US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have agreed that Washington and Moscow are close to reaching agreement on a new nuclear disarmament treaty, said the Kremlin.

H1N1 influenza pandemic claims at least 16,713 lives worldwide since the virus was first detected in Mexico and the US last April, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

Thai Prime Minister Vejjaiva Abhisit has called on people to keep calm as red-shirt supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are converging on Bangkok for a mass rally scheduled for March 14.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) could increase their annual trade to US$30-40 billion in the coming years from just US$10 billion last year, said newly appointed RoK ambassador to Russia Li Yun Ho.

A suicide bomber in a rickshaw at a security checkpoint in north-west Pakistan has killed at least 10 people and injured other 34, police say.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on March 12 that Israel's new settlement plan in disputed territory in East Jerusalem was "insulting" to the United States.

Two terrorists were killed in a March 12 attack against a police outpost in Leubeum, in the Indonesian northernmost province of Aceh, said local TV station report.

At least 45 people were killed and 100 others were injured in twin suicide bomb attacks in Pakistani city of Lahore on March 12, said officials.

Thailand’s authorities on March 11 began deployment of 50,000 troops on the streets of Bangkok ahead of anti-government demonstrations that may cause violence.

Prospects for indirect peace talks lay in tatters on March 11 after the Palestinians said they would not negotiate with Israel unless it reversed plans to build 1,600 settler homes in east Jerusalem.