Nicosia, June 28: The Bank of Cyprus (BOC) - Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus biggest bank – has said it has clinched a deal to buy 80 per cent in Russia’s Uniastrum Bank for 576 million dollars as part of its strategy to expand abroad.

Andreas Eliades, Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Cyprus, said that Uniastrum Bank, being the 9th largest banking network in Russia, would significantly strengthen BOC’s presence in targeted markets.

Khanty Manskiysk, Russia  - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev began a summit with EU leaders Friday expected to relaunch talks on a partnership pact after a thaw in relations.

Analysts say the negotiations will offer both sides a chance to size up the political will to overcome a host of problems in the energy and security sectors before a deal can be brokered.

Official talks on the broad-ranging political pact will begin on July 4 in Brussels.

Brussels-based diplomats hope Medvedev will prove a more flexible partner than his predecessor Vladimir Putin, whose bellicose line aggravated relations with the EU's post-Soviet member states.

Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia - The European Union's chief diplomat, Javier Solana, called for clear energy regulations with Russia ahead of a summit to agree a new EU-Russia partnership and cooperation

Moscow - The number of foreigners murdered in xenophobic attacks in Russia since the beg

Berlin  - A suspected Russian mafia lynchpin has been arrested in Berlin, followin

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