The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, will start its spring session on Monday following the New Year's break, Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov said.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 00:10 GMT

Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic has secured an overwhelming victory in a presidential runoff in Croatia, the Central Electoral Commission announced early on Monday.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 01:04 GMT

Police in southeast Greenland have stopped the search for a Russian diplomat who has gone missing since January 3, local television reported on Monday.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 02:15 GMT

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced plans for the deployment of new Russian-made tanks and combat helicopters on the border with Colombia.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 03:18 GMT

Four people, including an infant, were killed and two others injured in an explosion at an illegal fireworks shop in eastern China, the Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 04:24 GMT

Police in Russia's Far East have seized almost 7 tons of sturgeon, the fishing of which is banned under Russian law, a Khabarovsk Territory police spokesman said on Monday.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 05:58 GMT

At least four people were killed in a helicopter crash on the western outskirts of Mexico's capital on Sunday night, local media reported.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 06:10 GMT

The Russian authorities seem to have decided that state television should reach out more to internet-savvy younger viewers.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 06:56 GMT

The overall security situation in the region of South Caucasus is stable for now because Russia, having conducted military operations against Georgia in 2008, will keep things quiet for the foreseeable future

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 07:01 GMT

The Pentagon has acknowledged difficulties associated with buying Russian equipment, but defends the purchases for Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan as the most appropriate aircraft for these countries, which have experience operating Russian helicopters.

// Jan. 11, 2010 - 07:08 GMT