In the short term, construction of ship repair and construction plant in the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi is planned, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported.

• January 19, 2013

China's economy grew at its slowest pace in 13 years in 2012, though a year-end spurt supported by infrastructure spending and a jump in trade signaled the foundation for the stable growth path Beijing says is vital for economic reform may be in sight.

• January 18, 2013

Kazakhstan can become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013, Prime news agency quoted WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy as saying on Thursday.

• January 17, 2013

Lately, Iranian media has been covering the latest achievements of the defense industry of the country. Iran has recently completed Navy military exercises "Velayat-91" and "Great Prophet-7." The Iranian Navy and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) successfully tested new military devices.

• January 17, 2013

Russia says it is working hard to firm up plans for a new round of talks between global powers and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme, which the West suspects is aimed at developing nuclear weapons capability.

• January 17, 2013

Turkey has announced a tender among companies importing electricity in the country to increase the electricity supply from Iran by existing available electric power facilities, the statement published on the website of Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) said.

• January 16, 2013

The United States sent its top Asian diplomacy and security officials to South Korea and Japan to calm tensions between two U.S. allies whose squabbling has frustrated efforts to deal with a troublesome North Korea and an increasingly assertive China.

• January 15, 2013

Iran is working with southern secessionists in Yemen to expand its influence and destabilize the strategic region around the Straits of Hormuz, the U.S. envoy to Yemen was quoted as saying, Reuters reported.

• January 14, 2013