RUSSIA

Politicians and business leaders have been talking up opportunities for Russian companies in Iran after international sanctions were lifted.

Russians are consuming less alcohol, with prices of imported favorites like whiskey likely to increase.

Despite widespread media coverage hackers continue to try and gain access to the companies in charge of Ukraine’s power grid.

High-end watchmakers have signaled a shift in strategy with an expanded range of more affordable products to counter a severe downturn. As Hayley Platt reports, the industry is having to adapt to a market with fewer Russian, Middle Eastern and Chinese buyers.

The Russian currency broke the 80-to-the-greenback level Wednesday and tumbled to more than 85 Thursday.

An inquiry concluded that Russia’s security services, with the probable knowledge of President Vladimir Putin, masterminded the 2006 killing of Alexander Litvinenko.

A U.K. government-backed inquiry into the death of the Russian spy-turned-dissident has concluded that his killing probably was approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko shows a much larger pattern of intimidation and deaths under President Vladimir Putin.

"They should come here, to Russia. We are ready to accept them," Russian President Vladimir Putin said of Jews leaving Western countries.

Companies like Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco and others face a tough 12 months as clients slash IT spending and consumers hold back from buying devices.

Researchers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Tuesday the U.S. faces challenges in securing its interests.

The decision Wednesday comes just after French and German diplomats met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in an effort to end the conflict.

Further oil declines caused the ruble to hit 80 against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, its weakest point since the 1998 financial crisis.

Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, political turmoil in Brazil and uncertainty over growth in China were all matters of concern, according to a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet in Switzerland Wednesday to decide who would join the U.N.-mediated peace talks.

The coffee chain will offer its latest growth numbers when it reports its quarterly earnings after markets close on Thursday.

After recent allegations of widespread match-fixing, what’s the best way for tennis officials to respond?

Developing economies like China, Brazil and Russia face their toughest test in the new year to restart sustainable growth.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the alliance of encroaching on the Kremlin’s sphere of influence.

The International Monetary Fund has predicted Russia’s economy will contract by 1 percent in 2016.

Gradual economic recovery in big emerging markets like Brazil and Russia could offset the ongoing slowdown in China.