A debilitating row with Russia at UN climate talks this week exposed a fundamental flaw in how decisions are taken -- the entire system balanced precariously on an ill-defined notion of consensus.
At the age of 95, one of Russia's most admired theatre directors, Yury Lyubimov, is staging his first ever production at the Bolshoi Theatre, a boldly pared-down version of Borodin's opera "Prince Igor".
Leaders of the G8 nations meet in Northern Ireland next week determined to crack down on tax evasion and boost global trade, while seeking to push Russia to help find a political solution to the Syria conflict.
Two members of the Russian feminist punk-rock band Pussy Riot on Friday urged the United States to help free their bandmates jailed last year for an anti-government protest performance.
The European Union and Russia kick off a two-day summit on Monday overshadowed by rows over Brussels' decision to lift its arms embargo on the Syrian rebels and resolve to loosen Moscow's grip on EU natural gas supplies.
Russia's ambitious smoking ban, which aims to cut the number of smokers in half and improve public health, went into effect Saturday amid doubts that its measures can be fully enforced.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Thursday that Russian weapons supplies to the Syrian regime were impeding the search for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Failure to agree on who will take part in an international conference on the Syria could thwart hopes that the make-or-break meeting will be held in June.
An international trio flying in a Russian capsule docked the International Space Station on Wednesday with a busy schedule full of space walks and an encounter with a pioneering US cargo craft.
Japan and Russia on Wednesday signed a deal that will see them jointly explore and develop a potentially lucrative oil and gas field off Russia's Far East coast.