Sports event number 1 that needs no introduction. Starting from February 6, the attention of the whole world will be focused on the Krasnodar Territory, where the XX Winter Games will open. We smile, wave, dress in the colors of the national tricolor, get up on skis, study the rules of curling and skeleton, create idols for ourselves and chant: "Russia - forward!" Know ours!
The draw for the group stage of the final part of the 20th FIFA World Cup has come to an end in Brazil. The national teams of Belgium, Algeria and South Korea have been announced as rivals of the Russian national team. The opening match of the championship will take place in Sao Paulo, and the final will take place at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Whose team will receive $ 35 million in gold prize money - we will find out on July 13th. We cheer for ours!
Following the Winter Games, the second sporting event in Sochi will take place in October. So take your time to pack your bags and bikinis when leaving the Black Sea coast. This time we are waiting for the greatest racers of our time as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix stage, many of whom have already tested the race cars on the track in the Olympic Park. It seems that this time Sochi is seriously claiming the title of Russian Monte Carlo. The main print of autumn is a matryoshka doll in a racing helmet.
All flags visit us! In the summer of this year, Chelyabinsk will temporarily become the capital of judo. The Emirates, the USA and Korea fought for the right to host one of the most prestigious tournaments, as a result, Russia boldly knocked out its rivals, becoming the host of the Championship. In a country where the president has a black belt, it could not be otherwise.
CULTURE
Cross Year of UK and Russian Culture 2014
January - December 2014
Following the last year of the Netherlands, eminent Britons are expected in Russia. It was announced that in June, as part of an international project, the Multimedia Art Museum will show an exhibition dedicated to the design and style of James Bond films, as well as an exhibition of the most expensive expressionist in history - Francis Bacon. In September, the Ekaterina Foundation will acquaint everyone with the influential movement of contemporary British artists - a collection of works by Damien Hirst, Tracy Emin, Sam Taylor-Wood. Fashionistas will love the multimedia project The Rise of Fashion Film about English brands Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Ossie Clarke and Hussein Chalayan. The new cultural year will start informally in London at the April opening of the exhibition "The Golden Age of the Russian Avant-garde", curated by director Peter Greenaway.
The main hero of the year is William Shakespeare. To be or not to be in our country celebrations in honor of the best-selling playwright on the planet? Of course it is! Two "Othello" - in "Satyricon" by director Yuri Butusov and a dance performance at the Vakhtangov Theater, "The Taming of the Shrew" at the Theater of Nations with Chulpan Khamatova, a joint project of Pushkin Theater and English Cheek by Jowl - "Measure for Measure" by Declan Donnellan - low bow to the birthday boy from Russian theaters. Plus, on February 18 in Moscow, St. Petersburg and 23 other cities of Russia, as well as in 3 cities of Kazakhstan within the framework of the @theatrehd project (National Theater Live), the show "Coriolanus" with Tom Hiddleston in the title role will be shown.
The Wind of Winter, the penultimate book in a series of fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire from George Martin, was expected in 2013. The miracle did not happen. The timing of the book's release is still vague; in the last interview, the writer threatened that it might happen in 2014. Where is the fantasy world, filmed in the most popular TV series on the planet about the war and peace of the seven kingdoms, heading? Wait and see.
CINEMA
We follow the outfits on the red carpet, the smiles of the losers and the tears of the winners. Keeping fists for Leonardo DiCaprio, voting for the Coen brothers, betting on record holder Meryl Streep and never ceasing to admire George Clooney - at the Oscars, the main "distribution of elephants" in world cinema.
The main gossip of the film industry in 2014 is the return to the screens of the deadliest bride, the lyrical heroine of Tarantino. The release date is not disclosed even in the circles closest to the director. It is only known that in the third part of the Black Mamba (Uma Thurman) two of the "88 madmen", who lost their eyes and hands (including Ellie Driver), will take revenge on her. Liters of blood, feelings on the verge of a nervous breakdown and, as always, an amazing soundtrack, where all the songs are only about love.
IMDB, the world's largest film database, has estimated it as the most anticipated film of the past three years. Russian critics confirm the excitement around the picture in our country as well. The brilliant idea of Steven Spielberg was brought to life by the Nolan brothers - director Christopher and screenwriter Jonathan. A fantastic film with Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hatway tells about the intergalactic travels of a group of researchers through a space-time tunnel. The premiere is scheduled for November 7th.
Plus Wes Anderson's new masterpiece The Grand Budapest Hotel, Leonardo DiCaprio as The Wolf of Wall Street, Megan Fox as the reporter April O'Neill in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the film adaptation of the Need for Speed game, the two-part Nymphomaniac "Lars von Trier, an airplane cartoon by Hayao Miyazaki, a sequel to Sin City, and Johnny Depp proving Computer Superiority."
SERIALS
Sherlock is alive and will live! However, like Watson, Mrs. Hudson, Moriarty, sparkling remarks, cunning intrigues and piercing eyes of the protagonist. Why list the details of the third season of the best detective series of our time - they will soon be obvious to everyone. Rubbing our hands in anticipation of new evidence! It won't be long to wait. The start of the third season is January 1.
One of the most anticipated television projects of 2014 is the fantastic thriller "Existing" by the American CBS channel. The 13-episode film about a woman astronaut performed by Halle Berry, intergalactic odyssey and the fateful fate of all mankind from producer Steven Spielberg is another strong evidence of the global trend in paintings on the theme of space.
And also the fourth season of "Game of Thrones", "Vatican" by Ridley Scott, the comedy "Together", new series about secret agents "Intelligence" and "Spy", drama by Alfonso Cuaron "Believe", horror films "The Strain" and "Spiral".
MUSIC
Santa Claus finally heeded our requests, which from year to year we wrote with all passion in a neat handwriting - the most charming, attractive and successful pop singer in the galaxy, Justin Timberlake, will come with concerts to Moscow and St. Petersburg. It looks like May 15 and 17 in 2014 will become an alternative to Women's Day in our country.
And also on tour to Moscow and St. Petersburg will come: Backstreet Boys (February 26, 27), Depeche Mode (March 4, 7), 30 Seconds to Mars (March 15, 16 and 18), Aerosmith (May 24, 27), Nine Inch Nails (June 13, 15), Roxette (December 1).
Just two months after the release of the Artpop album, Lady Gaga already promises to release a completely new disc of "classical jazz standards" - Cheek To Cheek, recorded together with the legend of American pop music, 87-year-old Tony Bennett. I wonder what kind of outfit the pop diva is planning to hit the world with before the musical premiere? Will take the stage as a sexy saxophone? Frank Sinatra's mustache? Or try on a hat in the shape of a glass of whiskey on ice?
The restless producer, music video and composer Pharrell Williams has announced that he will release a new solo album in 2014. This is the artist's first disc in the last eight years, and it will certainly include the song Happy, on which the 24-hour video of the same name was filmed. What happiness!
We also download new albums by Sophie Ellis-Bextor / Wanderlust in 2014 (January 20); Limp Bizkit / Stampede of the Disco Elephants (January); Lily Allen (March); Jay-Z and Kanye West / Watch the Throne II (April); Jennifer Lopez (April) and awaiting releases from Adele, Chris Brown, Garbage, Guns N 'Roses, Iron Maiden, Mariah Carey, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers.
TECHNO
Remember, after April 8, 2014, technical support for Windows XP will not be available, including automatic updates that improve the protection of your computer. You can continue to use Windows XP, but your computer can become vulnerable to attacks and viruses. An excuse to hang a black ribbon on the monitor screen of an old PS. The future is Windows 8.1. A curtain.
The future, which we have been waiting for from the premiere of the second "Terminator", and then from the show of Diana Von Furstenberg's collection, where models sported in gadgets-accessories from Sergey Brin, is coming! The commercial launch of computer glasses has been postponed several times. The final release date is May 2014. The lucky owner of Google Glass will be able to see reality through messages from friends, air temperature readings, a turn-by-turn navigator, a guide to an unfamiliar city, and much more. You won't believe it until you try!
In 2014, Apple promises to present several must have and must touch products in the fall of 2014. The main sensations, according to analysts, will be: the budget version of the iMac desktop computer, a new screen for the iPad tablet and the first affordable 12-inch MacBook. There are also rumors that Apple is working on an iPhone with a larger screen, TV and smart watch.
Every traveler dreams of traveling around the entire planet, every corner, so that later he can confidently say that he really saw everything in this world! Of course, usually this dream remains unfulfilled, because our planet cannot be called tiny. Moreover, in light of the variety of attractions and simply beautiful places that you just want to visit.
Experienced travelers know perfectly well that during one vacation it is impossible to get to know the whole country at once, of course, if it is not a miniature Liechtenstein, which occupies only 160 square kilometers. Experts advise choosing one region to visit where you can leisurely explore literally every corner with pleasure. Believe me, you will have enough impressions for another whole year, and then you can choose another, no less interesting corner of our planet.
There are interesting regions with stunning nature or an abundance of attractions in every country, without exception. If you are still undecided about where to go on vacation in 2014, be sure to check the corresponding rating, which was compiled by the Australian publisher Lonely Planet.
This reputable publishing house has been specializing in travel guides and reference books for several decades, so it knows almost everything about travel. Lonely Planet creates its own travel guides and ratings specifically for budget travelers, so you can use them to save money and choose not only the most interesting, but also the relatively inexpensive route. So, here is a list of regions that Lonely Planet strongly recommends to visit in 2014.
1. Sikkim, India
In 2012, this state of India was awarded the title of the cleanest in the country. Sikkim managed to maintain this status in the coming year, in addition, it was recognized as the region of the country with the most innovative tourism project. Sikkim is worth a visit to those travelers who are attracted by green tourism. Organic farming is actively developing here, and the markets sell exclusively local products. In addition, a new airport will open near the state capital Gangtok in 2014, making this destination much more accessible to tourists.
2. Kimberley, Australia
It is best to get acquainted with the amazing nature of the distant Australian continent in the Kimberley region, the most secluded, remote and amazingly beautiful corner of our planet. The coastline of this region of Australia is in no way inferior to the more famous areas of the East Coast, and the nature remains the same as it was centuries ago. Hurry to visit Kimberley now before the region is overrun with tourists. Just choose the dry season - from November to March it rains here and some areas become practically inaccessible.
3. Yorkshire, England
This area of England has given the country more famous athletes than any other. Local gentlemen still adhere to unchanging traditions, nature is still beautiful, and there are more and more attractions. So, be sure to visit the gallery in Wakefield, the city of Bradford, recognized as the world's first City of Cinema, the Harrogate spa resort, moorlands, cozy pubs, as well as at least one restaurant that is the owner of a Michelin star. There are more such restaurants in Yorkshire than in London itself!
4. Hokuriku, Japan
This region is located on the west coast of the island of Honshu, it is literally sandwiched between the Japanese Alps and the Sea of Japan. Hokuriku is steeped in ancient history, unique culture and amazes with its natural beauty. The capital of the region, the city of Kinazawa, will delight you with the country's most beautiful parks and original palaces. And by renting a car, you can see the picturesque landscapes of the Noto Peninsula, hot mineral springs and modern hotels in the Kaga province. Hokuriku is a very beautiful and unusual region of Japan, which is quite different from the ultra-modern Tokyo.
5. Texas, USA
In 2014, Lone Star State is ready to prove that cowboy hats and rodeos are not all of its attractions. This year, Houston will open a new area of the famous Buffalo Bayou Park, with cozy promenade areas and hiking trails. The park has grown by as much as 9.3 hectares! It is also worth seeing the historic center of Fort Worth with its new square, and be sure to visit one of the restaurants that offer traditional Mexican cuisine, not the usual fast food in America.
6. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia
On the border of two countries - Zambia and Zimbabwe - in one of the most picturesque corners of Africa, there is a real miracle of nature -. To visit this attraction, you can go to the city of Leavenston in Zambia, or the city of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. These cities are now experiencing a tourist boom, the authorities of these African countries have invested billions of dollars in infrastructure development. The economies of Zimbabwe and Zambia are gradually recovering, and 2014 will be the best year to visit Victoria Falls in the past 15 years.
The sapphire Mediterranean Sea, incredibly beautiful landscapes, well-developed tourist infrastructure make the island of Mallorca an ideal place to visit in 2014. Gradually, from a place where you can just drink and take a walk at night, Majorca is becoming a prestigious resort, where whole families come. You should definitely visit the numerous museums of Palma de Mallorca and its excellent restaurants, olive groves and traditional cozy villages, as well as the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. Believe me, the high culture and unspoiled nature of this Spanish island will not leave you indifferent!
Have you watched The Lord of the Rings movie, of course? Want to see equally stunning landscapes and unspoiled nature? Travel to the West Coast of New Zealand! 90% of this territory is occupied by national parks and protected areas, through which hiking and cycling trails are laid. Mathison Lake, Hokitika gorges, cozy towns of Fox Glacier and Franz Josef, incredible glaciers, ancient forests, a seal colony at Cape Foulwind - this region of New Zealand has many amazing places that every traveler should definitely see.
9. Hunan, China
This province of China is the birthplace of Mao Zedong, so the local Communist Party has spared no expense in developing tourism infrastructure. Of course, the province of Hunan attracts tourists not only with the name of its famous native, but also with beautiful landscapes, an original combination of old and new, as well as numerous attractions. The Hunan region is connected to the center of the country by an extensive network of railway routes, flights and highways, so you will not have problems with crossing. And be sure to visit the tallest skyscraper on the planet - Sky City - the construction of which should be completed just in 2014.
10. Haapai, Tonga
The 62 islands that make up the Haapai District are located literally at the edge of the Earth - in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. The Kingdom of Tonga is an unexplored universe for most travelers, so a trip here can be a real adventure, but believe me, it's worth it! Humpback whales jump out of the water literally near the boat, the islands are surrounded by picturesque reefs, bright fish circling underfoot on shallow beaches, the volcano smokes lazily on the horizon, and the locals adhere to the principle “don't worry and be happy”!
From this article you will find out which of the countries is the most prosperous, the most "cat-loving", the most secured with the Internet, as well as many other facts from the category of extremes and records.
1. The hottest place in the world
The highest air temperature on the planet in history, + 56.6 ° C, was recorded in Death Valley National Park on July 10, 1913.
2. The coldest place in the world
At the summit of the Polar Plateau in Antarctica, temperatures can drop to a minimum of - 92.7 ° C, noted in August 2010.
3. Most populated city
Shanghai holds the title of the most populous city in the world with its 24,150,000 permanent residents.
4. The city with the smallest population
Home to just 842 residents, the Vatican City State is also recognized as the smallest city and smallest state in the world.
5. The wealthiest and wealthiest city
This tower could well have been made of real gold, as Tokyo can afford it: the city's GDP is 1.520 billion (New York, which occupies the second position in this rating, has only 310 billion dollars in GDP).
6. Poorest city
The poorest country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is home to arguably the world's most disadvantaged city, Kinshasa. The state's GDP is only $ 55 billion, and residents of the capital live on less than $ 1 a day.
7. Highest point in the world
The peak of Mount Everest, towering 8,839 meters, is the highest place in nature that can be touched by your hand on our planet.
8. The deepest point in the world
The maximum depth known to modern mankind is noted at 10,668 meters below sea level at a point in the Mariana Trench called the Challenger Abyss.
9. Most photographed place
Now, thanks to detailed photographic maps, ubiquitous video surveillance and cameras installed on almost any device, we can see most of the landscapes on Earth with the utmost meticulousness. What place is the leader in terms of the number of images available? This is the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
10. The wettest place on the planet
The Indian village of Mausinram receives up to 11,900 mm of precipitation annually. The "wet" record of this place was 25,400 mm of rain, which fell in 1985.
11. The driest place on the planet
The South American Atacama Desert is without a doubt the driest place on Earth. Its sands, stretching for 965 km, receive an average of 101 mm of precipitation per thousand years (just so, you are not mistaken!).
12. The sunniest place on the planet
In Yuma, Arizona, the sun averages at least 11 hours a day. In 90% of local forecasts, the weather is clear, which means an average of 4015 hours of natural light per year.
13. The most expensive city to live in
Singapore in 2014 removed Tokyo from the "most expensive city" pedestal. Cars in the high-cost champion city can cost 4-6 times more than the same brands in the US or UK markets.
14. The cheapest city to live in
According to the 2014 Worldwide Cost of Living Index, the Indian city of Mumbai is the cheapest place to live. To make the scale clearer, imagine an ordinary loaf of bread: in Singapore it will cost $ 3.36, while in Mumbai it will only cost 91 cents.
15. Most food consuming country
Perhaps the fact that the average US citizen consumes about 3,770 calories per day may in some way explain their reputation as the world's largest gluttons.
16. The oldest city in the world
The definition of the oldest city in the world is a topic that generates a lot of controversy, since historians do not agree on whether it is important to consider the habitability of ancient settlements over the centuries. So far, Damascus in Syria, which has existed for more than 11 thousand years, has been recognized as the main "long-liver" as a compromise solution.
17. The youngest state
The people of South Sudan received official recognition of their independent state in 2011, making this country the youngest at the moment.
18. Most visited city
After several years of competition with Bangkok, London has established itself as a hub for international tourism. More than 18 million tourists enrich the UK treasury by about $ 19 billion annually.
19. Most popular country
According to a BBC poll, Germany came out on top in terms of the number of positive comments about it from people from all over the world (59% of positive comments).
20. Most unpopular country
21. The most dangerous city in the world
In San Pedro Sula, Honduras, an average of more than three murders occur per day. The high level of crime on the streets of this city is due to the fact that it has the status of the largest center for the circulation of drugs and weapons.
22. The most "caffeinated" country
Swedish coffee lovers consume an average of 388 mg of caffeine per person per day (equivalent to nearly five cans of energy drink).
23. The most "cycling" city in the world
The city of Groningen in the Netherlands has the highest percentage of cyclists in the world. More than half of the population prefers two-wheeled transport as the optimal means of transportation: townspeople use bicycles to get to work, and they use them to go out into the countryside.
24. Most energy efficient city
All energy and heat for the citizens of Reykjavik comes from geothermal plants and renewable hydropower, making Iceland's capital the most sustainable and energy efficient city in the world. In an effort to make the region completely independent from fossil fuels by 2050, the Reykjavik authorities have introduced buses that only require water to refuel.
25. The most "cat-loving" country
The number of cats living as pets in US homes currently stands at 76.43 million, making the United States the undisputed leader in keeping man's mustache-striped friends.
26. The most "dog-loving" country
Just like cats, dogs are immensely popular as companions for US residents. 61.1 million dogs are American pets today.
27. Most Sexually Satisfied Country
The people of Switzerland are probably the most progressive and free people in terms of their sex life. Against the backdrop of a calm attitude towards pornography and prostitution, as well as sex education from an early age, more than a fifth of all Swiss assess their intimate life as “excellent”. It is worth noting that Switzerland also has one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates in the world.
28. Least Sexually Satisfied Country
The country with the least sex-satisfied population is Japan, as only 15% of its citizens reported having a fulfilling sex life. In addition, over 45% of Japanese women report feeling low interest in sexual intercourse.
29. The most emotional country
A study of representatives from 150 countries showed that Filipinos' answers to simple questions are the most emotional among all other citizens of the world.
30. The most unemotional country
The same survey found that Singaporeans express the least emotion in their daily lives. Only 3 out of 10 Singaporeans report noticeable emotional reactions to various everyday situations.
31. Country with the longest life expectancy
According to the World Health Organization for 2013, the life expectancy of the average citizen of Monaco is 87.2 years. Men usually live in this country up to 85.3 years, women up to 89.
32. Country with the shortest life expectancy
The reverse side of the coin can be observed in Sierra Leone, where the average population lives no more than 47-48 years.
33. The most stressed country
Looking at homicide statistics, GDP per capita, income inequality, corruption and unemployment, it becomes clear enough: Nigeria is the most troubled and stressed state in the world.
34. The most prosperous country
According to the same indicators, Norway is recognized as the most calm and prosperous country.
35. Country with the highest average IQ
It is assumed that the country with the highest IQ is Hong Kong, whose residents score an average of 107 points on intelligence tests.
36. Country with the lowest average IQ
According to the Global Intelligence Survey among various peoples, the inhabitants of Equatorial Guinea were at the very bottom of the ranking in terms of IQ scores, with only 59 points as an average.
37. The world's most equipped city with the Internet
The capital of South Korea, Seoul, is the champion in Internet accessibility for the population. The city is covered by a network of 10 thousand free Wi-Fi hotspots supported from the state budget.
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Each photo tells its own story, and put together, they will show us a complete picture of the events that took place in 2014.
Ice Age in the USA. In the early days of the new year, a front of cold air from the Arctic came to the United States. In a number of regions, a 20-year minimum temperature was beaten, at least 21 people died. Frost has affected territories inhabited by more than 200 million people out of more than 300 million people in the United States.
The blame was the Arctic storm "Hercules". In some northern states, the temperature dropped to -44 Celsius.
"Akademik Shokalsky" and the rescue operation in Antarctica. On December 24, 2013, the research vessel "Akademik Shokalsky" was blocked in Antarctica by iceberg fragments. On board the scientific vessel "Akademik Shokalsky" there were 74 people, including the crew, scientists and tourists. It embarked on a cruise from New Zealand to visit several locations off the Antarctic coast. Several mighty ships came to his aid at once. At first, the Chinese and French icebreakers did not master the 3-meter ice, and then the Aurora Australis, with which they pinned the main hopes for getting out of the ice captivity, could not break through.
On January 7, the Russian ship "Akademik Shokalsky" was freed from ice captivity. It was not icebreakers that saved him - they could not get through to the ship - but the weather. The wind changed direction and a wide crack formed in the ice.
The death of a friend. A motorcycle racer from Portugal, Paulo Gonçalves, caught fire on a motorcycle at one of the stages of the Dakar rally, January 9, 2014. Racing in the desert is an activity for real extremists. On January 5, over 450 teams from around the world began their two-week adventure in South America as part of the 2014 annual Dakar Rally.
Americans and space. On January 9, 2014, the Antares rocket with the private Cygnus space truck ("Swan") successfully launched from the Wallops Island cosmodrome in the United States. This was already the second flight of the Swan to the International Space Station. This is how the United States is systematically moving towards the use of its spacecraft and the abandonment of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Until recently, only they could deliver astronauts and the equipment the Americans needed to the ISS. The Americans are focusing on private companies.
Fiery Mountain. In northern Sumatra, Indonesia, there was a new eruption of Mount Sinabung, the highest volcano on the Indonesian island. The "Fire Mountain" threw volcanic ash into the air to a height of seven kilometers. On January 4, 2014, the volcano produced 30 ash emissions and sixty lava eruptions, forcing more than 20 thousand residents of the island of Sumatra to leave their homes.
Every January in the Spanish village of San Bartolome de Pinares, located 100 km from Madrid, traditional celebrations take place in honor of Saint Antonio, the patron saint of pets. On the night before St. Antonio's Day, which falls on January 17, the most colorful part of the celebration takes place - horsemen gallop through the flaming bonfires to cleanse the animals.
Gifts of the Magi in Moscow. In mid-January, all the media for several days in a row wrote about the kilometer-long queues in Moscow, in which people were lined up, wishing to get to the Temple to the shrine "Gifts of the Magi".
The gifts of the Magi are one of the few relics associated with the earthly life of Jesus Christ, which has survived to this day. According to legend, more than 2000 years ago, the Star of Bethlehem showed the Magi the place where the future Messiah would be born. They brought Jesus as a gift of gold, myrrh and frankincense - all of these gifts have a deep meaning. Gold symbolizes an offering to the king, myrrh is used for burying people, incense is used during divine services.
Ebola fever. The Ebola epidemic in West Africa began in February 2014 in Guinea and continues to this day, expanding outside the country and spreading to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal, the United States and Spain. The case is unique in that the epidemic of this fever began in West Africa for the first time, as a result of which doctors in the affected countries have no experience in dealing with it, and panic and the spread of misinformation are possible among the population. The outbreak is the worst of all Ebola outbreaks in their practice, according to the WHO Director-General for Health Security. The reasons for the rapid spread of the epidemic in Africa are poor hygiene and sanitation, local funeral customs.
Coup in Ukraine. All the main news of 2014, one way or another, related to the events in Ukraine. Mass protests in Kiev and other regions of Ukraine began on November 21, 2013, when the government announced the suspension of the preparation of an association agreement with the European Union.
On January 19, 2014, clashes began in the center of Kiev on the outskirts of the government and parliament buildings. Radicals armed with shields, cobblestones and rods fought street battles with special forces, which responded with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. Cars and tires were on fire, fire and smoke barricades were erected. These were the most massive and bloody clashes in the entire history of Ukraine.
The reformatting of all branches of government began on February 22, 2014. At the same time, at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada, it was reported about the “disappearance” of President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled the country.
Technology of "color revolutions". By the end of the 1980s, the United States and its allies had developed and successfully tested technology for destabilizing the situation and non-violent change of power in different countries of the world. In the 2000s, this technology proved its effectiveness on the example of a number of former Soviet republics - as a result of the "color revolutions" Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan were headed by anti-Russian politicians loyal to the West.
The American ideologist of the "color revolutions" Gene Sharp identifies 3 main stages:
convincing people of the illegitimacy of the authorities and protest actions;
public disobedience, riots, clashes with law enforcement agencies;
overthrow of power.
According to Colonel-General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, the geography of "color revolutions" will expand, since their implementation allows, with a fairly small funding and limited use of their own armed forces, to crush regional powers.
From the “it was and it was” series. Kiev, Independence Square. Click to open a high resolution photo.
All "color revolutions" of the late XX - early XXI century in infographics
Consequences of the war in Syria. And here are the fruits of yet another "color revolution", the so-called "Arab Spring" in Syria. Since the beginning of the war in Syria, about 160,000 people have lived in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp. Since December 2012, the camp has come under the control of Islamist armed groups, thus isolating itself from the surrounding cities. As a result, dozens of civilians starved to death. The delivery of humanitarian aid from the Syrian government, UNRWA and the Red Crescent is hampered by the shelling of humanitarian convoys by Jebhat al-Nusra militants.
The photo shows residents of the besieged Palestinian camp Yarmouk, who stand in an endless line to receive food in Damascus, Syria.
Apocalypse in Rostov. Local residents of Rostov do not remember such snowfalls. An emergency regime was introduced in the region at the end of January: the monthly norm of precipitation fell per day. There were interruptions in the supply of bread in stores.
The murder of the giraffe Marius. The Copenhagen Zoo has decided to kill the one and a half year old giraffe Marius, who was born as a result of close crossbreeding. Such wild animals in nature, according to the rules adopted by the officials of the European Union, should be euthanized so as not to pose a danger to further reproduction. Marius was an absolutely healthy animal, with a good, friendly character, he was accepted by the other inhabitants of the zoo. However, the rules are rules and the zoo decided to follow them.
Local animal welfare societies opposed this, more than 30,000 people signed up for a petition to save Marius' life, a Facebook community was opened where people wrote in support of the giraffe, two zoos in Sweden and England (Yorkshire Wildlife Park) were ready to host it, privately Thus, the zoo was offered about $ 500,000 dollars to keep Marius alive. However, on Sunday morning, the giraffe was called with a piece of rye bread, and when he ate it, he was shot in the head with a rifle. In such a head (picture below). But then it was even more disgusting - the zoo invited the audience to butcher the animal, promising to show what a giraffe is made of. The most interesting thing is that the audience was found.
A Spanish dry cargo ship broke in two off the coast of France. In early February, a dramatic rescue operation unfolded off the coast of France after the Spanish bulk carrier Luno collided with a breakwater off the coast of France and broke in two.
Shooting in the Moscow school # 263. This was the first school shooting in Russia. On February 3, 2014, at about 11:40 am, a 10th grade student, armed with a carbine and a rifle taken from his father, went to room 2 on the first floor, where a lesson was being held at that moment.
There was a hostage-taking, the geography teacher and one policeman were killed. According to one of the widespread preliminary versions, which appeared almost immediately after the incident, a 10th grade student Gordeev had a conflict with the "geographer" over the grade.
Sochi Olympics. The Sochi Olympics became a real "construction site of the century" for Russia, the whole country worked for it. All expenses for the Olympics were given unconditional priority. According to some Western experts, Russia spent about $ 51 billion on the Olympics, which will take place from February 7 to 23, making it the most expensive Olympics in history.
On February 7, 2014, a colorful and technically ambitious opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games took place at the Fisht stadium in Sochi. The show was based on an excursion into the history of Russia and a ballet performance based on Natasha Rostova's ball, space.
At the XXII Winter Olympic Games, a record number of sets of medals in the entire history of the Winter Olympic Games was played - 98. In fact, 99 gold, 97 silver and 99 bronze medals were awarded. Russia took the unconditional first place in the unofficial medal standings - 13 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals.
Riots in Venezuela. While well-known events were taking place in Ukraine, Venezuela was also restless: mass protests against the policy of the authorities began in early February. The riots and chaos have already claimed the lives of more than 50 people. The motives of the protesters are simple and common: they are dissatisfied with the shortage of goods, low quality and high cost of living.
In early February, Sapporo hosted the 65th Snow Festival, one of the largest winter events in Japan.
Oscar 2014. On March 2, Los Angeles hosted the main event of the year in the world of big cinema - the 86th Academy Awards 2014. The best film was chosen in American style, it was a movie about American slave owners "12 Years of Slavery". Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey, won the 2014 Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club.
Carnivals. At the same time, the last celebrations before Great Lent took place all over the world, marking the end of winter and the arrival of spring. For almost a month, numerous festivals were held throughout Europe and America. The culmination was the largest and most famous of the carnivals, held last weekend - the carnival in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro: 6 million inhabitants and 900 thousand tourists flooded the streets to see cheerful parades and extravagant processions of the best samba schools.
Solar energy news. In California, in the Mojave Desert, the world's largest solar power plant "Ivanpa" with an area of almost 13 square kilometers was launched. The $ 2.2 billion facility consists of three power plants and nearly 350,000 heliostat mirrors.
At the end of winter, cold weather fell again in America, and for the second time this winter, Niagara Falls partially froze over.
Strong people. In Sochi, from March 7 to 16, a competition of strong people was held - the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games are international sports competitions for the disabled, traditionally held after the main Olympic Games, and since 1988 at the same stadiums and sports facilities.
Confrontation in Turkey. The protests against the prime minister began in late May 2013 with the usual rally in defense of the park, a green island in the middle of Istanbul. Then many Turkish cities were gripped by protests. And on March 12, numerous new anti-government demonstrations took place across Turkey, timed to coincide with the funeral of a teenager who fell victim to those summer protests in Istanbul, where a gas grenade accidentally hit his head. He remained in a coma for 9 months and died on Tuesday in an Istanbul hospital.
Disappearance of the Malaysian liner. It was a Malaysia Airlines flight, Boeing 777-200ER, with which communication was lost on Saturday 8 March 2014 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Beijing (PRC). At that moment, the plane was flying over the South China Sea. Subsequently, it was found that unidentified persons on the airliner turned off the communication systems, but at the same time the plane deviated significantly from the course and was in the air for at least 7 more hours. As a result, presumably, he crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, and everyone on board died.
This is a Boeing 777-200ER 15 months before the crash:
"Comrade Sukhov" passed away. On March 7, at the age of 84, a Soviet and Russian actor, People's Artist of the RSFSR Anatoly Borisovich Kuznetsov died as a result of a long illness. The actor's filmography includes 94 pictures, but Kuznetsov gained fame after playing the role of the Red Army soldier Sukhov in the film "White Sun of the Desert" (1969).
Return of Crimea. On March 1, Putin asked the Federation Council to send troops to Crimea. The Federation Council allowed President Vladimir Putin to use the Armed Forces in Ukraine.
On March 16, 2014, following the results of the referendum held in Crimea, 96.77% of the residents who took part in it voted for the autonomy to become part of Russia.
Meanwhile, Hindus all over the world celebrated Holi 2014 - a festival of spring and bright colors. It is one of the most colorful holidays in India and falls on the last full moon of the lunar month. People take to the streets and shower each other with bright, colored powders.
Dark forces. On the eve of early presidential elections in Ukraine, Darth Alekseevich Vader, in the presence of the "emperor", "drones of the empire" and other characters of the legendary Star Wars, was officially nominated as a presidential candidate in Ukraine. Compared to the rest of the candidates, the representative of the dark forces was the brightest option.
Fukushima-1. Homecoming. Three years after the accident at the Japanese nuclear power plant "Fukushima-1", people began to return to their homes near the station. Numerous checks and examinations were carried out beforehand. Experts have come to the conclusion that the level of radiation in this area is quite low. However, many Japanese have not yet decided whether to return to their homes now.
Earthquake in Chile. On April 3, Thursday, the third earthquake in two days occurred off the Pacific coast of Chile. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 10 km.
On April 8, Microsoft completely ended support for the popular Windows XP system. Interestingly, at that time about 90% of ATMs in Russia were still running the Windows XP operating system.
Bee suit. In April, a 34-year-old beekeeper from Chongqing set a world record - he planted 460,000 bees with a total weight of 45.65 kg. The procedure for putting on the "live suit" lasted about 15 minutes. According to the Guinness Book of Records, before that, the world record for the number of bees kept on the body belonged to the American Mark Biancagnello - 39.5 kilograms. This was in 1998.
Fire in Chile. In mid-April, Chile's Valparaiso, declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, continues the worst fire in the city's history. The fire destroyed 850 hectares of territory and more than 2,000 residential buildings, killing 15 people. To extinguish the fire, the largest-scale operation in the history of the country was deployed with the participation of firefighters.
Red Moon. On the night of April 15, 2014, the inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere of the planet Earth could observe a unique cosmic phenomenon - a total lunar eclipse. It was notable for the fact that the moon turned blood red.
Protests in southeastern Ukraine. And in the east of Ukraine, protest movements against the new authorities have continued since the end of February 2014. Having flared up in Donetsk and Kharkov, rallies of supporters of federalization continued in Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Mariupol, Yenakiyevo, Zhdanovka, Lugansk, Krasny Liman, Gorlovka and other settlements. Local self-defense forces are seizing city councils and police departments, people are demanding referendums on the status of their regions. Kiev decided to respond to the protests by force, sending troops and armored vehicles to the east of Ukraine as part of the anti-terrorist operation.
The wreck of the Savol ferry. On April 16, 2014, the South Korean ferry Sewol crashed off the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The ferry carried 476 people (mostly high school students) from Incheon to Jeju. About 300 people were killed. The captain was one of the first to leave the ship. Passengers claim that he could not assess the danger of the incident in time and delayed the announcement of the evacuation too much.
Easter in Greek. There are so many incredible traditions in the world! For example, on Easter in the Greek city of Vrontados on the island of Chios, rockets are launched. This is how two local rival churches celebrate the holiday. The goal of the event is to hit the bell of the opposite arrival more times than the enemy will.
At the end of April, snow fell in the Urals. The height of the snow cover was 10-20 cm, the wind speed reached 21 m / s. Heavy snowfall and wind led to the blackout of 124 settlements, where about 67 thousand people live.
Bob Hoskins is gone. On April 29, the famous English film and television actor, BAFTA and Golden Globe winner in the Best Actor category, Bob Hoskins, passed away. Worldwide fame was brought to him by the film by Robert Zemeckis "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"
Tornadoes in the USA. Although tornadoes can occur anywhere in the world, most often they occur in the United States. Several dozen people died as a result of tornadoes that hit the central part of the United States in late April.
Let's end our review of the first four months of 2014 on a positive note. Thousands of bells cover a forest in the south of Brussels, Belgium, as a carpet, on April 15, 2014.
