The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending $200 million in loans and grants to help Armenia, Georgia and Tajikistan sustain critical social spending programs that have been imperiled by the global economic crisis, the bank’s press office said.

Russia categorically denied on Thursday that its wide range air military maneuvers are targeting Georgia. The attempts by Georgian media and the West to portray such military training as preparation for war against Georgia is not rational, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told reporters.

Cyprus objects to non-EU citizens in envoy office; EU set to change powers of special representative. Cyprus is obstructing plans by the EU to reinforce its presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina because it objects to the possible presence of non-EU citizens in the office of the EU Special Representative (EUSR). …