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

A giant monument to friendship between historic enemies Turkey and Armenia has become a symbol of controvery rather than healing.

• January 10, 2011

The European Union is preparing to restore a travel ban against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko following a post-election crackdown on political opponents

• January 8, 2011

The European Union has turned down an offer from Iran to tour its nuclear facilities, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said on Friday, but remains optimistic about talks with Tehran later this month. Iran has sent letters to a number of ambassadors to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, inviting them to visit two sites - the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and the Arak heavy water complex - in the coming weeks.

• January 8, 2011

U.S. laws limit the burning of coal here, and Washington state has a strong green influence. Passenger rail in Seattle and beyond would suffer consequences from shipments to Bellingham. But the financial firepower lined up in favor of shipping coal from Washington ports to China is gigantic.

• January 8, 2011