A senior official of the European Union, Stefan Fuele, warned Ukraine on Tuesday not to use criminal law for political ends, a clear reference to the prosecution of Yulia V. Tymoshenko, a former prime minister.

• January 12, 2011

Chinese investors are keen on taking part in developing energy projects in Bulgaria, Bulgaria's Government said on January 10 2011.

• January 11, 2011

The Russian president on Saturday ratified a civil nuclear energy pact with Japan that allows the transfer of Japanese technology to Russia and the sale of more Russian uranium to energy-poor Japan. President Dmitry Medvedev ratified the pact after it was passed by the lower and upper houses of the Russian parliament in December last year, the Kremlin said in a statement on its website.

• January 11, 2011

An agreement allowing U.S. companies to export nuclear technology to Russia is to take effect Tuesday after the U.S. ambassador and a deputy Russian foreign minister exchange diplomatic notes.

• January 11, 2011

Organizers of a petition drive in Kazakhstan calling for the president to remain in power for at least another decade say they have gathered signatures from at least half the Central Asian nation's eligible voters.

• January 11, 2011

Lithuania is calling for the easing of European Union travel restrictions for ordinary citizens of Belarus in the wake of the crackdown on opposition politicians in the former Soviet republic, President Dalia Grybauskaite confirmed Monday, DPA reported.

• January 11, 2011

The situation with power supply in Latgale Province has grown worse and is bleak, Latvenergo CEO Aris Zigurs informed the Cabinet of Ministers this morning.

• January 10, 2011

The U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs took a step Monday toward mending frayed relations between their powerful militaries, though China warned ties could be cut again if Washington does not heed Beijing's wishes.

• January 10, 2011