Putin 'Could Get Squishy On Democracy'
Phone conversations between Bill Clinton and Tony Blair when they were in office show the U.S. president was worried about "new" Russian President Vladimir Putin's commitment to democracy.
The Taliban's Rare Winter Offensive
The Taliban is waging an unusually aggressive campaign in Afghanistan this winter, unleashing deadly bombings in Kabul, and attacking a strategic southern province.
Ukrainian Tycoon Takes Russia To Court
The seizure of Ukrainian assets on Crimea after its annexation by Russia is in the spotlight after an international court said it would consider a case filed against Moscow by a Ukrainian tycoon.
Russian Motorists Trapped In Snowstorm Finally Rescued, After 16 Hours, One Death, And Many Cases Of Frostbite
Anger is mounting in Russia after more than 80 people whose cars were stranded on a snowbound highway waited 16 hours to be rescued, resulting in one death and numerous cases of frostbite. One of the survivors voiced his outrage in a video appeal to President Vladimir Putin.
In Cartoons: How Iranians, Saudis See Each Other
As Iranian-Saudi tensions soar over Riyadh's execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric, here's a sample of how Iran and Saudi Arabia see each other -- in cartoons.
The Islamic Party, The Reporter, And The Virginity Test
A woman's unrequited love for the leader of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan has earned her a virginity test.
Video Of Police Beating Transvestite Draws Applause In Uzbekistan
A graphic video showing police beating up a transvestite has gone viral in Uzbekistan. But instead of sparking outrage, the clip is drawing praise from many people on social media in the former Soviet republic.
For Protesting Russian Truckers, A Christmas Far From Home
It's been more than a month since truckers set up a small encampment on the outskirts of Moscow, going national in their protest over a new road tax they say will hammer their livelihood. These drivers are in it for the long haul, spending the New Year and Orthodox Christmas in an Ikea parking lot that has become a home away from home.
Kadyrov's Collective Punishment, Public Shamings Anger Chechens
Chechnya's Kremlin-backed leader has pledged to punish families of Chechen emigres who protested in Austria against his iron-fisted rule. Although collective punishment and public shaming are not new in Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov's latest clampdown is causing dismay among many Chechens.
Cola Wars: Coke Stirs Outrage With Map Showing Crimea As Russian
Coca-Cola Russia, the affiliate for the global beverage giant whose iconic advertising campaign once tried to make drinking soda synonymous with global harmony, has found a new way to do just the opposite after wading into the geopolitical standoff over Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula.
Cyberattack On Ukrainian Power Grid Looks To Some Like An Apocalyptic First
Electronic-security experts claim a blackout in Ukraine last month marks the first time they can pin a major power outage directly on a targeted cyberattack.
It's Not Just About The Horse Penis, It's About The Gold Mine
Kyrgyz were variously enraged and bemused after a British expat working at a foreign-owned gold mine jokingly compared a beloved local equine delicacy to a "horses penis." Michael McFeat is already paying a price for the perceived slur.