Wall Street Journal

Russia's security service arrested an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal on espionage charges, the first time a U.S. correspondent has been detained on spying accusations since the Cold War. The newspaper denied the allegations and demanded his release.

The White House has delayed imposing new financial sanctions on Iran over its ballistic-missile program, The Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 31. 

"Seven EU members support lifting of sanctions"

BRUSSELS, MOSCOW -- Seven EU countries support the lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Russia, a diplomatic source in Brussels told Russia's TASS news agency on Thursday.

"The sanctions' lifting has been supported by Austria, Hungary, Italy, Cyprus, Slovakia, France and the Czech Republic," he said.