The Russian government is weighing a variety of economic sanctions that could be imposed against Moldova in retaliation for what it considers unfriendly actions by the former Soviet republic, the Interfax news agency today quoted a top Russian diplomat as saying.

Turkmenistan says it will cut off all gas supplies to Ukraine from midnight today over the lack of a contract for 2005, in a move that could deal a sharp blow to the Ukrainian economy.

RESCUERS battled araging fire and deadly gases deep in an eastern Ukrainian coal mine yesterday looking for survivors from a methane gas explosion that killed at least 31 miners.

Rescuers battled a raging fire and deadly gases deep in an eastern Ukrainian coal mine today, looking for survivors from a methane gas explosion that killed at least 25 miners.