Eurasia

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian prosecutors said on Tuesday they are to check safety standards at national carrier Aeroflot after a plane operated by one of its subsidiaries crashed killing all 88 people on board.

Ukraine has been plunged into political crisis again following the collapse of the ruling coalition. The governing parties of President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko are pro-western but are deeply divided over other issues.  Tensions recently came to a head over the subject of presidential powers. 

The Netherlands has prevented the EU from agreeing to extend new trade benefits to Serbia.The block comes despite a positive report from the chief UN war crimes prosecutor on Belgrade’s co-operation.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Firing by Pakistani troops forced two U.S. military helicopters to turn back to Afghanistan after they crossed into Pakistani territory early on Monday, Pakistani security officials said.

TBILISI (Reuters) – NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer condemned Russia’s military action against Georgia but shied away from making any commitment to the ex-Soviet state on when it will be invited to join the military alliance.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Any state which decides to impose sanctions on Russia over its military intervention in Georgia will suffer symmetric losses, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.

High level NATO talks aimed at showing support for Georgia in its recent conflict with Russia are taking place in Tblisi. The NATO delegation, headed by Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, will meet with Georgia’s President Mikhael Saakashvili.

Teams of divers and helicopters with night vision cameras are continuing to search for survivors after a ferry carrying around 150 people sank off the Black Sea coast of Turkey. The roll-on, roll-off vessel, which also had 75 vehicles on board, had left the port of Bandirma and was heading …

Russian soldiers are continuing their pull out from Georgia in line with an EU-brokered ceasefire. Under the terms of the agreement, Moscow has until today to withdraw, particularly from five checkpoints around the Black Sea port of Poti.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A military solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear issue is unacceptable and there is no need at the moment for new sanctions, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday.