Eurasia

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – The European Union suspended travel bans on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and dozens of other officials on Monday as a reward for freeing political prisoners, but kept some sanctions in place.

VILNIUS (Reuters) – Lithuania vowed on Monday to push for extending the lifespan of its Ignalina nuclear power plant after a referendum failed to support the government’s case against EU demands to close it by the end of 2009.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has warned a brewing row with India over the waters of the Chenab river in the disputed Kashmir region could harm improving ties between the old rivals.

In the biggest exercise of its kind since the Cold War, Russia has followed the Saturday firing of a brand new intercontinental missile with a triple firing on Sunday, one of which was attended by President Medvedev.

Early results from the count in Lithuania’s general election give the centre-right opposition a slender lead, and a totally new party in second place, with over 50 percent of the votes counted.

PLESETSK COSMODROME, Russia (Reuters) – President Dmitry Medvedev oversaw the test firing of an intercontinental Topol missile on Sunday and vowed to commission new generation weapons for Russia’s armed forces.

VILNIUS (Reuters) – Lithuanians began voting in a parliamentary election on Sunday against a backdrop of double-digit inflation and fears its once high flying economy will be sucked into the global financial crisis.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The second seminar to introduce Iran’s saffron and medicinal herbs was held at the Ferdowsi Hall of the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo on Saturday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkey’s Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said Friday negotiations to finalize a contract for the purchase of Iran’s natural gas still continue, adding that he would “visit Tehran to sign the agreement as soon as it is finalized”.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO states have failed to provide enough money for an initiative to send dozens more badly needed helicopters to assist the alliance’s Afghan operation, officials said Friday.