The US treasury department has eased sanctions on Iran, Cuba and Sudan to help further the use of web services and support opposition groups.

A strong earthquake has struck eastern Turkey, killing at least 57 people, officials have said.

At least 11 people are reported to have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, police say.

Kathryn Bigelow has become the first woman to win the best directing Oscar, as her Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker took six prizes including best film.

At least 100 people are said to have been killed in suspected religious clashes near the central Nigerian city of Jos.

American International Group (AIG) was closing in on a deal on March 7 to sell its foreign life insurance unit to MetLife Inc for more than US$15 billion in cash and stock, leaving it with a substantial minority stake in MetLife, sources familiar with the matter said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised British troops 200 new patrol vehicles that can resist roadside bombs more effectively during an unannounced visit on March 6 to southern Afghanistan.

Three people were killed when a parked car rigged with explosives blew up on March 6 in Najaf on the eve of parliamentary elections, the Interior Ministry said.

The current president of Togo has won re-election, electoral authorities say.

A strong earthquake with magnitude 6.5 struck on March 5 night in the ocean southwest of Sumatra in Indonesia, the US Geological Survey said.