AP - A Russian newspaper said Friday that Vice President Dick Cheney's harsh criticism of Moscow's human rights record signaled the start of a new Cold War.

AP - Russia under President Vladimir Putin has recently "unfairly and improperly restricted the rights of the people," Vice President Cheney told a conference of Eastern European leaders Thursday, cautioning that similar actions could begin affecting relations with other countries.

AP - Lithuania on Thursday formally applied to the European Union to adopt Europe's common currency next year and the EU Commission said it will reply on May 16.

AFP - An Indian sailor who died in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda may have been infected with bird flu, the Lithuanian health ministry said.