Tensions between Iran and the U.S. could escalate towards potential war, but both Russia and China are opposed to Western intervention in Iran.

• December 30, 2011

Following the earthquake on October 23, 2011, a second powerful tremor struck eastern Turkey on November 9, killing 40 people including a Japanese rescue worker and two Turkish journalists who were covering the aftermath of the October quake.
The strong quake came on top of a severe cold snap that left much of the province of Van covered in snow, as refugees in the stricken city of Ecris continued to live out of tents. READ MORE

• December 30, 2011

Violence in the western Kazakh town of Zhanaozen earlier this month left 16 people dead

• December 29, 2011

Ehud Barak, the defense minister of Israel, said in late November that it was probably a question of nine months before Iran’s attempt to acquire nuclear weapons moved into a “zone of immunity” where it could no longer be stopped.

• December 29, 2011

Iran would swap 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day with Caspian Sea littoral states.

• December 28, 2011

Afghanistan on Wednesday signed an oil deal with China which could earn the war-torn country $7 billion over 25 years.

• December 28, 2011

Bulgaria is about to start construction a natural gas interconnection with Romania in a few weeks, according to Bulgarian Economy, Energy, and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikov.

• December 26, 2011

A senior U.S. official has dismissed Iran's threats against NATO missile defense installations in Turkey ahead of a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to the key U.S. ally and linchpin of NATO's southern flank.

• December 24, 2011