Minsk - Belarus said that a new round of Ukrainian peace negotiations involving the warring sides and overseen by European and Russian envoys would be held on Friday in Minsk.

Moscow - On January 1, the Eurasian Economic Union(EEU) came into force, linking Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and now Armenia as well.

Minsk - Belarussian strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday sacked his prime minister and several other top officials as the ex-Soviet state reels from the effects of Russia's economic crisis next door.

Minsk - Ukranian and rebel envoys resumed intense talks on Wednesday aimed at ending a pro-Russian uprising that has left the ex-Soviet republic in ruins and upset East-West ties.

Minsk - A new round of talks aimed at ending a protracted Moscow-backed separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine got underway in the Belarussian capital Minsk on Wednesday, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Minsk - Ukranian and rebel envoys prepared for intense talks on Wednesday aimed at ending a pro-Russian uprising that has left the ex-Soviet republic in ruins and upset East-West ties.

China has inaugurated the world's longest train journey, traversing the whole of Central Asia and Europe. Dubbed the new Silk Road, it is expected to give a major economic boost to trade between China and the EU.

Moscow - Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, signed a law that commits the country to the Eurasian Economic Union. The agreement comes into force on the first of January 2015 creating an economic union among Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Minsk - Russian Federation negotiators have agreed to a deal to keep Ukraine's armed forces from attacking anti-government separatists believed to be supported by Moscow.

Minsk - Face-to-face talks aimed at finding a way to end Ukraine's brutal five-month war began Friday in the Belarussian capital of Minsk, trying to build on a ragged ceasefire that was agreed in the same city two weeks ago.

Minsk - Warring parties in Ukraine meet on Friday to try to find a lasting solution to a brutal conflict that has killed around 3,000 people and stoked Western alarm about Russia's territorial ambitions.

Minsk - Talks aimed at negotiating a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine opened in Minsk on Friday, in the latest push to halt nearly five months of fighting between separatists and Kiev authorities, a Belarussian official told AFP.

Minsk - Talks between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine apparently failed to make a major breakthrough towards ending brutal fighting in east Ukraine Wednesday as strongman Vladimir Putin played down the entry by his troops into the former Soviet state.

Minsk - The presidents of Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday sat down to crunch one-on-one talks over heavy fighting in east Ukraine as the Kremlin admitted for the first time its troops had entered its neighbour's territory.

Media from around the world are covering a story about a 45-year-old Austrian woman attacked by a herd of cows. She reportedly died after being stormed by the large group while walking her dog.

Minsk - The European Union and the United States have welcomed the unexpected release of prominent Belarus rights activist Ales Belyatsky, while urging the government to free other political prisoners as well.

Belarus has announced the finalists for its “Song for Eurovision”, the country’s national qualification round for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

Kiev - The new government of President Petro Poroshenko has proposed the creation of safety corridors that would allow eastern Ukrainian people to vote with their feet, creating the biggest exodus in eastern Europe since World War 2.

Astana - On Thursday (May 29) Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia agreed to form an Eurasian Economic Union The agreement will come into effect in January of 2015.

Hockey Canada named Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett as the coach of Team Canada for the 2014 IIHF World Hockey championships to take place in Minsk, Belarus on May 9-25. They made the announcement on Wednesday.