The NHL regular championship 2007/2008 can start in Europe. The first two matches of the next season, Los Angeles hockey players are going to spend in London. It is expected that the official statement on this issue will be made in March. This is not the first time that the NHL championship does not start on the American continent - in 1997 and 1998 the season began in Tokyo. Results of Tuesday matches: “Carolina”-“Los Angeles”-2: 1.

Americans are trying to explain who is guilty of US trade problems The deficit of the US trade balance has reached a record level. In December last year, it grew to 61.1 billion dollars, while analysts predicted that it would not reach 60 billion. Throughout 2006, the US trade deficit reached 763 billion $ 600 million. The US trade deficiency with China is especially rapidly growing.

In France, 11 suspects in relations with Al-Qaeda were detained. According to the Ministry of the Interior, two were arrested yesterday at the Paris airport, where they flew from Syria. The rest were detained in the south of France today. In a statement by the ministry, the detainees were recruiting militants for sending to Iraq.

The Russian Supreme Court today considers the protest of the Prosecutor General’s Office and a complaint to the second sentence to the former chief of the UKOSA Security Service Alexei Pichugin. The Prosecutor General’s Office considers the verdict issued by the Moscow City Court too soft and demands to send the case for a new consideration. Lawyers ask the Supreme Court to cancel the sentence as illegal and unreasonable.

The Supreme Court of Russia postponed the consideration of the protest of the Prosecutor General’s Office on February 21 and a complaint of defense of the second sentence to the former head of the UKOSA Security Service Alexei Pichugin. The hearing was postponed at the request of the prosecutor and the victim. The Prosecutor General’s Office considers the verdict issued by Pichugin by the Moscow City Court is too soft and demands to send the case for a new consideration.

Sergey Elevich was mistaken in forecasts On Tuesday, the Khimki and Kazan UNICS held return matches of the 1/8 finals of the second most important European basketball tournament for clubs - the Uleb Cup. The lot identified two Serbian teams to the Russians to the Russians.

Azerbaijan will be able to achieve European standards of human rights required by agreements with the EU, in five years. This was stated by President Ilham Aliyev after a meeting in Berlin with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. In turn, Merkel noted that Azerbaijan rich in oil resources is able to help the European Union ensure energy security. EU officials have recently repeatedly stated the need to weaken energy dependence on Russia.

Human rights organizations report the early release from the conclusion of the founder of the Chinese newspaper South Metropolis Lee Minhin. He was released three years after he was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of corruption. In 2003, Lee Mignini published materials about the epidemic of atypical tumor in China. After that, the mayor of Beijing and the Minister of Health of the PRC were removed from work.

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez admitted that the United States may well abandon the procurement of Venezuelan oil. Chavez reacted to the desire of the American government to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Venezuela is the fourth in volume of supplies by an exporter of raw oil in the United States. Recently, during the reign of Chavez, Karakas seeks to weaken the dependence of its exports on the American market and develop ties with Russia and China.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed satisfaction with how Pakistan has recently cooperated with Kabul in the fight against terrorism. Karzai made this statement in London after negotiations with the Prime Minister of Great Britain Tony Blair. Previously, Karzai repeatedly accused Pakistan of insufficiently active actions against the Taliban.

In Chita, the court granted Plato Lebedev’s complaint about the refusal of the investigator of the Prosecutor General’s Office to provide the materials necessary for his protection. The resolution of the investigator Salavat Karimov, who refused Lebedev, recognized the court illegal. The head of Menatep demanded from the prosecutor's office of official documents from a number of institutions confirming his alibi.

The St. Petersburg City Council approved the project of architect Nikita Yavein, who proposed to build five pyramidal skyscrapers of 130-135 meters each around the Ladoga station (also built according to Yavein). The first four floors of the pyramids will be given to restaurants and retail space. On the remaining floors there will be offices. For their construction, seven residential buildings will have to be demolished.

The first match of the second group stage of the Euroleague Uleb CSKA basketball players held on their site against the Spanish team "Honntht" and won with a score of 81:69.

The dismantling of the monument to the Soviet liberator in Tallinn will lead to irreversible consequences for relations between Russia and Estonia. This was stated today by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Vladimir Titov.