Two explosions targeting a busy market area in northeast Nigeria are feared to have left as many as 10 dead, reports say.

Kiev puts its army on full alert after Russia approves the deployment of troops in Ukraine, amid growing alarm from international leaders.

Prison officials in Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar have been tricked into releasing a dozen Taliban fighters.

Chinese authorities blame separatists from the north-western Xinjiang region for a knife attack at a railway station in Kunming that left 29 people dead.

Lupita Nyong'o wins an Independent Spirit award for her debut movie role in 12 Years a Slave, one of five prizes for the film on the eve of the Oscars.

The final countdown to the Oscars begins, with Gravity expected to scoop multiple awards at Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles.

Myanmar allows Medecins Sans Frontieres to resume its work in the country except in Rakhine state, two days after suspending the aid agency.

Poor turnout is reported in elections in five Thai provinces unable to hold polls in last month's election because of anti-government protests.