a cousin, and sisters, uncles and aunts.

In addition, the bill eliminates the former U.S. government created in 2005, obstacles complicate the process of Cuba's purchases in the United States food and medicine. The proposed bill in its current form to date, repeals, not all trade restrictions, but the new leadership of the White House said on this topic noticeably liberal previous Republican administration.

Between the U.S. and Cuba is still no full-fledged diplomatic relations. Nevertheless, Havana bought food in America over the past year to 710 million dollars.

"Our way or no way",US Gov't tells families of Cuban hurricane victims

Near St. Petersburg guest robbed and cut each other because of the crisis and competition

In the Leningrad region gang visitors from Central Asia, an armed raid on the construction cottage village. The victims of the attack were the same workers, guest workers. Exacerbated by the crisis, competition between them is already taking the form of organized crime.

At the moment the police are trying to understand the details of what happened while interrogating detainees, and the first victims, said "Fontanka.ru" referring to the press service HEA GUVD at St. Petersburg and Leningrad region. However, doing so is not easy, because men's lack of documentation, but because even their identity is difficult to establish.

According to preliminary data, an armed raid on the workers organized a brigade of the same builders of the Central Asia, working on building the cottage settlement in the St. Petersburg highway in Petrodvortsovom area.

Around 2:30 am March 6, staff protection left on the request to the police station Petrodvortsovogo cottage townships on the St. Petersburg highway, 130, where the detained 21-year-old native of one of the former Asian republics of the USSR.

Presumably, a few minutes before the detainee and his companions (who, incidentally, managed to escape before the arrival of attire is not installed yet on the car) broke into the building in the town of stumps-2, which ransacked.

Threatening physical violence, attackers robbed the builders of the Uzbek mobile phones, money and documents. This allowed the bandits in the course of knives, injuring two people who were hospitalized in the 37 th city hospital.

As a detainee, and the affected have no identity documents, so all data is written to their words. At the moment a suspect is in police station and law enforcement agencies are looking for other participants in the attack.

The case re Article 162 Criminal Code (robbery). It is also possible that there could be an attempt to repartition of spheres of influence between the guest workers to work at a good location.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not so long ago argued that economic crisis would primarily create animosity between the newcomers and the so-called "indigenous" inhabitants of the capital. However, the offense did not confirm such predictions. It is easier to rob a fellow - the same disenfranchised illegal than to attack a protected citizens.

Canadian fighters rose to intercept Russian bombers over Obama visit

Canadian fighter jets to the base of Cold Lake in Alberta had been raised to intercept the Russian bomber, close to the airspace of Canada February 16 - three days before the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama in Ottawa. It was reported Friday at a press conference, Defense Minister Peter MacKay.

He noted that Russia is not seeking to blame that the Russian air force bomber flight was timed to the visit of U.S. president, but called the incident "telling coincidence," .

"This was a demonstration match, to which we replied SF 18 fighter pilots and world-class, who know their job - said McKay. - Pilots have indicated that they should turn away and keep away from our airspace."

The Canadian Minister added that Canada has watched with increasing activity in the Arctic in recent years.

In Russia, "surprised"

The Russian government surprised by the statement of Defense Minister of Canada regarding the passage of Russian strategic aviation near the borders of Canada, Interfax reports with reference to the source in the Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Federation.

"It is incomprehensible statements by the Minister of Defense of Canada on the missions of our range aviation. It was a routine flight, a country near the borders of which led the route have been notified, and the aircraft did not violate the airspace of other countries" - said the agency interlocutor.

"In this context, the statements of defense departments of Canada are merely puzzling, unless they can not be called a farce," - added the representative of the Russian Cabinet.

At the same time, the Interim Head of Information Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation Alexander Drobyshevsky told Interfax that the February 18, range aviation aircraft with air "Engels" Saratov region served scheduled flights on air patrols in the northern areas.

"The flight was carried out in compliance with international rules of flights. Of any violation of the air borders of other states can not be considered. On the flight of strategic bombers neighboring states have been notified in advance", - stressed Drobyshevsky.

Second day of auction Century "by selling the collection by Yves Saint Laurent brought tens of millions of euros

Second day of auction Century "by selling the largest private collection belonging to the famous couturier Ivu Saint Laurent, brought millions euros. This day was devoted to selling old paintings, art and furniture in the style of Art Deco.

For the record amount of 9 million euros was sold to Theodore picture Zheriko "Portrait of Alfred and Elizabeth Dedr. She bought a well-known French collector and dealer of art Tarko Allen, who sold it 25 years ago Ivu Saint Laurent.

Painting by Jean Auguste Ingres' portrait of the Countess de La Rue "went for a record amount of 2 million euros and one of his paintings" Andre-Benoit Barraud, nicknamed Torel "was sold for 913 thousand euros, which is an absolute record for drawing on paper. "Portrait of a man holding a book" Dutch Franz Galsa, exposed for 800 thousand euros, went for 3.1 million euros.

Only the second day of trades have been sold 18 old paintings at a cost of 22.2 million euros.

Not less successfully used and antique jewelry that had been sold out in three to four times more expensive than their starting price. In total their sale yielded another 19.9 million euros.

"Auction-century" has broke all the records in value sales of private collections, the first day of skipping line to 206 million euros. Second day added to the amount of tens of millions, securing the expected success of this unusual auction.

The alleged killers of Politkovskaya paid

murder trial of the most resounding occurred under the presidency of Vladimir Putin ended Thursday in the first instance by a fiasco. No mobile has been argued, the alleged killer is at large and sponsors are still not identified. "The main purpose of the civil party in this trial has not been achieved: this case has not been resolved," said Karina Moskalenko, the lawyer of Ilya and Vera, the two children of Anna Politkovskaya. Me Moskalenko believes that the assassination was "organized at a high level, not the accused." "From the beginning," said his colleague Anna Stavitska to the press, we said that the investigation was not complete and that it was premature to refer the trial court. The jurors did not find enough evidence against the accused. "I believe that the four defendants are linked in one way or another with the murder of my mother," said Ilya, who attended at all hearings.

On October 7, 2006, Anna Polit-, 48, was shot in the lobby of her apartment building in Moscow. Five bullets fired at close range. The killer, wearing a baseball cap, was filmed by a surveillance camera. The murder of Russian journalist best known in the West raised a wave of international outrage. Vladimir Putin, three days later, described the crime as "insignificant." No Russian or foreigner has investigated both Anna Politkovskaya on Chechnya. "Who could hate Ania (Anna diminutive, NDLR) because of its articles? Those who are responsible for what happens in Chechnya, "the lawyer peak.

Links between criminal world and the security services

Four men sat in the cage of the accused the court Military Moscow. They were arrested in summer 2007 along with a half-dozen other suspects exonerated. The first two Chechen brothers and Djabrail Ibraguim Makhmudov, were suspected to have monitored the movement of Anna Politkovskaya. They have led the alleged killer, their third brother, Rustam, fleeing abroad. "We helped the killer to escape Roustam Makhmudov, accuses Sergei Sokolov, an editor in chief of Novaya Gazeta, the newspaper where the victim worked. How anyone ever sought (for previous cases NDLR) can obtain a passport without complicity "and leave the country

Third accused Sergue Khadjikourbanov, a former policeman. He was accused of having organized the logistics of the killing. Finally, the fourth accused, the former agent of FSB (former KGB) Pavel Riagouzov. This strangely appeared before the same court and in the same cage as the first three, on charges of extortion unrelated to the murder.

The survey conducted in parallel by Novaya Gazeta and the trial have highlighted the incestuous ties between the criminal world and the security services in a universe governed by corruption. It was only last Monday that the prosecution relied on the investigation of the newspaper and mentioned a new character, not summoned to appear. This episode took place partly in private on the grounds that documents classified state secrets were discussed. Monday cited this character is the uncle of the brothers Makhmudov, Gatoukaev Lom-Ali, imprisoned for another crime. According to Sergei Sokolov, who testified at trial, the uncle is not itself the sponsor. He was allegedly approached by a former district chief of Chechnya, Shamil Bouraev. A whole gallery of characters, some agents of the FSB, the other related to crime in Chechnya, seemed to attend regularly. They know the likely sponsor.

In the background is always the shadow of Ramzan Kadyrov, the young president of Chechnya, a former rebel appointed by Putin. But according to the runways and assumptions, the sponsor could harm would be the strongman in Chechnya "normalized", which was covered by surveys of Anna Politkovskaya, or tried to oblige.

The Attorney-General Yuri Chaika, he said in August 2007 that the assassination had been ordered abroad by enemies of Russia to discredit Vladimir Putin. The prosecutors decided Thursday to appeal the ruling. For the plaintiffs, "the investigation is not over." "The Russian people had a right to truth", regretted a spokesman for the Quai d'Orsay.