As Syrian dictator Bashar Assad continues his slaughter, the issue is not whether more forceful U.S. action to stop him is risk-free.

• April 27, 2012

Iran is preparing public opinion for possible concessions on its nuclear programme in renewed talks with six world powers.

• April 27, 2012

Azerbaijani ambassador to Tajikistan Abbasali Hasanov has presented his credentials to President Emomali Rahmon.

• April 26, 2012

As the world's major emerging economies, China and Russia will continue to deepen bilateral cooperation to promote common development, Zhong Shan, vice minister of commerce, wrote in an article to be published Friday by the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

• April 26, 2012

Iran is thinking of halting its nuclear programme to avoid EU sanctions that will make it impossible to export most of its oil. Responding to a proposal by Russia to halt its nuclear programme in exchange for no imposition of sanctions, Iranian ambassador to Russia Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said: "We need to study this proposal and to establish on what basis it has been made."

• April 26, 2012

The governments of Tajikistan and Russia signed a cooperation agreement on Tuesday, the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

• April 24, 2012

Today in Baku Industry and Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Natig Aliyev has reported that Trans Caspian Gas Pipeline will be a separate system- it will not connect either to Shah Deniz infrastructure or any other infrastructure.

• April 24, 2012

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Finnish counterpart Jyrki Tapani Katainen said at their meeting today at Stenbock House that Estonian-Finnish relations are very good and cooperation is close, the government's press service reported.

• April 24, 2012