Iran is working with southern secessionists in Yemen to expand its influence and destabilize the strategic region around the Straits of Hormuz, the U.S. envoy to Yemen was quoted as saying, Reuters reported.

• January 14, 2013

Iran, Iraq, and Syria have signed an agreement to expand cooperation through boosting transit of goods through joint borders, the Fars News Agency quoted Iranian Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Shahryar Afandizadeh as saying.

• January 14, 2013

Worried about dependence on pricier gas from Iran and Russia, Turkey is turning to its own coal. The country signed a deal with a United Arab Emirates company that will boost its coal-fired power capacity 67 percent.

• January 14, 2013

Russia has called for political transition in Syria but reiterated that Syrians themselves should decide about the future of their country without outside interference.

• January 12, 2013

Reclusive Turkmenistan will launch a privatisation of state-held assets in its tightly regulated economy in coming months but looks set to keep control of the vital oil and gas industry, officials said on Saturday

• January 12, 2013

Tension continued to simmer and prevail along the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan. The military activity has been increased mainly in Kashmir and Jammu, APA reports citing RIA Novosti.

• January 12, 2013

Japan is planning to increase its defense budget this year for the first time in 11 years, the Defense Ministry's revised budget request showed on Friday, amid a bitter territorial dispute with China.

• January 11, 2013

Russian and U.S. diplomats plan to hold a meeting with the international mediator for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, on Friday in Geneva, Interfax news agency cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying on Wednesday.

• January 11, 2013