Islamic State (IS) fighters have launched several offensives near the city of Haditha in northwest Iraq in the last 48 hours.

• January 5, 2016

A social network account belonging to Russia's communications minister has been blocked briefly by hackers identifying themselves as a Turkish activist group.

• January 4, 2016

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said talks are needed with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the countries to forge a peace treaty.

• January 4, 2016

Saudi Arabia has cut diplomatic relations with its regional rival, Iran, after attacks on the Saudi Embassy and consulate in Tehran over the execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric by Riyadh.

• January 4, 2016

A new appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia's national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years.

• January 2, 2016

Vietnam formally accused China of violating its sovereignty and a recent confidence-building pact on Saturday by landing a plane on an airstrip Beijing has built in a contested part of the South China Sea.

• January 2, 2016

Militants launched a deadly attack on an Indian Air Force base near the Pakistan border on Saturday, exchanging fire with Indian forces who, backed by tanks and helicopters, battled for more than 15 hours before wresting back control of the compound.

• January 2, 2016

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Dr Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

• Gazprom and the EU: Gazprom and European Commission representatives meet in Brussels to discuss the antimonopoly investigation; Gazprom’s proposed auction for gas sales to the Baltic is postponed to early 2016 and other Gazprom-related developments in the Baltic region; Gazprom reaches gas price agreement with Finnish Gasum & sells its 25% stake in the company; Gazprom set to divest 50% stake in Bulgarian Overgas
• Nord Stream: EU member states divided over Nord Stream II; Nord Stream II in the context of EU gas market legislation: An emerging debate
• Turkish Stream: Turkey vows to reduce dependence on Russian gas, searches for alternatives
• Ukraine: Gazprom & Naftogaz CEOs meet in Moscow as the two sides debate prices & volumes; Gazprom suggests that transit of Russian gas via Ukraine will continue after 2019; The question of Ukraine’s debt to Russia remains; Ukraine receives shipment of South African coal as Russia and Eastern Ukraine resume coal supplies to Ukraine
• Belarus: Belarus expects gas price reduction of $10 per mcm in Q1 2016, talks remain ongoing
• Asia: Gazprom and CNPC sign agreement on design and construction of cross-border section of ‘Power of Siberia’ pipeline and plan for construction of gas-fired power plants in China; Gazprom to propose ‘third route’ to China by July 2016; Gazprom may purchase gas from other suppliers to meet its Chinese commitments
• Other: Oil prices continue to fall as Brent Crude reaches lowest price since 2004, hitting Gazprom’s oil-indexed long-term contracts

• December 31, 2015