RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin’s bid for re-election won unanimously backing from ruling-party delegates at a conference in Moscow today.

United Russia chairman Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister, called on fellow party members to “mobilise all activists and supporters” in support of Mr Putin before the vote scheduled for March 15-17.

SOUTH KOREA: The military said today that it had detected at least one ballistic missile fired by North Korea towards its eastern waters, adding to a torrent of weapons tests in recent months that has raised tensions.