Russia and NATO have written a new chapter in world history

NATO and Russia will develop a European missile defense system and assess security threats. These are the main results of the summit in Lisbon.

In Lisbon, the partnership between NATO and Russia was founded. Big words, but they all backed up by specific intentions.

Of course, there was a thesis about the common threats - it is terrorism, drug trafficking, piracy, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

To agree on missile defense

The main discussion at the summit was on missile defense. Russia agreed to participate in creating a European missile defense system, but participate on an equal basis. If this does not happen, then there is a real danger of a new arms race, Medvedev said.

According to his words, Russia is interested in predictable defense strategy. So, construction relations with NATO as the largest military-political bloc will be depended from this fact.

The Afghan issue

 The situation in Afghanistan is too unstable and too big terrorist threat emanating from there, agreed the members of the summit. So it is doubted that the international forces can be withdrawn from the country in the near future.

 At the same time, Medvedev said, Russia is ready to extend assistance to the international forces to ensure security in Afghanistan.

Russia and NATO

Russian and NATO officials are going to discuss steps against terrorism and piracy, and Afghanistan ahead of the Russia-NATO summit today.  The main goal is to finish the so called "cold war" between the Alliance and Russia. 

This further political meeting has already been called historical. It’s the first time they have come together to discuss these issues. Both sides are expecting a lot from it.

While two years ago summit talks about placing NATO forces near Russian borders leaded to strain their relations. One of the main topics of this meeting is progress on European security. 

The Russian president Dmitriy Medvedev stated that this is the right moment for real change. As Vesti.ru quoted his words: “We are discussing a lot of different questions including a new collective missile defence system for Europe"

The main unsolved problem

NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen said it is time the Alliance and Russia stopped tracking each other through their gunsights and become close partners (Vesti.ru).

Despite the expected agreement on possible missile-defence cooperation, Russia had continuing concerns that the system could be directed against it. 

Russia's ambassador to NATO, Dmitriy Ragozin said the alliance should put restrictions on the missile-defence system's "geography, quality and quantity" (Vesti.ru).

The Birthday of Russian Santa

November 18 Russian Grandfather Frost celebrated his next birthday. It is believed that his age has passed for 2,000 years.

The home of Russian Santa is Veliky Ustyug. There people very carefully prepare for this holiday. A special mailbox is opened in this day. So everybody can send the congratulations to Grandfather Frost.

Usually many magic relatives of Russian Grandfather Frost come to his birthday. They are Santa Claus from Finland, Chishan from Yakutiya, Karelian Pakkayne, winter storyteller Mikulas from the Czech Republic.

The holiday history

The birthday of Santa Claus has been officially celebrated at the 18th of November 18 since 2005. This date was created by children. This is due to the fact that the strong winter with the hard frost usually comes to Great Ustyug at this time.

The special tourism project "Great Ustyug - the birthplace of Grandfather Frost " was started in 1999. There was the grand opening of the Grandfather Frost House in Veliky Ustyug. There are tourist trains and buses from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda to the birthplace of Russian Santa.

Now Grandfather Frost goes to a traditional pre-Christmas tour. Until the end of November he plans to visit Germany. A few days Russian Santa Claus will spend in France. He will meet with the winter fairy fairies of Europe in Strasbourg.

The future Royal Wedding

Britain is preparing for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. It is scheduled for summer of next year. 

The place of the wedding is Westminster Abbey in central London. But until now unknown, in which dress the bride will appear.

Obviously, the designer who creates a dress for Kate Middleton will become very famous immediately. The dress itself will be a role model for many years. So it happened with the dress of Princess Diana. 

It was designed by the British designer Elizabeth Emanuel. The famous wedding took place almost 30 years ago. But brides ask wedding salons to sew them the same dress.

It was the dress of ivory silk with the big skirt and an 8-meter train. The dress was decorated with 10 thousand pearls and lace.

Current fashion

However, the designers doubt that Kate Middleton will be in the similar dress. She always dressed in the most fashionable. 

According to the British experts in the fashion world the bride will choose a narrow dress with a high collar and a short train.As the British press publish, Kate chooses an expensive lace and embroidery for her dress decoration.

As for color, Miss Middleton is hardly shocking guests radical red. It is expected that the bride of Prince appears in a white dress. It has been happened in the royal family over the past centuries.

The Lord Mayor's show

At the first glance it reminded the fairytale. The gold carriage, beautiful horses and king’s suit. However, this was the British reality. Londoners greeted the new Lord Mayor of the City.

 This event was conducted according to the best British traditions. I was lucky to be a witness of this spectacular show.

A crowd of people was around the St. Paul's Cathedral. However, the performance was worth of standing in the crush and waiting for some hours.

Sometimes the show was like a carnival or like a military parade. The Lord Mayor’s show is one of the most expensive and chaotic in style. Michael Bear was greeted by guardsmen, clowns, musical bands, and even locomotives.

The City of London is...

The City is one of the richest areas of London. Without exaggeration, it is one of the world's financial centers.

The City has its own police, budget, schools and traditions. The most surprised thing that the City Mayor even has the right for refusing the Queen to entry this area.

This is, in fact, the kingdom in the kingdom. The Lord Mayor is like the monarch in his magnificence and scale of celebrations. He even comes to a parade in his honor in the luxurious golden carriage.

The history

The Mayor’s right to have so many privileges appeared almost 800 years ago. The King John allowed district residents to choose their own mayor. Each head of the City runs holds his post only for one year.

The mayor took over his hat about 100 times for several hours of the ceremony. He also was surrounded by a lot of Teddy-bears. Although, it was seemed that Mr. Bear was not upset.

The first part of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" started in London

The world premiere of the first part of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” has happened today. 

 The film is made on the seventh and final book about the young wizard.

Critics say that the new part of the movie may earn one billion dollars.

Despite the bad weather hundreds of fans of the most popular fairy stories gathered in Leicester Square to greet their heroes in cinema Odeon. 

On the red carpet was Ms Rowling, the author of the saga. The main actors - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint also appeared in front of their fans.

Ten years ago, Daniel Reddklif, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were selected to contest the heroes of one of the most successful adaptations of this century.

Previous adventures of Harry Potter and his friends brought the creators of this movie series more than $ 5 billion. The final part of Potter is planned for  the next year. 

Students on the riot against the tuition fees

The British students went out for the strike once again. Once again it was the violence riot. 

Picture from tntmagazine.com

London police all the evening was trying to calm angry students and university professors. Protesting against rising tuition fees thousands of people gathered at the demonstration.

As it often happens the peace protest turned over into dangerous riots.

The standoff lasted for the several hours. The police tried to push the students from the headquarters of the conservative party. But it was in vain. Angry students surrounded the office of conservatives and then crushed it.

Windows was smashed. The walls were drawn of the rude inscriptions. The first floor was completely broken.

Police regained the control of the building.  Though, they had to put a human shield instead of windows on the first floor, and periodically deterred students attacks.
It can be said for sure that this was not the last riot of students. Another question is whether the British government will listen to their demands?

Listen to the some comments of students from the University of Westminster about this second violence protest.