The United States is nearing a decision on whether to take action at the World Trade Organzation against China's rare earth minerals export restraints or other practices by Beijing to help its clean energy sector.

• December 21, 2010

Security forces in Belarus have detained over 600 people, including seven opposition candidates, after smashing a mass rally protesting fraud in the landslide re-election of president Alexander Lukashenko.

• December 21, 2010

Kyrgyzstan's parliament elected a speaker and approved a new government on Friday, laying the foundation for Central Asia's first parliamentary democracy after months of upheaval and violence.

• December 20, 2010

Russia, a leading oil and gas exporter, has used more than 50% of its known oil reserves and might need to attract enormous investment to modernise its oil infrastructure.

• December 20, 2010

North Korea has allowed UN nuclear inspections to resume after talks with visiting New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, CNN reported on Monday.

• December 20, 2010

A number of agreements would be signed.These agreements would in areas of space, economic and defence sectors," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters in New Delhi.

• December 20, 2010

Russia has been putting the squeeze on Belarus, trying to get a foothold in the Belarusan economy, and presidential elections there this Sunday could prove to be a significant moment in that quest.

• December 18, 2010

The world's first nuclear fuel bank of low enriched uranium (LEU) was officially launched in Russia on Friday, which aspiring nations could use for nuclear reactors instead of making it themselves.

• December 18, 2010