Russia and China refuse to discuss possible new sanctions against Iran until the UN nuclear agency reports on Tehran’s answers to a series of questions about its past nuclear work at the end of the year, France’s Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.

Oil and other petroleum futures surged amid supply concerns sparked by a decline in crude inventories at a key Oklahoma terminal.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad has pledged 1 billion dollars for the development of Bolivia’s economy.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has apologized to his Iranian counterpart over a media “misportrayal” of his recent warning about bracing for war with Iran over its nuclear program.

The leaders of Iran and Venezuela cemented an alliance aimed at countering imperialism while the Iranian president said he is pleased with a new ally in Bolivia and declared that together, “no one can defeat us.”

A tender was held for the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project, also known as the “Iron Silk Road,” in Ankara on Sept. 20. The railway will provide a direct connection between Turkey and Georgia, from where the line will also extend to Azerbaijan, Central Asia, China and Mongolia.

By 2012, a nuclear reactor will be launched in Azerbaijan between the cities of Baku and Sumgait, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Makhmud Kerimov told reporters today.

Recently the British Financial Times reviewed the reasons for the low voter turnout in elections in Egypt, Algeria and Morocco (Sept. 12, 2007).The report referred to many reasons for the indifference to political participation, but the major reason, the paper argues, seems to be the popular belief that the views …

Turkey will sign a $3 billion energy accord with Iran next month, ignoring U.S. warnings to abondon the deal because of international sanctions against Iran for its nuclear research and advises to seek alternatives such as agreeing with other regional suppliers including Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. “Turkey is proceeding with plans …

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (AFP) – Negotiators were in touch Friday with the captors of four Red Cross workers, two of them foreigners, who were held in Afghanistan during a mission to free a German kidnapped by the Taliban.Contact had been made with the group that seized the men on Wednesday in …