President Barack Obama has a wide lead over potential Republican rivals for the presidential election in 2012, but faces serious doubts about his handling of the U.S. economy, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found on Wednesday.

Philippine authorities on Tuesday accounted for several more deaths in connection with tropical storm Aere, raising the death toll to 22. 

Thailand’s Election Commission has asked police to provide protection for politicians and their supporters during the registration of candidates running in the general election, following an assassination attempt on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung joined other ASEAN leaders to discuss an expanded East Asia Summit (EAS) and measures to strengthen ASEAN’s foreign relations and improve the bloc’s role in the international arena in a retreat meeting in Jakarta , Indonesia on May 8.

Conservation group WWF on Monday urged companies to drop plans to clear Indonesian forest areas where infra-red cameras have captured footage of rare Sumatran tigers and their cubs.

US President Barack Obama pressed Pakistan on Sunday to probe how Osama bin Laden managed to live for years under the noses of its military, saying he must have had some kind of support network.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on May 6 rejected a Thai demand to withdraw troops from Preah Vihear temple at the disputed border area, saying that Bangkok was not serious about peace.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on Friday that Chubu Electric Power Co should halt all operations at its Hamaoka nuclear plant in central Japan, due to worries a strong earthquake could cause another nuclear crisis.

The goal of comprehensive, sustainable and environmentally friendly growth in Asia was an important message delivered at the 44 th annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), that closed in Hanoi on May 6.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said on Wednesday that President Barack Obama has decided not to release photos of Osama bin Laden's corpse.

NATO's chief urged Pakistan on Wednesday to make progress in the battle against terrorism and said the US commando operation that killed Osama bin Laden near Islamabad was justified.

China and the United States will launch their first strategic security dialogue in Washington this month, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said in Beijing on Friday.

Prime Minister of Hamas' Gaza administration on Thursday said his government is ready to resign after a unity deal was reached with rival Fatah movement.

U.S. President Barack Obama laid a wreath at Ground Zero on Thursday in memory of the 9/11 victims, four days after U.S. forces killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

 Asia – Pacific developing countries will continue driving the global economy in 2011, however high food and fuel prices, and volatile capital inflows pose fresh challenges, the United Nations said in its annual regional social and economic report released on May 5th 2011.