President Gloria Arroyo gave blanket authority to the Department of Agriculture to import two million tons of rice from other countries. This is in preparation for a possible rice shortage next year of 2010 in the country.

A report produced for the European Union by a team of experts based in Geneva has concluded that the five-day war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008 was started by the former country when it illegally attacked a town in South Ossetia.

As the first anniversary of their 2008 war approaches, tensions are elevated between Russia and Georgia, with Russia's defense ministry threatening force unless Georgia stops 'provocations' against the South Ossetia region.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sought to dampen U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's sharp remarks on Russia, saying that the Russian Federation is a 'great power.'

United States Vice-President Joe Biden visited Georgia's Parliament and their President Mikheil Saakashvili to discuss their relations and future NATO plans.

MOSCOW, Russia – A glimmer of hope with regards in strengthening US-Russia relations provided an encore in what was a glamorous celebration of US Independence day.

A protest in front of the Tbilisi police headquarters on June 15 was the scene of police brutality according to reports coming in. The protesters were demanding the release of six opposition activists that were detained on Friday.

Tensions are high following a mutiny in the mountainous Caucasian nation of Georgia. Elements of the Mukhrovani tank battalion mutinied this week near the capital, Tbilisi, in circumstances that remain unclear.

After the expulsion of two Russian diplomats over allegations of spying, tensions between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could start brewing up. In a sense, it is reigniting a throw down since the Cold War.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev denounces NATO military exercises in Georgia as provocative, saying the activity is 'wrong' and 'dangerous.'