Russia has imposed a ban on wheat and other grain exports until the end of the year after a severe drought and an outbreak of wildfires destroyed one-third of the harvest and ravaged agricultural land.

• August 16, 2010

For the World Health Organisation, the H1N1 swine flu pandemic is over. The world is no longer in an influenza pandemic alert and is moving into the post-pandemic period, WHO director general Margaret Chan said this week.

• August 16, 2010

French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants the EU to set up a rapid reaction force for natural disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires and floods. France has also pledged immediate aid to Pakistani flood victims.

• August 16, 2010

The publication of this collection of essays coincides with the second anniversary of the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia on August 8-12, 2009.

The first essay looks into the transformation of the Georgian armed forces under President Mikhail Saakashvili and details Tbilisi’s key preparations for the war.

• August 16, 2010

Despite US President Barack Obama twice postponing his visit to Indonesia, there has been a marked increase in high-ranked US officials reaching out to Southeast Asia.

• August 14, 2010

As Turkey imports nearly 90 percent of its energy requirements, it has sought reliable contracts with its neighbors to cover its needs.

• August 14, 2010

With 6 million lives on the line in Pakistan, German relief organizations are struggling to find private donations. They say donors are less generous in summer and that many Germans fear their donations will go astray.

• August 14, 2010

The government is planning to transform Siberia from a raw-materials backwater into a comfortable place to live and do business through the development of high-tech industries, science and tourism, but officials have yet to put a price tag on the project.

• August 13, 2010