Russian President Vladimir Putin has not made an agreement with Saudi Arabia to scale back support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in exchange for economic incentives including an arms deal, the Kremlin said on Friday.

• August 9, 2013

Four Chinese ships spent more than 24 hours in what Japan sees as its territorial waters, prompting a Japanese protest to China on Thursday at a time when Tokyo has been signaling its desire for a summit.

• August 8, 2013

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will resume peace talks in Jerusalem on August 14, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

• August 8, 2013

The US has criticised a new internet decree in Vietnam that would restrict online users from discussing current affairs.

• August 6, 2013

Iran's President Hassan Rohani says his country is ready to engage in "serious negotiations" with Western nations over the country's disputed nuclear program.

• August 6, 2013

Iran's President Hassan Rohani says his country is ready to engage in "serious negotiations" with Western nations over the country's disputed nuclear program.

• August 6, 2013

The US says it will keep a number of embassies in north Africa and the Middle East closed until Saturday, due to a possible militant threat.

• August 5, 2013

U.S. fugitive Edward Snowden seems assured of a warm welcome in Russia and may even achieve celebrity status in his new home, but history suggests he will no longer be master of his fate and a Moscow exile will bring some difficult challenges.

• August 4, 2013