The United States imposed further Russia and Ukraine-related sanctions on Thursday, adding associates of a billionaire Russian gas trader, Crimean port operators and former Ukrainian officials to its list of those it is penalizing in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

• July 30, 2015

Alexei Venediktov, one of Russia's most prominent journalists, does not go out without a bodyguard and does not answer mobile phone calls for fear of being tracked.

• July 30, 2015

The leaders of China and Turkey agreed on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation in fighting terror and people smuggling, a senior Chinese diplomat said, following friction between the two over Uighurs from China's Xinjiang who have fled to Turkey.

• July 29, 2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he opposed the creation of an international tribunal to prosecute those who shot down a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine, hours before a U.N. vote on such a proposal.

• July 29, 2015

United Nations aid chief Stephen O'Brien warned Turkey on Tuesday against calling its planned buffer in northern Syria "a safe zone" unless there is a guarantee of protection for civilians who are likely to flood the area for help.

• July 28, 2015

The German government's panel of independent economic advisers favors creating an insolvency mechanism for euro zone states and says countries should be able to leave the single currency as a last resort.

• July 28, 2015

South Sudan's warring factions may face further international pressure if they do not reach a peace deal by Aug. 17, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday, ahead of talks with east African leaders to study penalties if the deadline is not met.

• July 27, 2015

China said on Friday it had every right to drill in the East China Sea close to waters disputed with Japan, adding that it did not recognize a "unilateral" Japanese median line setting out a boundary between the two in the waters.

• July 25, 2015