US Secretary of State Colin Powell's Russia visit raises a growing number of differences between the countries, says the BBC's Jon Leyne.

Andrei Zvyagintsev's The Return competes in Russia's Golden Eagle film awards, amid criticism of the contenders.

Reading music festival is starting up an American sister event. Plus news in brief on Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Chris Tarrant and Janet Jackson.

Colour photos depicting life in the closing years of Russia's Czarist empire have gone on display at the Library of Congress in Washington.

David Ben Gurion is Israel's founding father. Without his dedication and tenacity it would have been unlikely that Israel would have been created as early as it was.

Should Britain be a safe haven? Your reaction

Should Britain be a safe haven? Your reaction

Romania is demanding the return of a gold treasure sent to Russia during the First World War.

A bank vault containing more than $4 million worth of what is allegedly property stolen from victims of the holocaust has been opened in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.