A court in Ukraine has suspended the results of presidential elections after a complaint of electoral fraud. A decision on the validity of the poll is expected within days, ahead of a planned inauguration ceremony.

• 17 February 2010

The US sends one of its top diplomats to Syria in its latest move to improve ties with Damascus after years of tension.

• 17 February 2010

President Obama announces loan guarantees to help build the first new nuclear power stations in the US since a 1979 accident.

• 16 February 2010

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says any countries imposing sanctions on Iran will be made to "regret it".

• 16 February 2010

The 9th round of talks between Beijing and Dalai Lama envoys took place last month. The Chinese once again vehemently rejected Tibetan autonomy. Despite frustration, Tibetans still support the Dalai Lama.

• 16 February 2010

A man described as the Afghan Taliban's most senior commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is captured in Pakistan.

• 16 February 2010

The European Union has hit out at a recent decision by Libya to stop giving visas to citizens from the border-free Schengen area. The move by Tripoli was believed to have been caused by a spat with Switzerland.

• 16 February 2010

New sanctions on Iran would not be a quick enough solution to the nuclear issue, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says.

• 16 February 2010