Russia

The Kuril Islands have long complicated ties between Japan and Russia. A deal is in both nations’ interests.

Chinese and Russian vetoes over condemning Syria have infuriated Western capitals. But the reasons for them are more complex than some realize.

There are good reasons why the rhetoric from Moscow is harsher than Beijing’s. For a start, China knows lashing out at the U.S. is counterproductive.

India’s failure to step over the atrocities in Syria is likely rooted in worries over its own domestic insurgencies.

Kazakhstan’s latest elections have been condemned as another sham. But protests in the city of Zhanaozen suggest the public’s patience is wearing thin.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s campaign is keen to stress its differences with Barack Obama.

Nuclear power projects are frequently unpopular with locals. It really doesn’t have to be that way.

China has worked hard behind the scenes to reduce tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. But as political pressure grows in the U.S. for action, will it have been for nothing?

India replacing China as the world’s largest arms importer should leave plenty of scope for Russian manufacturers. But the two sides don’t always see eye to eye.

China’s response to Russia’s surprise poll results has been muted. Officials will be watching how Putin copes.

A summit between India and Russia is a reminder of the potential of bilateral ties. India could learn from China.

The U.S. and Israel are widely assumed to be responsible for the Stuxnet computer worm that hit Iran’s nuclear facilities. But Moscow has just as good a motive.