Kyrgyzstan to change Constitution by referendum
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said Wednesday he had signed a decree to call a referendum on amending the country`s Constitution on October 21.
US spy chief: China and Russia spying at Cold War levels
Chinese and Russian spies are stalking the United States at levels close to those seen during the tense covert espionage duels of the Cold War, the top US intelligence officer warned Tuesday.
Russia warns unilateral Kosovo independence would destabilise Europe
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov again has stressed his country`s view that unilaterally granting independence to Serbia`s breakaway province of Kosovo could undermine European stability.
Revolutionary ballet to open Chinese national theatre
Beijing`s controversial China National Grand Theatre will open its doors on September 25 with a performance of one of the nation`s most celebrated revolutionary ballets, officials said Tuesday.
Asia stocks jump after Wall Street surge
Asian stocks soared Wednesday in the wake of Wall Street`s overnight surge spurred by the U.S. Federal Reserve`s larger-than-expected interest rate cut.
Council of Europe chief to get acquainted with Russian minorities in Baltics
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der Linden will start a visit to Baltic states Tuesday, the official Web site said.
Iraqi foreign minister to visit Russia this week
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiar al-Zibari will arrive in Moscow on Wednesday on a three-day visit to discuss the situation in Iraq, a Russian diplomat said.
Russia and Israel could move to visa free regime
Israel expects to sign an agreement with Russia by early 2008 to switch to a visa free regime, the minister of strategic affairs said Monday.
Russia and France to discuss Iran problem in Moscow
The foreign ministers of Russia and France will hold talks on Tuesday expected to focus on Iran, two days after Bernard Kouchner said Paris should prepare for possible war with Tehran.
Iraq expels American security firm
The Iraqi government announced Monday it was ordering Blackwater USA, the security firm that protects U.S. diplomats, to leave the country after what it said was the fatal shooting of eight Iraqi civilians following a car bomb attack against a State Department convoy.
Pakistan finalizes presidential vote
Pakistan`s ruling party assured President Gen. Pervez Musharraf he will be elected to a new five-year term, top officials said Saturday, and the vote will likely take place the first week of October.
Germany arrests 10 in global Internet scam raids
German police have arrested 10 people suspected of being involved in an international Internet scam which could have cost victims hundreds of thousands of euros, the Federal Police Office said on Thursday.
Russia protests as global forum urges asbestos ban
Russia, the world`s leading producer of asbestos, protested on Wednesday as an international forum in Moscow urged a global ban on the use of the material because of health risks.
Russia, China, India are on the Top Worst-Polluted List
Four of the world`s 10 most polluted places are in Russia and two former Soviet republics, an independent environmental group said in a report released on Wednesday.
The president of Uruguay invited Russia to MERCOSUR summit
Russia has been invited to a summit of the South American common market MERCOSUR in December, the acting Russian foreign minister said Wednesday.
Japanese Prime Minister Abe hospitalized
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was hospitalized Thursday for stress and exhaustion a day after announcing his resignation, his doctors said, amid speculation health troubles prompted him to step down.
New powerful quake shakes Indonesia
The second powerful earthquake in as many days shook western Indonesia Thursday, collapsing buildings in a coastal city and triggering tsunami alerts around the region. The latest quake was also felt in Malaysia and in Singapore where tall buildings swayed. It triggered at least one strong aftershock.
Foreign spies tried to hack into New Zealand government computers
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark confirmed Tuesday that foreign spies had tried to hack into government computers but said they had not found out any state secrets.
Iranian FM to attend joint commission meeting in Moscow
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will arrive in Moscow Tuesday to attend a session of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission, the Iranian agency IRNA said.
Over one million hit by fresh floods in India and Bangladesh
More than one million people have been evacuated or stranded as rivers in northeastern India and Bangladesh rose to alarming levels and submerged vast swathes of countryside, officials said Monday.
Russia and America to discuss arms reduction pact in Paris
Russian-U.S. consultations on a Soviet-era deal to limit conventional weapons in Europe, on which Russia has imposed a moratorium, will be held in Paris Tuesday, the Russian Embassy said.
Russian boy, borned in Turkey, to return Russia
A Russian mother who was forced to leave her new-born baby in Turkey has been re-united with her son.
US offers Russia missile cooperation
The United States on Monday made new proposals to cooperate with Russia on missile defence in a bid to overcome Moscow`s opposition to its plans for a missile shield in central Europe, the US negotiator said.
Rocket blast injures 50 Israeli soldiers
A Palestinian rocket exploded in an Israeli army base early Tuesday, wounding 50 soldiers and drawing calls for a major military operation against rocket squads in the Gaza Strip.
America marks September 11 attacks
America was to mark the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on Tuesday with more muted commemorations than in previous years but under the shadow of renewed threats from Al-Qaeda.