Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that the Bushehr nuclear power plant construction in Iran promotes the non-proliferation regime.

• August 19, 2010

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has announced its new leader, just one day after confirming the death of Tahir Yuldashev, the al Qaeda-linked terror group's co-founder and longtime emir.

• August 18, 2010

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will discuss prospects of bilateral trade and cooperation in energy and military-technical areas during Rahmon's visit to Russia on August 18-20.

• August 18, 2010

Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Karim Masimov said at a government meeting on Monday that the country plans to open more gateways on its border with Kyrgyzstan, local media reported on Tuesday.

• August 18, 2010

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) begins Associated Petroleum Gas (A) Flaring Study for Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Expression of interest to carrying out of this study is received in the EBRD office in London till September 18.

• August 18, 2010

It is August 2010, the month when the last United States combat troops are scheduled to leave Iraq. It is therefore time to take stock of the situation in Iraq, which has changed places with Afghanistan as the forgotten war.

• August 18, 2010

China and the International Atomic Energy Agency have signed an agreement to improve nuclear security in the region, the UN nuclear watchdog said, as its chief made his first visit to Beijing.

• August 17, 2010

China Huaneng Group Corp and Datang Corp, the country's top power producers, plan to float shares of their renewable energy units in Hong Kong in offerings that could raise over $US2 billion ($A2.22 billion), sources close to the deals say.

• August 17, 2010