A speech by High Representative Catherine Ashton in the European Parliament yesterday (1 February) provided a rare insight on talks with Europe's largest neighbour ahead of the Russian presidential elections in March.

• February 2, 2012

Five new ambassadors for Bulgaria's diplomatic service have been formally proposed by the Bulgarian cabinet to President Rosen Plevneliev for approval.

• February 1, 2012

Head of Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky deemed Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement impossible without Russian mediation, suggesting Armenia and Azerbaijan should join Russia as a South Caucasian federal region to resolve the issue.

• February 1, 2012

Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency says a nuclear reactor in suburban Beijing had an accident last October and has stopped operating since then. Chinese authorities did not report the accident.

• February 1, 2012

The Uzbek State Joint Stock Company, Uzbekenergo and Kyrgyz National Electric Network have urged Kazakhstan not to leave the Central Asia united energy system, chairman of the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) board, Bakytzhan Kazhiev said.

• January 31, 2012

Russian-mediated talks between enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan ended with promises to speed up the peace process but no public steps towards signing a roadmap deal, seen as key to a settlement.

• January 31, 2012

Pakistan Textile Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin on Tuesday confirmed that the textile industry in Pakistan is gradually shifting to Bangladesh to seek more profit, while the industry leaders argue that there relocation was because of electricity and gas outages prevailing in Pakistan.

• January 31, 2012

Cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan today held the present leadership of both India and Pakistan responsible for not being able to resolve the Kashmir issue.

• January 30, 2012