Europe

Moscow has called on the UK to avoid provocations over the Russia-Ukraine crisis. It follows a statement by the UK foreign office that Russia seeks to bring to power a pro-Kremlin government in Kiev.

Washington and NATO launched a "toxic" campaign with false accusations against Moscow instead of preparing responses to Russia's proposals on security guarantees, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday.

French senators have voted in favor of a bill that bans wearing of hijab in sports competitions. The ban is expected to mainly affect Muslim women athletes.

Russia has urged the United States to stop spreading speculations about Moscow's alleged plans to invade Ukraine.

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov says Moscow has to keep troops on its territory near the Ukrainian border because of the tense situation and NATO’s actions.

Washington imposing sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin would be an "over-the-top" measure, comparable to breaking off relations, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The US government silently abandoned an eastern Mediterranean pipeline project that would carry Israeli gas through Cyprus to Europe this week by submitting a non-paper to Athens explaining its reasons, according to a report by Middle East Eye.

Russia has staged live-fire exercises involving troops and tanks near the Ukrainian border. It comes as Russian and the US negotiators gave no sign of narrowing their differences in briefings after the recent talks in Switzerland.

Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia reported clashes on their border Tuesday that killed one Azeri force and three Armenian troops, the latest skirmish following a 2020 war between the two rivals

The Kremlin spokesperson says Moscow was not optimistic after a first round of talks with the United States on the Ukraine crisis. Dmitry Peskov added Russia would not allow its demands for security guarantees from the west to become mired in tortuous negotiations.

Speaking of the events in Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Moscow will not allow the “color revolutions” to take place on its doorstep.

Iran’s customs officials have discovered and confiscated a large amount of opium hidden beneath the handles of screwdrivers in postal shipments bound for the United Kingdom.

A top Russian diplomat says Moscow is not optimistic about the forthcoming talks with Washington. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybakov added Russia will not give in to US pressure or make any concessions ahead of the Geneva talks set for 10 January.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has denounced remarks by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over Moscow's involvement in Kazakhstan unrest. The top US diplomat has said Kazakhstan would have a difficult time getting the Russian forces, invited to quell the unrest, to leave the country.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says a diplomatic solution is still possible to resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Binken however warned Russia of “massive consequences” if it continues what he called aggressive actions in Europe.

The situation is tense in the Republic of Azerbaijan where the government plans to increase the price of bread due to what it calls a hike in global flour wheat prices.

Peacekeeping forces led by Russia, will be deployed for a ‘limited’ period of time to stabilize the situation in Kazakhstan, the chairman of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has announced.

Emma Watson has been accused of antisemitism by Israel’s former ambassador to the United Nations after she posted a message of support for the Palestinian cause.

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price says there was some progress in the last round of nuclear negotiations in Vienna.

Russia's chief negotiator to the Vienna talks says the issue of sanctions imposed by the United States against Iran is hampering the negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the P4+1 group.

Former UK Ambassador to Syria says the United States is establishing a record of systematic deception in its now-discredited public accounts of the assassination of Iran's anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and the capture of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over phone on Monday. Normalization of bilateral ties as well as Russia-Ukraine tensions were discussed.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says former U.S. president Donald Trump must be brought to justice and face retribution for ordering the assassination of anti-terrorism icon General Qassem Soleimani.

US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the US and its allies "will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine", according to a readout of a call between the two leaders provided by the White House.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have discussed over the phone a range of issues, including Syria and South Caucasus, according to the Kremlin.