Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed the need at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the issue of Turkmenistan's joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Turkmen government said today.

• January 19, 2013

In the short term, construction of ship repair and construction plant in the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi is planned, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported.

• January 19, 2013

U.N. inspectors failed again in talks in Tehran this week to secure a breakthrough deal on Iran's atomic activity in a setback for diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear dispute with the Islamic state peacefully.

• January 18, 2013

China's economy grew at its slowest pace in 13 years in 2012, though a year-end spurt supported by infrastructure spending and a jump in trade signaled the foundation for the stable growth path Beijing says is vital for economic reform may be in sight.

• January 18, 2013

Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan would not mind hosting a Russian radar station on its territory, News-Armenia reported.

• January 18, 2013

Kazakhstan can become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013, Prime news agency quoted WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy as saying on Thursday.

• January 17, 2013

Lately, Iranian media has been covering the latest achievements of the defense industry of the country. Iran has recently completed Navy military exercises "Velayat-91" and "Great Prophet-7." The Iranian Navy and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) successfully tested new military devices.

• January 17, 2013

Russia says it is working hard to firm up plans for a new round of talks between global powers and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme, which the West suspects is aimed at developing nuclear weapons capability.

• January 17, 2013