In a sign of mounting Russian pressure on Ukraine to share its pipeline network, Gazprom's chief executive has warned that procrastination in talks would result in a bad deal for Kyiv as construction of a competing pipeline would lead to a price slump.

• January 3, 2012

NATO hopes for a quick reopening of blocked supply routes through Pakistan because the 5-week closure is damaging the economies of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, an alliance officer said Monday.

• January 2, 2012

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

• December 29, 2011

Russia's gas export monopoly Gazprom will not abandon its plans to implement the South Stream gas pipeline project, even if it reaches agreement with Ukraine on operating its gas transportation system, Gazprom export head Alexander Medvedev said on Wednesday.

• December 28, 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

Tens of thousands of people rally in Moscow and other Russian cities, sending a defiant message to the Kremlin after allegedly rigged elections.

• December 24, 2011

The ruling camp will go down simply because it has failed to instil confidence among the common people

• December 24, 2011