News archive for 16.12.2004

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News Archive for 16 December 2004

Russia

16.12.2004 - Russia has resources for doubling the Gross Domestic Product
"The GDP doubling is possible if the Russian government cooperates with business. In addition, we need investments in hi-tech spheres. Russia has resources for doubling the GDP. The question is how the government and business will manage them," Mr. Neshchadin said. in detail...

16.12.2004 - Al Qaeda operates in Russia
Al Qaeda’s terror network is operating in Russia, head of the Russian Federal Security Service Nikolay Patrushev told journalists. According to him, about 10 al Qaeda fighters were found in the Northern Caucasus, Mayak radio reported. Patrushev also named a list of those, who were dangerous for Russia. There are Shamil Basayev, Aslan Maskhadov, Doku Umarov, Movladi Udugov and Abu Havs on this list. in detail...

16.12.2004 - Russia to nearly double minimum wage in 18 months
The State Duma on Wednesday passed at the second reading a draft law to raise the official minimum monthly wage, today at 600 rubles, to 720 rubles from January 1, 2005, to 800 rubles from September 1, 2005, and to 1,100 rubles from May 1, 2006. in detail...

Business

16.12.2004 - A State Duma sectoral committee proposes an increase in oil export duties
The recommendations to raise oil export duties were voiced at a roundtable discussion on the topic "Price Formation as Regards Petroleum Products" held at the lower house onWednesday. in detail...

16.12.2004 - Starting today, Lukoil cuts down retail gasoline and diesel fuel prices by 5%
According to the oil company’s press release received by RIA Novosti, the decision to this effect was taken by Lukoil’s board. in detail...

16.12.2004 - Security service prevents $500Mln fraudulent scheme with Gazprom assets
The Federal Security Service has prevented a fraudulent scheme of stripping Gazprom gas giant of a share package worth $500 million. in detail...

World

16.12.2004 - WTO welcomes Iraq and Afghanistan, leaves Russia behind again
The World Trade Organization is ready to welcome even a country with unstable state structure and destroyed economy. This could be an interpretation of the WTO’s decision to commence negotiations regarding Iraq and Afghanistan’s membership in the organization. in detail...

Politics

16.12.2004 - The new federal law abolishing gubernatorial elections entered into force yesterday
The question is now whether popularly elected governors will resign on their own accord to be re-appointed to the same post by the president. (Under the new law, governors elected by direct vote can tender their resignations to the president before their term expires.) in detail...

16.12.2004 - The State Duma has introduced amendments to the Family Code to extend adoption possibilities for Russian nationals
The number of children adopted by Russian nationals has been reduced twice in the last ten years, while the number of Russian children adopted by foreigners has grown fivefold, said Yekaterina Lakhova, chairperson of the State Duma committee for women’s, family and youth affairs, member of the United Russia pro-presidential faction. in detail...

16.12.2004 - Russia must build up permanent readiness units - Duma official
The build-up of rapid deployment forces is an important priority of Russia’s military development, said Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Viktor Zavarzin. in detail...

Sport

16.12.2004 - Russian team Midland F1 will participate in the Formula-1 world championship in 2006
Boris Yeltsin Jr., grandson of the first Russian President, will be the team’s marketing director. Chairman of the board of Midland Group Alex Schneider and Midland F1 managing partner in Russia Alexander Radunsky told Commersant about the team’s prospects. in detail...

Science & Technology

16.12.2004 - NASA’s Mars rover to carry Russian devices in 2009
NASA has released an inventory of the scientific devices to be put on board the Mars Science Laboratory scheduled to land on the surface of Mars in 2009. in detail...

16.12.2004 - A new generation of Internet, Internet-2, has come to Russia
The Internet-2 technologies boost the speed and amount of network data, broaden the possibility of passing radio and television signals through the network. The Internet-2 data-transmission speed is up to 10 gigabits/second. in detail...

16.12.2004 - FSB curbs over 600 attempted break-ins into state information resources
Russia’s Federal Security Service has curbed over 600,000 attempts to break into the state authorities’ information resources, said FSB Director Nikolai Patrushev. in detail...

Culture

16.12.2004 - Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia has condemned euthanasia
"We should claim that euthanasia is a kind of conscious suicide. According to religion, this is the greatest degree of the denial of God. The Orthodox Church regards the propaganda of euthanasia and suicide as concealed or open Satanism," the patriarch said at the eparchial meeting of Moscow’s clergymen on Wednesday. in detail...

16.12.2004 - Commerce is not to penetrate the Church, stressed Alexis II
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church came down on such priests as succumb to the secular world’s pressure, reports the conference press service. in detail...

16.12.2004 - The Andrei Rublev Museum of Mediaeval Russian Culture and Art is opening an exposition, December 28
The Andrei Rublev Central Museum of Mediaeval Russian Culture and Art is opening an exposition, December 28, "Andrei Rublev Museum: Out of the Latest Acquisitions, 1993-2003," reports the Russian Museums website. in detail...

Arts & Theatre

16.12.2004 - The Russian film market has been growing for four consecutive years now
Total box-office returns reached 50 million dollars in 2001, $110 million in 2002, and 200 million in 2003 (with 60 percent of the sum falling on Moscow movie theaters’ share). According to the RosBusinessConsulting agency, this year’s figure is predicted at 270 million dollars, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports. in detail...