Eurasia

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) – More than 40 Islamist militants and two soldiers have been killed in the latest fighting in Pakistan’s troubled northwest near the Afghan border, paramilitary force officials said on Tuesday.

A demonstration in Montenegro against the government’s decision to recognise Kosovo has turned violent.At least 30 people, including ten police officers, were injured in the clashes in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica.

Talks are underway in Moscow on the possibility of Russia lending Iceland four billion euros to help it survive its financial crisis. Russian could loan the money over three to four years, to be paid back at a higher than normal interest rate.

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – European Union foreign ministers differed on a possible restart of partnership talks with Russia Monday as questions remained over whether Russia had fully complied with a ceasefire pact with Georgia.

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.