Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told CNN television Russia would deploy nuclear weapons and "strike forces" if it were shut out of a Western missile shield, adding punch to a warning from President Dmitry Medvedev.

A powerful earthquake struck waters off Papua New Guinea on November 2, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

US Undersecretary of State William Burns said on December 1 that there is still time for diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear program.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said on December 1 Iran's essential questions should be answered in the upcoming talks with the five UN Security Council permanent members and Germany (G5+1), the official IRNA news agency reported.

Afghanistan announced on December 1 the final batch of results from a September 18 parliamentary election, with poll organizers aiming to wrap up a vote marred by widespread fraud and pave the way for a new parliament.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on November 30 denied recent reports that Thai military had withdrawn from Preah Vihear Temple's surrounding areas in preparation for the reopening of the temple's border crossing this coming weekend.

The Bank of America dismissed speculation on November 29 that it is the "big US bank" that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Forbes magazine will be the website's next target.

At least seven miners were trapped in a flooded colliery in Xiangtan City in central China's Hunan Province, said local authorities early morning on December 1.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) claimed on November 30 that it is has "thousands of centrifuges" working to create nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

President Dmitry Medvedev warned on November 30 that a new arms race would erupt within the next decade unless Russia and the West forged an agreement to cooperate on building a missile defense system.