IAEA stresses Iran nuclear "dialogue", Tehran defiant
						 
					The U.N. nuclear watchdog signaled on Friday it would keep trying to secure Iran's cooperation with a long-stalled investigation, but a senior Iranian lawmaker suggested Tehran would only cooperate if it won sanctions relief in return. 
 
						Russia Seeks Stronger Security Ties with China
						 
					Russia has repeatedly pledged to boost strategic security cooperation with China. In the past, both sides preferred only to make verbal statements on the matter. But now Moscow and Beijing appeared to pledge actual joint action in connection with issues of strategic security, including the United States’ missile defense plans in Asia. 
 
						Kazakhstan says ready to host Iran and G 5+1 talks
						 
					Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov said that Kazakhstan is ready to host Tehran and Group 5+1 talks, Ria Novosti reported. 
 
						Ukraine Signs Major Shale-Gas Deal
						 
					Ukraine has signed a shale-gas deal with Royal Dutch Shell worth at least $10 billion -- potentially the largest foreign investment ever in the country. 
 
						Kazakhstan and Russia work in Baikonur in normal mode
						 
					Kazakhstan and Russia work in Baikonur cosmodrome in a normal mode, Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov said at the press-conference following a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Yerlan Idrisov. 
 
						Russia, US compete for Indian defense contracts
						 
					While Russia and the United States are engaged in intense competition (often cut-throat, in many areas), they are increasingly locking horns on increasingly familiar turf: lucrative defense deals emanating from India. 
 
						North Korea Vows Nuclear Test and Threatens U.S.
						 
					North Korea vowed on Thursday to launch more long-range rockets and conduct its third nuclear test, saying that it would build a capability to strike the United States in the wake of the United Nations Security Council’s tightened sanctions against the country. 
 
						Russia Sees Superior Military Force and Propaganda as Primary Instruments to Control North Caucasus
						 
In an interview with the newspaper Kommersant published on January 11, the deputy prosecutor general of Russia, Ivan Sydoruk, admitted that despite some successes in countering rebel activities in the North Caucasus, the government still faced serious challenges in the region. 
  |