Oil strikes two-year high; soya scores record high
Oil prices hit two-month highs this week, driven by Federal Reserve stimulus hopes and Middle East unrest, while soyabeans soared to a record high as US supplies were hit by drought.
Syria rebels seize Iraq border as UN action blocked
Rebels seized control of Syria's border crossings with Iraq on the bloodiest day of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, as China and Russia dismayed the West by blocking UN action against his regime.
Annan, Ban call on UN Council to act on Syria
UN chief Ban Ki-moon and international envoy Kofi Annan called on the UN Security Council to take strong action on the Syria conflict ahead of a vote Thursday on a western-backed resolution calling for sanctions.
Rebels battle to 'liberate' Syria capital
Rebels declared the battle to "liberate" Damascus has begun as heavy fighting raged across the city on Tuesday and Russia said an agreement is possible for a UN resolution on the Syria crisis.
Assad will use chemical weapons: top defector
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will use chemical weapons against opposition forces and may have already deployed them, Nawaf Fares.
Damascus rocked by 'most intense' fighting of revolt
Syria's army blasted rebel strongholds in Damascus with mortars Sunday, sparking the "most intense" fighting in the capital since the revolt erupted 16 months ago.
Pregnant woman among 5 dead in Syria's Homs: NGO
Shelling and fighting in the central Syrian province of Homs killed at least five people on Saturday, including a pregnant woman and two rebels.
Cholera outbreak in northern Mali kills two
Two people have died and 26 others have been infected by an outbreak of cholera in the city of Gao, northern Mali, a region occupied by hardline Islamist groups.
Natural riches at heart of Myanmar civil war
Poring over pictures of bullet-riddled bodies and charred villages, peace mediators say Myanmar's far north is writhing in the grip of a "resource war" with no end in sight.
State of emergency lifted in Zhanaozen
The state of emergency has been lifted in Zhanaozen at 7:00 a.m. on January 31.
Zhanaozen policemen promise to quit if their colleagues are convicted
Zhanaozen policemen are promising to quit if their three colleagues are convicted for abuse of power during clashes on December 16.
MPs convinced striking workers of West Europe - West China road to go back to work
200 workers involved in construction of West Europe - West China in Kyzylorda oblast stopped their protests and went back to work.
Employment projects for Zhanaozen to be updated
Zhanaozen development was discussed at an extended meeting in Aktau.
Zhanaozen residents will not be re-settled: Akim of Mangistau oblast
Akim of Mangistau oblast told about plans for Zhanaozen.
Zhanaozen residents will get compensated for burnt cars
Zhanaozen residents will get compensated for cars burnt during riots.
Over 1,000 people applied to work in Ozenmunaigas and Karazhanbasmunai
1,308 job applications were received as of January 4.
Classes at Zhanaozen schools and kindergartens to come to normal January 5
Early winter vacation was announced from December 19 to January 4 due to the emergency situation and curfew introduced following the public unrest December 16.
Employment center is accepting residents' applications in Zhanaozen
A special center for acceptance of the residents’ applications has been opened in Zhanaozen.
Over 1,000 people are restoring Zhanaozen
Over 1,000 people are involved in restoration construction works in Zhanaozen.
State of emergency prolonged in Zhanaozen
State of emergency was announced in Zhanaozen on December 17. It was scheduled to last until 7:00 a.m. January 5, 2012.