At least seven people have been killed in the latest round of unrest in Northwest Pakistan amid mounting violence in the nuclear-armed country.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's coalition has retained its narrow lead over the al-Iraqiya slate led by former premier Ayad Allawi as Iraq draws near to the final stage in the preliminary tally of votes in the March 7 parliamentary election.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned a retaliatory rocket attack from Gaza Strip which killed an Israeli civilian, stressing that all acts of violence are “totally unacceptable.”

Moscow and Washington are very close to hammer out a new disarmament deal to replace an old agreement which expired in December.

South African President Jacob Zuma's large ruling party has defeated a vote of no-confidence called by opposition parties over the leader's admission to fathering a love child.