Moscow cannot give up disputed Pacific islands to Japan, and no talks are underway for a possible handover, the head of Russia's upper chamber of parliament said on Tuesday, underlining a tough task facing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

• November 1, 2016

China said on Monday the situation at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea "has not changed and will not change", after the Philippines said Chinese vessels that blocked the area for four years had stopped harassing its fishermen.

• October 31, 2016

Issue # 37
10/31/2016
Ukraine insists Donbas rebel leaders should be dismissed.
READ MORE in ARMED CONFLICT IN EASTERN UKRAINE.

• October 31, 2016

Russia failed to win re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday, beaten out by Hungary and Croatia, following lobbying by rights groups against Moscow's candidacy because of its military support for the Syrian government.

• October 30, 2016

The European Union and Canada signed a free trade agreement on Sunday that aims to generate jobs and growth though it must still clear some 40 national and regional parliaments in Europe in the coming years to enter fully into force.

• October 30, 2016

Moldovans voted on Sunday in a presidential race that may propel a pro-Russian Socialist candidate to power, after a billion-dollar corruption scandal undermined trust in politicians who want closer ties with the West.

• October 30, 2016

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said either Russia or the Syrian government were responsible for an air strike on Syria's Idlib province that led to the deaths of 26 civilians, most of them school children.

• October 27, 2016

China's Defence Ministry on Thursday accused Japanese air force jets of locking their radars on to Chinese military aircraft, acting provocatively and endangering safety, after Japan said it is scrambling a record number of fighter jets.

• October 27, 2016