The citizens' safety  was declared to be task number one during the days of  celebrations of eastern New Year - Shagaa. Today the head of the republic held a special meeting on the subject with participation of regional administrations and territorial organs of federal government, as well as municipalities. As announced at the meeting, according to a decision approved at all levels of administration,  there will be "dry law" in effect for the entire period of Shagaa celebrations from  February 3 to 6.

The home of  the journalist Ryszard Badowski in Warsaw is decorated with souvenirs from all the continents - evidence of a life filled with trips and encounters.

"Six continents" - that is the name of Ryszard Badowski's long-running show about various countries and cultures on Polish TV. "Six continents" -  repeat all the cab-drivers, as soon as they recognize the man on the porch of the house.

When I returned from a trip to Poland in early January, I realized that the house in Warsaw with its hospitable owners has become one of my beloved places on Earth. Memory of Mr. Ryszard, enhanced by photographs, TV films, journal articles, scenarios of broadcasts and letters make up a time-travel machine which takes the visitor decades back, from one country to another, and offers the opportunity to hear about nuances of historical events from an eyewitness.

When Stalin died, the young journalist took a train to Turkmenistan to undergo practice at the offices of "Iskra" newspaper. 

Tuva is mobilizing its resources for a war with wolves, whole population reached record numbers in the republic, after the prohibition on using poisons for their control took effect in Russia. Currently the numbers are in the vicinity of 2500-3000 individuals. In 2011,  3 million 250thousand rubles will be apportioned for this goal. This is  four times more than in 2009, when the question was first posed about the necessity for regulation of the numbers of these predators. In the population density of wolves, according to data of Commission of hunting and fishing, is in the first place in the Russian Federation. Just the reported losses from wolf attacks on sheepherding stations counted 34 million rubles in 2010. In 2010 hunters killed 433 wolves, which was several times more than in then preceding years. For comparison: in Irkutsk region and in neighboring Khakassia, only 30 wolves were killed  in each.

Why does the New Year in various countries have different names? Professor Nikolai Abayev has his own opinion about it.

-  It is necessary to realize  that this holiday of the nomads originated long before the advent of Buddhism, - said the professor. - And the first herdsmen-nomads based their  calendar on the realities of life. During many centuries, they attentively observed natural events and seasonal life cycles of various animals.

The favorite of the whole country - "Genghis-Khan" Eduard Ondar, has just returned for a week's trip to Kazakhstan. He shared some good news - he is now confirmed for the role of the leader of Dzungarian army in a film by a prominent Kazakh director Akhan (Akan) Satayev.

Our compatriot went to the final confirmation for the role and to sign the contract. He is pleased with the way the things worked out: he got to know the film team better, found a common language with the director, which is very important for the work, and has started to "immerse" himself in the role.

From January 27 to February 13 2011, at the Cultural center "Dom na Patriarshikh" there will be an exhibition of Nadia Rusheva's works "Pearls of Nadia Rusheva's graphics". During this exhibition, three artistic meets with a historian, poet and publicist V. G. Shchepkin are planned.

Nadia Rusheva was born on January 31 1952 in Ulan-Bator. Her father - Nikolai Konstantinovich Rushev -  worked in Mongolia as an artist - theatre instructor and pedagogue at an art school. Her mother - Natalia Daidalovna Azhikmaa - worked in Mongolia as a pedagogue - ballet instructor, and danced solos at concerts. She was one of the first ballerinas of Tuva.

Today the Russian Orthodox Christians observe a great church holy day -  "Kreshchenie Gospodne" (The Baptism of the Lord). In Kyzyl, on the night from 18 to 19 January, the "kreshchenie' baths were organized in the park by the Yenisei river, and in a suburban town Serebryanka. Without regard for the -45 degree cold, about 1000 people participated in the holiday, which consists in consecration of the water and immersion in an ice hole. At 12 o'clock at night, together with the city residents,  the members of the government with Premier Sholban Kara-ool at the head, Pavel Bukhtoyarov-the procurator, and many others participated as the good tradition asks.

The residents of Tuva will welcome the Lunar New Year with the first rays of the sun on February 3.

The decision about this date for celebrating Shagaa was made by the lamas of the republic at a general meeting at the Tsechenling temple with participation of representatives of Buddhist clergy from all various kozhuuns.  This is also the date that Buryat Buddhists will start the celebrations of White Moon Sagaalgan.

Russian scientists found three snow leopards, a lynx and mountain goats with the help pf photo-traps in the "Ubsunur depression" nature preserve in Tuva, as announced by  A. N. Severintsev Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution of RAN.

The snow leopard (irbis) is the least studied species of large cats in the world. This is caused by the fact that it inhabits remote, hard-to-reach areas, as well as that it is a really rare species.