In February 2009, “A Nordic Alliance?” looked at proposals for a broader security and industrial compact among Europe’s northern nations, in part as a response to a growing void at NATO’s center.

• July 15, 2010

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Tuesday requested from the Supreme Federal Court to inquire about the legality to redo elections since the country is gripped by constitutional void, an informed source from the Iraqi President’s office said, Iraqi broadcaster Alsumaria reported.

• July 15, 2010

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, announced Wednesday the report of the country’s energy watchdog about the three foreign-owned electric power utilities will be sent to the Chief Prosecutor.

• July 15, 2010

In 2008, Latvia registered the third highest proportion of renewable energy use in the European Union, according to data from the European Union's statistics office Eurostat. The proportion of renewable energy use in Lithuania in 2008 was 15.3%, but in Estonia – 19.1%.

• July 15, 2010

Washington is adamant that its allies in the Middle East and Central Asia can't continue with a business-as-usual model in Iran's energy sector, officials say.

• July 15, 2010

Russia and Georgia may have severed diplomatic ties as a result of the armed conflict over South Ossetia in 2008, but when it comes to business dealings the two sides often choose a more pragmatic approach.

• July 15, 2010

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will attend Russian-German interstate consultations in Russia's Urals on Wednesday and Thursday and then visit Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke has said.

• July 15, 2010

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko recently announced he will run for re-election for third time, when he is expected to attempt to extend his 16-year autocratic presidency through a rigged vote. The election may happen as early as this fall.

• July 14, 2010