23:38 World Cup 2010. Belarus-England. White-red-white won over red-green (Photo)

World Cup 2010 qualifying match in Minsk is over. England beat Belarus 3:1, with Wayne Rooney’s two goals in the 50th and 75th minutes during the second half. The first half ended 1:1. Pavel Sitko shot a goal to England.

17:08 English fans in Minsk streets ahead of Belarus-England match (Photo)

Independence Avenue of Minsk is as crowded today as never before. English football fans carrying national and team flags gathered near Tsentraylny supermarket close to October Square.

16:12 German Embassy: Officials are welcome to receive visas, and human rights activists not!

The German Embassy denied visas to Belarusian human rights activists. Human rights activists and journalists were to be present at the round table discussion with Bundestag deputies where Belarusian “parliamentary election” 2008 is to be discussed.

14:28 Vytautas Landsbergis: “You cannot talk with dictator. Dictator cannot be partner”

A former Lithuanian president Vytautas Landsbergis, a deputy of the European parliament, answering to the decision of The Council of the European Union to lift sanctions against Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that “concluding a pact with a dictator, Europeans have to go against their own convictions”.

13:16 Hurray, liberalization!

The European Union has noticed some signs of “liberalization” in Belarus and lifted visa sanctions against officials. “Free Theatre” is waiting for an invitation to stage their plays in the Palace of Republic.

12:44 Belarus to use Russian nuclear reactor at nuclear power plant

Belarus is ready to choose a nuclear reactor of Atomstroieksport Russian company. The Belarusian authorities find an offer of Russia to be the most advantageous.

12:43 Andrei Bastunets: “Law enforcement bodies won’t give information about high-profile cases”

Journalists regard a new regulation, defining an order of informing the public about high-profile cases, as a new round of censorship.

11:58 Franak Vyachorka drafted into army

Franak Vyachorka, leader of the Youth of the Belarusian Popular Froth, passed for army service. However, he thinks this decision was “politically motivated”.

10:30 Army exercises with Russian Air Force participation started in Belarus

On October 15 joint complex operative exercise “Autumn-2008” started in Belarus.

10:05 Belarusians buying up foreign currency

According to preliminary data, the Belarusians are buying foreign currency in cash in January–September by 17 per cent more y-o-y 2007.

9:20 Belarusian fans upset by David Beckham (Photo)

The plane of English team has landed today in the national airport of Minsk. A hundred of Belarusian fans with flags of English teams were standing near the arrival hall with the hope to receive an autograph.

9:07 French Secretary of State Rama Yade: “Easing of sanctions is not a compromise with human rights”

Rama Yade, Secretary of State of France in charge of foreign affairs and human rights, said that the European Union didn’t compromise in human rights sector by lifting sanctions.

8:53 Don’t let them get used: Belarusian children banned from recuperation in same countries

Belarusian organisations would be able to send children only in those foreign states with which Belarus has international agreements foreseeing state guarantees of safe stay of Belarusian children during their recuperation trips in a certain country and their timely return back home, Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s decree reads.

8:42 Belarusian regime on list of arms suppliers to Sudan

Belarus is mentioned on the list countries, directly providing weapon to warring parties in Sudan. The list of the countries, violating embargo of the UN, has been made by Human Rights First. In 2004, the United Nations imposed an embargo on arms supplies to the country due to the war conflict in Darfur.