Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia's foreign policy establishment is rethinking the concept of empire. In the case of Moscow's approach towards Central Asia, ideas about territorial domination no longer play a significant role in the formulation of strategy, according to a source with access to Russia's policy-making mechanisms.

• November 8, 2010

November 2010

Key positions:

• David Cameron’s forceful remarks over the summer on Turkey’s stagnant accession talks have hit a nerve in some circles in Brussels. Criticism of fellow German and French members of the EU by the prime minister on bias and playing to xenophobic political moods has addressed the elephant in the room over Turkey’s much debated membership application. Brussels is predicted to endorse the recent referendum results from Turkey as a positive step in its long standing bid to join the EU.

• A Turkish court struck down the headscarf ban in public universities recently, but no major social disturbances have been reported. The lack of social unrest over such a divisive issue seems to further demonstrate that Turkey is enshrining the values of a law based democratic society where sensitive political issues are settled in the courts and at the ballot box rather than in the streets. Meanwhile the Ergenekon trial (Turkey’s new national coup plot) has faded from national attention as the Istanbul prosecutor’s office has declined to pursue the case citing lack of verifiable evidence.

• The Turkish National Petroleum Corporation has recently won two major contracts in developing the two largest Iraqi gas fields, further increasing Turkey’s interests in its neighbour. This has not alleviated some concern in the business sector that warns a ballooning trade deficit over the past year has dire consequences for the long-term future of business growth.

• November 8, 2010

Formal approval of long-discussed reform of the International Monetary Fund increases the weight of Brazil, Russia, India and China on the executive board

• November 7, 2010

Russian leader Vladimir Putin met his Iranian counterpart Tuesday and implicitly warned the U.S. not to use a former Soviet republic to stage an attack on Iran. He also said nations shouldn't pursue oil pipeline projects in the area if they weren't backed by regional powers.

• November 7, 2010

Azerbaijan may consider possibility of creating a joint venture producing oil and gas equipment in Kazakhstan, the Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said in an interview with Trend on the results of the Azerbaijani-Kazakh intergovernmental commission's seventh meeting held in Astana.

• November 7, 2010

Barack Obama has called on the Senate to approve a landmark nuclear weapons deal with Russia before a newly elected crop of Republicans take office in January.

• November 5, 2010

As President Obama pays his first visit to India this weekend, he may want to take his lead from Mary Kay.

• November 5, 2010

The state of the global economy improved markedly compared to the year ago, however, there are signs of slowing economic recovery, particularly in the advanced economies.

• November 5, 2010