The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently reported that China coal consumption is nearly equal to the rest of the world combined.

• February 8, 2013

A Chinese navy vessel aimed a type of radar normally used to aim weapons at a target at a Japanese navy ship in the East China Sea, prompting Japan to protest, Japan's defense minister said on Tuesday, an action that could complicate efforts to cool tension in a territorial row between the rivals.

• February 5, 2013

North Korea's plans for a new nuclear test, like most things that happen inside the reclusive state, are shrouded in mystery. But that's not stopping analysts and officials from making some informed guesses about what's going on.

• February 5, 2013

Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism Ebulfaz Garayev met with Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai.

• February 4, 2013

Iran has announced it will hold talks with world powers over its nuclear programme, in the first sign of diplomatic movement since last year to try to settle the international impasse

• February 4, 2013

Turkmen Balkan freighter with capacity of 3.500 tons renovated in the Volga-Caspian shipyard in Astrakhan was returned to Turkmenbashi port, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper said.

• February 2, 2013

The controversy over Iran’s nuclear program seems unending as Tehran remains adamant to go ahead with the program. In the latest development, the UN nuclear agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has told member nations that Iran is planning to upgrade and speed up its nuclear program.

• February 1, 2013

MEMBERS of Syria's Turkmen minority have joined forces with rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad's regime in a struggle they say is for democracy and revenge for years of oppression.

• January 31, 2013