DHAKA- BANGLADESH and Myanmar reinforced troops along the border between the two countries after talks over disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal failed in Yangon, officials said on Saturday.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), a border force, said Myanmar had started reinforcing troops at strategic points along the 320 kilometres border, partly demarcated by the Naf river.

ZAMBOANGA (Philippines) - AL-QAEDA-LINKED militants have freed a nurse they held hostage for four months in the southern Philippines after her family paid a ransom, officials said on Saturday.

Regional police commander Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani said members of the Abu Sayyaf group handed over Ms Preciosa Feliciano late on Friday to provincial authorities on the island province of Basilan near the southern port city of Zamboanga.

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA and Vietnam have signed a deal to link their railways, Cambodia's foreign minister said on Saturday, helping revive long-running plans to link Asia by rail.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said China would help Cambodia with the railroad link to Vietnam, which will cost more than US$500 million (S$748.2 million).