Iran has reduced demands for the size of its future nuclear enrichment program in talks with world powers although Western governments are urging Tehran to compromise further, Western diplomats close to the negotiations said on Thursday.

• July 3, 2014

The leaders of South Korea and China on Thursday restated their firm opposition to the nuclear ambitions of North Korea, Beijing's erstwhile ally, and to work towards concluding talks on a free trade deal by the end of the year.

• July 3, 2014

Moscow on Wednesday said tying Moldova closer to the European Union violated the rights of the people in the former Soviet republic's breakaway, Russian-speaking region of Transdniestria and said it would foster closer ties with the enclave.

• July 2, 2014

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged President Vladimir Putin on Sunday to strengthen Russian control over its borders to prevent militants and arms entering Ukraine after violence broke a truce there.

• June 30, 2014

The European Union signed an historic free-trade pact with Ukraine on Friday and warned it could impose more sanctions on Moscow unless pro-Russian rebels act to wind down the crisis in the east of the country by Monday.

• June 28, 2014

Ukraine signed on Friday an historic free-trade agreement with the European Union that has been at the heart of months of violence and upheaval in the country, drawing an immediate threat of "grave consequences" from Russia.

• June 27, 2014

Five Chinese fishermen are missing after a trawler sank on Friday in waters to the north of islands disputed with Japan in the East China Sea in what appeared to be an accident, state media said.

• June 27, 2014

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the second time in two days on Thursday to discuss how to help resolve the crisis in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin said.

• June 26, 2014