Russia and Western powers locked horns over a peace plan for Syria on Saturday as U.N. mediator Kofi Annan warned the conflict could spread across the Middle East and beyond.

• June 30, 2012

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sought to raise pressure on Russia on Thursday ahead of a crucial meeting on the Syria crisis, saying all countries involved must back international mediator Kofi Annan's detailed plan for a political transition

• June 29, 2012

South Korea postponed on Friday the signing with Japan of an agreement to share sensitive military information in the face of anger over a pact with a former colonial ruler that critics say was negotiated behind the scenes.

• June 29, 2012

The negotiations on cooperation between Nabucco West and Trans Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) will be started this summer, Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH Managing Director, Reinhard Mitschek said during a conference call on Friday.

• June 29, 2012

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi during his visit to Astana met with his Kazakh counterpart Yerzhan Kazykhanov, IRNA reported. The sides discussed the processes in the region, particularly in Syria and Afghanistan, including the fate of the project of the UN-Arab League special representative Kofi Annan to overcome crisis in Syria.

• June 27, 2012

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Filat visited the European Investment Bank and signed with EIB Vice-President Wilhelm Molterer a loan contract of EUR 17 million to finance the rehabilitation of Moldova’s power transmission network. EIB Vice-President Molterer commented: “The loan signed today is a good example of cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the EIB. I very much welcome the fact that EIB funds will support the rehabilitation of electricity infrastructure which is crucial for the further development of Moldova’s economy. With PM Filat we have discussed the results achieved and new possibilities for project financing to support the government’s priorities, mainly in the areas of energy, transport, environmental infrastructure and agribusiness.”

• June 27, 2012

The United States and Russia are planning to enhance cooperation in nuclear reactor design, while maintaining joint efforts to prevent nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands, officials said Tuesday.

• June 27, 2012

Today's AM fix was USD 1,583.25, EUR 1,267.41, and GBP 1,013.73 per ounce. Yesterday’s AM fix was USD 1,569.00, EUR 1,256.41, and GBP 1,009.00 per ounce. Silver is trading at $27.47/oz., €22.08/oz. and £17.64/oz. Platinum is trading at $1,445.25/oz., palladium at $601.40/oz. and rhodium at $1,190/oz. Gold’s safe haven credentials were burnished again yesterday when despite falls in stock indices globally, gold rose $15.10 or 0.99% and closed at $1,586.30/oz. Gold traded sideways in Asia and continues in a narrow range in European trading holding above $1,580/oz.

• June 26, 2012