Conventional Western public opinion regards the war in Afghanistan as a struggle between NATO and extremist Islamic militants. Since assuming office Barack Obama has redefined the conflict by calling it the Af-Pak war.

• 15 March 2010

South East Asian nations are ramping up their military capacity in a move that could destabilise the region, a report says.

• 15 March 2010

Russia and the US are close to concluding a new nuclear disarmament treaty, officials in Washington and Moscow say.

• 14 March 2010

Panic is sparked in Georgia after a bogus TV news report says Russian tanks have invaded and the country's president was dead.

• 14 March 2010

Denmark and Norway into a new gold rush - and global warming sceptics are distracting the US from security risks Expected melting of summer sea ice in the Arctic Ocean means greatly expanded access to increasingly scarce fossil fuels. Image Credit: Gulf

• 13 March 2010

BRUSSELS - NATO warplanes will fly training missions over the Baltic states this month in a show of solidarity with former Soviet republics concerned about Russia. The March 17 exercises will involve French, Polish and Lithuanian aircraft, a NATO

• 13 March 2010

Russia's state-owned nuclear company says the country will build at least 12 nuclear reactors in India.

• 12 March 2010

Russian Federation Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has expressed concern over terror groups operating from within Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• 12 March 2010