The warmth of the friendship between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin does little to counter the bitter economic winds blowing through their shared border.
Greece has moved a step closer towards a eurozone exit as early results from a crucial bailout referendum suggested Greeks had overwhelmingly rejected creditors' demands for more austerity.
World powers and Tehran are close to a deal on curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions and the marathon negotiations look set to be successfully concluded "in the coming days."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed constitutional changes giving sweeping powers to the regions but critically failing to address demands of pro-Russian militants in the separatist east.
Ukraine announced the immediate suspension of all Russian gas purchases after EU-mediated negotiations aimed at keeping supplies running for at least three more months broke down.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed the hope that Brussels would avoid "negative scenarios" over Greece amid fears that the country is heading for a eurozone exit.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he planned to meet his US counterpart John Kerry in Vienna where global powers are engaged in make-or-break nuclear talks with Iran.
Russia's former prime minister Yevgeny Primakov, famed for turning around his US-bound plane over the Atlantic upon learning of NATO's bombing of Serbia in 1999, has died aged 85.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called his US counterpart Barack Obama to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, the Islamic State group's advances and a deal on Iran's nuclear program.
A schoolgirl from Ust-Kamenogorsk city in eastern Kazakhstan has clinched the first place at the III International Contest of Young Singers Golden Note held in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin extended a ban against most Western food imports for a year, saying the longer-than-expected measure would ensure the country's security.
EU foreign ministers formally agreed to prolong to January 2016 damaging economic sanctions against Russia to ensure it fully implements Ukraine peace accords.