Russian Federation Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has expressed concern over terror groups operating from within Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• 12 March 2010

Oil demand in China rose by an "astonishing" 28% in January compared with a year ago, the International Energy Agency says.

• 12 March 2010

Putin will sign more than a dozen pacts amounting to 10 billion dollars, including an accord to resolve the troubled sale of a refitted Soviet-era aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov.

• 12 March 2010

Mohamed A. El-Erian, whose company runs the world’s biggest mutual fund, says deteriorating public finances may seriously hurt the global economy.

• 11 March 2010

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has formed a new coalition government after rival Yulia Tymoshenko was ousted in no-confidence vote. Former Finance Minister Mykola Azarov is the new Prime Minister.

• 11 March 2010

India and Russia will on Friday tighten their ties by signing a slew of agreements, including an umbrella civil nuclear pact and another accord fixing the cost of the refurbished aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov at $2.35 billion

• 11 March 2010

Azerbaijan has more than doubled its natural-gas exports to Russia, shipping up to 3 million cubic meters of gas per day to its northern neighbor.

• 11 March 2010

The European Commission has just approved a genetically modified crop for cultivation in the EU, its first such decision in 12 years. Magda Stoczkiewicz says the decision flouts the public will, while Willy De Greef argues it is an important step forward.

• 11 March 2010