site.news_by_theme CIS
Fireworks at world's tallest tower as Dubai wins Expo 2020
Dubai beat off opposition from Brazil, Russia and Turkey on Wednesday to win the right to host the 2020 World Expo, sparking celebrations in the Gulf city and a stunning fireworks display at the world's tallest building.
29 November 2013
'Free Ukraine, not me': Tymoshenko urges EU leaders
Jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko called on EU leaders to drop all demands and sign a historic pact with Ukraine without any preconditions at a summit that opens Thursday.
28 November 2013
UN women's rights resolution passed despite backlash
A UN General Assembly committee has agreed a landmark first resolution on women's rights defenders such as Malala Yousafzai, despite a hard fought campaign by an alliance including the Vatican to weaken the measure.
28 November 2013
Summit to spotlight EU-Russia row over Soviet-era states
An EU summit designed to draw six ex-Soviet states to the West opens with its ambitions dented Thursday after Ukraine, the biggest of the six, caved into Moscow to hand Europe a mighty "Nyet".
28 November 2013
US Holocaust survivor meets Polish savior 70 years on
A Jewish boy who hid from the Nazis in a hayloft reunited after 70 years in New York on Wednesday with the Polish son whose parents risked everything to save him.
28 November 2013
Russia, UAE, Turkey, Brazil await decision on Expo 2020 host
Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Brazil will Wednesday find out if their chosen cities have won the right to host the 2020 World Expo, an event which boosts tourism and business.
27 November 2013
End 'sharp words' over Ukraine, Putin tells EU leaders
Russia's president on Tuesday called for European leaders to end their criticism over Ukraine's decision to delay a key EU pact, as thousands rallied in Kiev in a third day of protests.
27 November 2013
Tymoshenko goes on hunger strike in support of pro-EU protests
Jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko went on a hunger strike Tuesday in solidarity with thousands of pro-European protesters outraged with the ex-Soviet state's shock decision to scrap a key EU pact.
26 November 2013
Russia invoiced $90 million for Proton-M crash in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has sent Russia a $90 million bill for the Proton-M carrier rocket crash at Baikonur in Kazakhstan.
26 November 2013
Pro-EU Ukrainians mass in biggest rally since Orange Revolution
Pro-Western Ukrainians on Sunday held the biggest protest rally in Kiev since the 2004 Orange Revolution, urging the government to sign a historic pact with the European Union and clashing with police.
26 November 2013
Russia and Kazakhstan disagree on causes of MIG-31 aircraft crash
The managing director of the 514 Aircraft-Repairing Plant declared that Kazakhstan's accusation of the Russian plant for the MIG-31 aircraft crash had too many contradictions.
26 November 2013
Vote looms to expel Italy's Berlusconi from parliament
Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is in for a tumultuous week that will likely see him booted out of parliament and shift into opposition to a government where he is still formally a coalition partner.
25 November 2013
Armenian monastery finds unlikely saviour in Arab sheikh
Standing next to a newly refurbished bell tower, priest Aristakes Aivazyan says it needed divine intervention to save Armenia's medieval Haghartsin monastery.
25 November 2013
Gazprom launches South Stream construction in Serbia
Construction began on Sunday for the Serbian stretch of Russia's South Stream pipeline which will bring Russian gas directly to Europe, making it less vulnerable to price disputes.
25 November 2013
World powers, Iran clinch 'historic' nuclear deal
World leaders hailed Sunday a "historic" nuclear deal with Iran as a triumph for diplomacy, but cautioned the hard work was just starting to keep Tehran from building a bomb.
25 November 2013
UN watchdog demands Uzbekistan halt use of torture
Uzbekistan must halt its routine use of torture and cease reprisals against human rights campaigners who expose state abuses, United Nations monitors said Friday.
24 November 2013
Race for Arctic resources must be conflict-free: Pentagon
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday the United States will assert its sovereignty in the rapidly thawing Arctic but called on countries to work together to avoid conflict over the untapped frontier.
23 November 2013
Norwegian prodigy Carlsen on brink of world chess title
Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen needs just a draw later Friday to be crowned world chess champion after taking an almost unassailable lead against India's Viswanathan Anand in a one-sided contest.
22 November 2013
West disappointed after Ukraine scraps EU deal
Ukraine on Friday faced accusations from the West it had missed a historic opportunity and caved into Kremlin pressure after the government scrapped plans to sign a deal to deepen trade and political ties with the European Union.
22 November 2013