The United States intends to cut funding for assistance programs in most countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia, under the new budget proposed by the Obama administration on February 14. READ MORE

The Group of Companies Plans to Increase Supplies of More Expensive Gas. READ MORE

The establishment of a national industrial complex, competitive in both domestic and overseas markets, is the top goal of the Kazakhstan's national atomic company, Kazatomprom, the country's operator for production, import and export of uranium, rare metals, nuclear fuel, power plants, special equipment and dual-purpose materials. READ MORE

The EU is struggling to speak with one voice following a massive loss of life in Libya over the weekend and the regime's vow to fight protesters to the "to the last bullet. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has spoken of her "extreme concern," while Rome does not want to "disturb" strongman Moammar Gaddafi and Prague has warned of a "catastrophe" if he falls. READ MORE

The three-day state visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao completed. READ MORE

Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, paid a four-day state visit to Iran starting on February 13, to discuss ways to further bilateral cooperation. The sheer frequency of such high level mutual visits between the two countries in recent years indicates the growing multi-dimensional ties between Ankara and Tehran. Coupled with the convergence of both countries’ positions on many regional problems, the Turkish-Iranian cooperative relationship in economic and political affairs has been one of the most constant elements in the emerging Middle Eastern geopolitical map which is often fluid and full of uncertainties. READ MORE

Alexei Miller has to champion natural gas, while playing down price pressure from alternative supplies, says Sarah Arnott. READ MORE

Analyst Reva Bhalla examines Libya’s spreading unrest and the threat of civil war. READ MORE

All revolutions have their own distinct trajectories, and any attempt to locate what is happening in the Middle East within the framework of what has gone before will get us only so far. READ MORE

A line of 150 trucks waits to enter Kazakhstan. It takes so long to clear customs here that each rig usually only makes two round trips a month. And yet, contrary to appearances, documentary discrepancies suggest the checkpoint is a smuggler’s paradise. READ MORE