DMITRY MEDVEDEV

Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday called off a much anticipated visit to the US where he was to join the other world leaders in a key summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrial nations and meet with US President Barack Obama, the Kremlin announced, citing domestic concerns as the reason behind the change of plans.

Among the flurry of decrees Vladimir Putin issued after returning to the presidency for a historic third term were calls for faster privatization and government-sponsored boost in capital investment and closer ties with the US, based on equality, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for one another's interests.

Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's government to boost investment and shake up state-run industries in a flurry of decrees issued after he returned to the presidency on Monday with a call for a new economy.

The former KGB strongman is replacing his 'protégé' Dmitry Medvedev, who will almost certainly return to being Prime Minister in a job swap first agreed upon last year.

Russian riot police beat protesters about the head with batons and detained 250 Sunday after clashes broke out at a Moscow rally by thousands of people against Vladimir Putin on the eve of his return to the presidency.

Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov said Thursday he would launch a pre-emptive strike against missile shield facilities, which are planned in Poland, Turkey and Romania.

Just days before the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's killing, Vice President Joe Biden directly appealed to students while boasting President Barack Obama's foreign policy achievements and slamming presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney as out of touch.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that he will step down as the leader of United Russia, the nation's dominant political party, after he assumes the presidency in May.

Cherry-picking a mere 100 people from across the world and from across all walks of life and getting everyone to agree to it is practically impossible.

Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney channeled a pining, old newspaperman, thanking the press for its coverage but claiming he missed the days of two or more sources for a story.

An ATR-72 twin-engine turboprop carrying 43 people crashed during an attempted emergency landing in a snow-covered field near Tyumen, in western Siberia.

Russian authorities closed Moscow's Red Square Sunday and detained dozens of people trying to hold a silent anti-government protest there, prompting opposition charges that they were denying Russians their right to free assembly.

In a hilarious new ad by Karl Rove linked group American Crossroads, President Obama is portrayed as a rogue James Bond type character and possible Russian double agent whose main mission is to weaken America.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are meeting in Delhi to discuss a range of issues, including increased financial integration of the member countries.

As leaders of the emerging world powers, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) meet today in New Delhi, the focus is on the bloc's efforts to set up a development bank which will bring together resources required for development, especially in the infrastructure sector.

Despite their political differences, varied economic clout and undefined association, the meeting between the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa is set to highlight the group's growing independence

As the Obama administration goes into damage control over an unscripted exchange between President Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, Mitt Romney is seeking to turn the gaffe into a broader indictment of the president's foreign policy.

An open mic oversight ended in embarrassment for Obama and Medvedev. What 'missile defense' issue were they discussing?

President Barack Obama sought to diffuse criticism Tuesday about overheard remarks he made to Russia President Dmitry Medvedev about having more flexibility to reach an agreement about a missile defense shield after the election.

Russia's president criticized the Republican presidential candidate for expressing views that smacked of Hollywood stereotypes about relations between the former rivals.

Syrian opposition activists gathered in Istanbul to endorse a program for political change to unify their movement, but the conference proved divisive even before officially opens Tuesday.