The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin went to the Barents Sea on board a nuclear submarine Tuesday to observe a massive military exercise set to involve numerous missile launches and flights of strategic bombers. The manoeuvres, described by Russian media as the largest show of military might since Soviet times, come less than a month before the March 14 presidential election, which Putin is expected to win in a landslide. Beijing - China expressed concern Tuesday about reports that Chinese nuclear weapons designs were found in Libya, but refused to confirm them or say whether it was investigating the alleged technology transfer. Experts say documents handed over in December by Libya include plans of a warhead of 1960s Chinese design. But they say the plans probably were obtained via Pakistan, whose former chief nuclear scientist has admitted spreading weapons technology. San Francisco - A state judge delayed until at least Friday a ruling on whether to block San Francisco from continuing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ronald Quidachay said he was not prepared to rule on a lawsuit filed by conservatives to block the marriages, more than 2,300 of which have taken place since last Thursday. Conservatives are seeking to nullify the marriages and block the city from granting licences.2/18/2004
