21:40
EU DEBATING ARMS SALES TO NORTHERN ALLIANCE
A request by the United Kingdom for the European Union to raise sanctions on Afghanistan to allow arms supplies to reach the Northern Alliance opposition forces has been accepted by the 15 member states. More details...

20:50
SIR MICHAEL HOWARD: MISTAKE TO DECLARE THIS A 'WAR'
When in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center the American Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that America was 'at war', he made a very natural but a terrible and irrevocable error. Leaders of the Administration have been trying to put it right ever since. More details...

17:44
RUSSIAN EXPERTS: MODERN GLOBALISATION INVOLVES WESTERN ISOLATION
An increasing isolation of the West is a characteristic feature of the modern globalisation, say experts of the Russian Council on Foreign and Defence Policy. They delivered a report on Thursday to the press conference called "Russia and Globalisation Processes: What To Do?". More details...

16:29
THE TREE OF FREEDOM HAS FADED FOREVER
Mark Twain once said: “The citizen who sees his society’s democratic clothes being worn out and does not cry out is not a patriot but a traitor.” America now seems to be ready to sacrifice its liberal values for the sake of the "victory" over terrorism. More details...

16:20
RUSSIAN POLITOLOGIST: POST-SEPTEMBER 11 U.S. CAN BRING TOUGHER PRESSURE TO BEAR ON ISRAEL
After the September 11 developments the United States stands more chance to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict because now America can bring a tougher pressure to bear on Israel. This perspective was voiced at a RIA Novosti press conference on Thursday by a well-known Russian politologist, Sergei Karaganov, chief of the External and Defense Policy Council. More details...

15:14
DOUBLE STANDARDS POLICY IN PAKISTAN
It seems that Pakistan is now deeply submerged in its inner contradictions. On the one hand, it has the support of the American aviation. On the other hand, the dissatisfaction of its citizens with this action is growing, and armed mutinies are becoming regular More details...

14:50
DMITRY LITVINOVICH: THE US WILL NOT WITHDRAW FROM ABM TREATY
The Washington Post reported to the whole world a sensational piece of news. During the coming summit between George Bush and Vladimir Putin, they probably will work out a form of agreement allowing to keep the 1972 ABM treaty, while permitting to the US to continue its trials in the framework of NMD. More details...

14:20
TURKMENIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVE EXCHANGED VIEWS ON THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN
Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov and Chairman of the European Union Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Louis Michel discussed the political situation in Central Asian region and the future of Afghanistan after the anti-terrorist operation at their meeting in Ashkhabad on Thursday. More details...

14:19
8,000 UZBEK GUNMEN FIGHT FOR THE TALIBAN
A high-ranking representative of the Islamic State of Afghanistan's defence ministry has announced that up to 8,000 Uzbeks are currently fighting for the Taliban in the northern provinces of Afghanistan. According to him, these gunmen are being led by the notorious warlord Juma Namanghani. More details...

14:05
INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF GRADUATES OF SOVIET AND RUSSIAN UNIVERSITIES UNDERWAY IN BEIJING
On Thursday, the international meeting of graduates of Soviet and Russian higher educational establishments opens in Beijing. Graduates from China, Vietnam, Russia, Tunisia, Nepal, and other countries have gathered for a regular meeting of the International Coordination Council of University Graduates, Incorvuz 21. More details...

13:54
MOSCOW CONSULTATIONS OF RUSSIAN FIRST DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER VYACHESLAV TRUBNIKOV AND US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD ARMITAGE ON AFGHANISTAN
The meeting of the Russian-American working group on combating threats from Afghanistan is being held in the Russian Foreign Ministry. First Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov and US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage head the Russian and American delegations at the talks. A joint communique is to be signed following the meeting, diplomatic sources told RIA Novosti. More details...

13:50
TALIBAN 'BLACK LIST' OF AFGHANS TO BE EXECUTED
The Taliban spiritual leader, Mullah Omar, has approved a list of currently Pakistan-based Afghan warlords and political figures to be executed for supporting the ex-king Zahir Shah. More details...

13:44
PRIME MINISTER OF LEBANON RAFIQ HARIRI SAYS THAT HIS COUNTRY CONDEMNS TERRORISM IN ALL ITS FORMS
Lebanon condemns terrorism in all its manifestations and forms. This was stated by Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafiq Hariri on Thursday during his speech at Moscow Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). More details...

13:33
THE TIMES: GREAT BRITAIN SUPPORTS RUSSIA'S MILITARY OPERATION IN CHECHNYA
Great Britain expressed its most powerful support ever of Russia's military operation against Chechen separatists. This is the way influential British newspaper The Times commented on British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's Wednesday talks in Moscow. More details...

13:20
NO DOUBTS REMAIN THAT RUSSIAN T-154 AIRJET WAS HIT BY A MISSILE FIRED FROM ANTIAIRCRAFT SYSTEM OF UKRAINIAN AIR DEFENCE FORCES
Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council Yevgeny Marchuk has confirmed that today there is only one version of the T-154 liner crash - it was hit by a S-200 missile fired from an antiaircraft system during exercises of the Ukrainian air-defence forces. Yevgeny Marchuk said this on Thursday at Kirovskoye airport when meeting Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo. More details...

13:20
YURI RAZGULAEV: ETHNIC SEPARATISM STRENGTHENS RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN AFGHANISTAN
Unexpected for most observers, on October 23, General Dustum’s security assistant, Said Kamil, visited Bishkek. The aim of the visit was a non-official meeting with former generals of the Afghan army who turned out still to live in Kirghizia. More details...

13:00
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV MEETS PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT IN OSLO
At a Wednesday meeting in Oslo with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov called on both sides to fulfil their commitments on resumption of high-level direct contacts. More details...

12:53
DELEGATION OF RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ARRIVES IN SLOVAKIA
A delegation of Russian parliamentarians headed by State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznyov arrived on an official visit in the Slovak republic on Thursday. More details...

12:47
FOREIGN MINISTER OF RUSSIA MEETS HIS NORWEGIAN COUNTERPART IN OSLO
Foreign Minister of Norway Jan Petersen stressed at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov the continuity of the policy course by his country's new Cabinet of Ministers country for priority development of relations with Russia. More details...

12:18
DEFENCE MINISTER SAYS RUSSIAN TROOPS WILL NOT BE SENT TO AFGHANISTAN
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov has denied information of Pakistani media alleging that Russia is planning to send its military to Afghanistan. More details...

12:12
NEBOJSHA MALIC: PERVERTED JUSTICE HAGUE INQUISITION MOCKS THE RULE OF LAW
Slobodan Milosevic’s third appearance before the Hague Inquisition (ICTY), this past Monday, provided a much-needed distraction from the blundering war against the inhabitants of Afghan wastelands. What better way of re-forging one’s resolve to obliterate Afghanistan in the name of retribution, than to remember the triumphant air war against Serbia not so long ago – that embodiment of Empire’s boldly asserted power to attack anyone, anywhere, with impunity? More details...

12:09
RUSSIAN BORDER GUARDS DETAIN BULGARIAN WOMAN WANTED BY INTERPOL
Russian border guards have detained a Bulgarian citizen wanted by the Interpol. The woman was detained at Mineralnye Vody (resort) airport, said the Russian Border Guard North Caucasian regional department press service. More details...

11:34
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: SOCIETY AND AUTHORITY SUPPORT CONSTITUTIONAL COURT INDEPENDENCE PRINCIPLE
The principle of independence and non-interference of the Constitutional Court in politics has been adopted and is supported by both society and authority, said the Russian president speaking Thursday in the Kremlin's Marble hall at a session devoted to the 10th anniversary of the Constitutional Court. More details...

11:20
ANDREI KRUSHINSKI: JAPAN EAGERLY STRIVES FOR WAR PATH
The Japanese senate has written a bill permitting its self-defence forces to support military actions of the US out of the limits of Japanese territory. In addition to expected US withdrawal from ABM treaty, the Japan’s decision signifies one more step on the way of undermining international law and order, securing power balance in the world before the USSR’s destruction. More details...

11:07
PRIME MINISTER INVITED TO STATE DUMA TO SPEAK ON COUNTERACTING TERRORISM
The State Duma (Lower House of Parliament) has taken a decision to hold a closed plenary meeting and to invite to it Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and representatives of law-enforcement ministries. The parliamentarians intend to hear from them what is being done to counteract terrorism. More details...

10:59
200 RUSSIAN COMPANIES TAKE PART IN BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL FAIR
200 Russian companies are taking part in the annual international trade and industrial fair in Baghdad which opened on Thursday. This was disclosed by Fawzi Daher, director of the association of Iraqi exhibitions. More details...

10:57
THE FIFTH ANNUAL RUSSIAN INVESTMENT SYMPOSIUM IS OPENING IN BOSTON
The Fifth Annual Russian Investment Symposium is opening on Thursday in Boston (Massachusetts). More details...

10:45
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR "SERIOUS ANALYSIS" OF ABM ISSUES
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov called for serious analysis of 1972 ABM Treaty issues being discussed as part of preparations for the summit of Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and George Bush. More details...

10:21
USA PINS GREAT HOPES ON COMING SUMMIT OF RUSSIAN AND US PRESIDENTS
The level of activity" during preparations for the coming November summit of Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and George Bush shows that the USA expects "hopefully and optimistically" to reach mutual agreements on developing new strategic limits in the relations between the two countries, the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control, John Bolton, told journalists in Washington on Wednesday. More details...

10:14
GEORGE W. BUSH AND VLADIMIR PUTIN LIKELY TO FIND A FORMULA WHICH WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO LEAVE IN FORCE THE 1972 ABM TREATY
At the coming summit in November George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin will apparently be able to come to an agreement which will make it possible to leave the 1972 ABM Treaty in force and at the same time to allow the USA to continue tests within the framework of its plans to create a national missile defence system (NMD). More details...