Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region on Wednesday announced it would hold a referendum on independence, in a move the central government in Baghdad is likely to oppose strongly.

• June 7, 2017

With less than three days to go until Britain holds a national election, opinion polls suggest Prime Minister Theresa May's lead over the opposition Labour party has ebbed over the last two weeks, putting her majority into doubt.

• June 5, 2017

China supports Iran's membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) security bloc, jointly led by China and Russia, and the subject will be discussed at the group's summit this week, a senior diplomat said on Monday.

• June 5, 2017

Russia's leading economic thinkers say the country needs bold action to avoid stagnation. After President Vladimir Putin set out his ideas for the economy in a keynote speech on Friday, they are still waiting to hear what that action will be.

• June 3, 2017

It was meant to be a landslide victory for Prime Minister Theresa May.

• June 3, 2017

The United States on Thursday blacklisted nine companies and government institutions, including two Russian firms, and three people for their support of North Korea's weapons programs.

• June 1, 2017

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that elements of a U.S. anti-missile system in Alaska and South Korea were a challenge to Russia and that Moscow had no choice but to build up its own forces in response.

• June 1, 2017

The European Union's executive has not been forewarned about a possible U.S. withdrawal from the global deal on fighting climate change, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

• May 31, 2017