The United States and Germany told Russia on Friday that arming President Bashar al-Assad's forces could jeopardize international efforts for a peace conference on Syria.

• June 1, 2013

Russia plans to resume nuclear submarine patrols in the southern seas after a hiatus of more than 20 years following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Saturday, in another example of efforts to revive Moscow's military.

• June 1, 2013

While Syrian President Bashar al-Assad implied that Damascus had received sophisticated Russian anti-aircraft missiles in a TV interview, Russian reports clarified Friday that the S-300 systems had not yet arrived in Syria.

• May 31, 2013

Turkey is ready to deliver Turkmenistan’s natural gas to consumers in Europe, Turkish President Abdullah Gül said yesterday, supporting the Central Asian nation’s plans to build alternative pipelines and ease dependence on exports to Russia.

• May 31, 2013

The United States has lifted a ban on sales of communications equipment to Iranians and opened access to Internet services and social media.

• May 31, 2013

President Bashar al-Assad has said Russian anti-aircraft missiles have arrived in Syria, Lebanese TV reported, in a claim that is likely to dramatically increase tensions in the region and could provoke the Israelis to launch a strike against the weapons.

• May 30, 2013

Home to the creators of Skype and the first country to use online voting, Estonia relishes its image as a technological pioneer. But the tiny East European country's most far-reaching economic achievement could come from how it has learned to squeeze oil from a rock.

• May 30, 2013

Canada says it will freeze all trade with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program and human rights record.

• May 30, 2013