Twin Russia blasts expose Olympic security threatSuccessive-day bombings on a railway station and trolleybus in Russia's heartland expose the challenge President Vladimir Putin faces in ensuring a safe Olympics on the edge of the violence-plagued North Caucasus.
30 December 2013
Final amnestied foreign Greenpeace activist leaves RussiaThe last of the 26 foreign Greenpeace activists who were detained after an Arctic protest flew out of Russia on Sunday, the group announced, finally ending a saga that had caused global concern.
ISS crew returns safely to Earth with Olympic torchThree astronauts returned to Earth Monday, after 66 days aboard the International Space Station, bringing back the Olympic torch back to the planet after a historic space walk.
11 November 2013
Russia to take Olympic torch into spaceThree new crew members blast off Thursday for the International Space Station (ISS) on a Russian rocket, taking with them the precious cargo of an Olympic torch for the 2014 Winter Games in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Olympics: For Chinese media, WWII overshadows Tokyo 2020Chinese state-run media offered Tokyo heavily qualified congratulations Monday for winning the right to host the 2020 Olympics, saying the event's success would depend on Japan recognising its World War II aggression.