Ukraine is trying to ease pressure on state finances by reducing gas import volumes, government officials indicated on Wednesday, as it becomes increasingly pessimistic about getting Russia to cut the price of its gas supplies.

• January 11, 2012

Does this apparent inconsistency reflect diverging priorities within the upper echelons of the country's leadership? Or are both moves part of a complex and far-reaching strategy focused on winning back control over Nagorno-Karabakh?

• January 11, 2012

"Latvia is interested in overcoming the crisis in the EU and the development of united and strong Europe and national states. Therefore the country must continue to implement its measures – responsible economic and fiscal policies, and be able to quickly react to potentially changeable situations, for example – Lisbon Treaty amendments," states the report.

• January 10, 2012

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao have said that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is paramount and agreed to continue cooperating closely.

• January 10, 2012

Claiming that a great deal of uncertainty hangs over the contemporary security/strategic environment in the Middle East is neither a novel statement nor an exaggeration. Although it is commonly acknowledged that the regional politics will have a stronger Islamic flavour in the years ahead, it is not at all clear how various Islamic parties will conduct themselves once in government, and how their political activism will affect extremist groups in the region and beyond.

• January 10, 2012

Downplaying recent irritants in bilateral ties, India Monday sought closer collaboration with China to combat the global economic slowdown and to work jointly on international issues ranging from terrorism to climate change to shape a new world order.

• January 9, 2012

The presidents of South Korea and China agreed Monday to work together to achieve peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, in their first summit since Kim Jong Il's death opened the chance for major changes in North Korea.

• January 9, 2012

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have turned down Pakistan's request to supply oil on long-term credit despite the rhetoric of long-standing and brotherly ties between the countries, according to a media report today.

• January 9, 2012