A Proton-M rocket bearing two new Russian Express-series communications satellites was launched early on Wednesday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 06:11 GMT

Two Russian military personnel were killed and one wounded after a dispute turned violent in the early hours of Wednesday in the southern Achkhoi-Martan district Chechnya, a police source said.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 06:13 GMT

Dutch coach Guus Hiddink is set to combine running the Russian national side with managing Chelsea FC until the end of the season.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 07:13 GMT

The centrist Kadima party led by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the opposition right-wing Likud party have both claimed victory in Israel's early parliamentary polls.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 07:37 GMT

The Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan has postponed a discussion on the closure of a U.S. base in the north of the country, the party's leader said on Wednesday.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 07:46 GMT

Russian nuclear fuel producer TVEL signed on Wednesday a contract with New Delhi on fuel supplies to Indian nuclear power plants, a spokesman for the Indian Nuclear Energy Department said.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 08:00 GMT

A senior EU foreign policy delegation will hold talks on European security issues in Moscow on Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 08:45 GMT

A Progress M-66 space freighter lifted off from the Baikonur Space Center February 10, 2009, and is scheduled to dock with the ISS on February 13.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 08:51 GMT

The Taliban claimed responsibility on Wednesday for two deadly explosions in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 08:52 GMT

The Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Air Force, Lt. Gen. Rail Rzayev, was shot dead on Wednesday, the country's Defense Ministry said.

// Feb. 11, 2009 - 09:17 GMT