WINE wears its history proudly.

VLADIMIR PUTIN vowed yesterday to “drag out of the sewer” the masterminds of the twin suicide bombing of the Moscow subway system that killed 39 people and left scores wounded.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has condemned this morning's bombings on the Moscow metro as a "gratuitous act of terrorism".

The breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia today confidently predicted it would become part of Russia.

Russia raised the stakes in the aftermath of its invasion of Georgia today by formally recognising its two breakaway territories.

Mikhail Gorbachev says the US should reconsider talking to Russia in a condescending way

THE United Nations refugee agency’s first airlift has arrived in Georgia.

Russian tanks and troops rumbled into the separatist Georgian province of South Ossetia today and Russian warplanes bombed a Georgian town – a major surge in border fighting that has killed hundreds of civilians in just two days and left some towns in smouldering ruins.

The capital of Georgia’s separatist region of South Ossetia came under heavy fire early today, just hours after Georgia’s president declared a unilateral ceasefire.

THE concave, snow-covered roof of a large Moscow market collapsed early yesterday, killing at least 52 people.

The snow-covered roof of a large Moscow market collapsed early today, killing at least 49 people and forcing rescuers to clear away concrete slabs and metal beams to reach possible survivors trapped in the wreckage.

Security forces today freed seven hostages held by alleged Islamic extremists in a police station and a store, trying to clear the remaining rebels who simultaneously attacked police and government buildings across the southern Russian town of Nalchik yesterday.

Security forces today freed an unspecified number of police officers from a police station where they had been caught in a battle with Islamic extremists, while security forces stormed a store held by the last rebel holdouts in Nalchik, the regional president’s press service said.

PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin strengthened his control over Russia yesterday with a series of far-reaching initiatives which he said were aimed at combating terrorism.

THE sound of weeping mothers who lost their sons and daughters in Russia’s school siege drifted out of the homes of Beslan on Sunday as the first burials were held for some of the 338 people killed.

Dozens of near-naked children fled the Russian siege school amid explosions and gunfire today and special forces stormed in to end the stand-off.

EXPLOSIONS were heard near the site of the Russian school where militants were holding hundreds of captives last night.

More than 90 people were killed and 120 wounded in the attacks in the Russian republic of Ingushetia, the regional government said today.

A man has been arrested after at least five people died when bombs rocked a commuter train in southern Russia today.

At least five people were killed today when an explosion rocked a commuter train in southern Russia, officials said.

Moscow police were ordered on high alert today after Russian skinheads went on a racist rampage in a market, killing two people.

A British Labour Party backbencher in the Welsh Assembly has condemned the ongoing attacks on Afghanistan, saying they are only being carried out to perpetuate Western imperialism in Third World countries.