Not exactly "news" but I just found out that Belorussia wants to come back to Russia. Plans have been made to convert the Belorussian zaycheek (translated "bunny rabbit" in English
![Wink](images/smilies/wink.gif)
) into the Russian rubble by 2005. This will come at a great loss to Russia since the zaycheek has, and looks like it will be for some time, been drastically falling.
Even with the loss for Russia, the country is willing to take them back.
The deal is definetly beneficial for Belorussia, whose economy has been dropping since the break up of the Soviet Union (just like every other country which was once part of it, if I'm not mistaken. With the recent exception of Russia).
I'm not sure if everyone here already knew of this, so don't hit me.