This week Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made his first state visit to Ukraine. After five years of cold relations between the two countries, this trip was meant to cement much warmer ties with Ukraine’s new, Moscow-friendly leader.

• May 22, 2010

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has phoned world leaders to seek support for a deal Iran agreed to earlier this week to ease tensions over its nuclear program as a US-led coalition pushes for sanctions against Tehran to force it to stop enriching uranium.

• May 21, 2010

The selling price of power generated by gas-based plants will go up by up to Rs 1.20 per unit on account of the hike in the price of natural gas, government said today.

• May 21, 2010

NATO and Russia said on Wednesday they intend to boost efforts to develop a joint system to protect their troops from attack by short-range missiles.

• May 21, 2010

Russian industrial output surged in April as the manufacture of cars, steel pipes and freight cars increased, signaling a rebound from the country's worst recession may be picking up pace.

• May 21, 2010

An opposition politician claimed that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili had a personal ejection seat installed on board his jet, but the presidential office denied the claim.

• May 21, 2010

The Thai government has said it has mostly quelled violent protests in the capital Bangkok. But troops have continued their hunt for those protesters who they say set blaze to some of the capital's main buildings.

• May 21, 2010

Summary of Panel I: The Future of the Energy Charter and the Debate over the Third Package
The energy trade between Russia and the countries of the European Union (EU) is of fundamental significance for the energy security of each party. Despite the close proximity of the EU-Russia energy relationship, however, the legal and political basis underpinning this relationship, particularly with regards to the gas trade, has proven itself inadequate in guaranteeing the energy security of both parties. Russia's recent announcement of its intention "of not becoming a member" of the Energy Charter Treaty, and new proposal for global energy security has created further uncertainty. While it is hoped that a new government in Kiev will lead to an improvement of Russian relations with Ukraine, Ukraine's national gas transportation operator remains in a difficult financial position and another gas crisis embroiling Ukraine, Russia and the EU, whilst hardly imminent, cannot be entirely ruled out.

• May 21, 2010