WASHINGTON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arrived here on Monday and is due to have talks at the White House with U.S. President Barack Obama on the war in Afghanistan and the current world financial crisis.

    The two leaders will discuss effective measures to respond to the global financial crisis, as well as Afghanistan, climate change, nuclear nonproliferation and other issues, according to a statement by the White House.

    Australia, a staunch ally of the United States, has deployed about 1,000 troops in south Afghanistan where Taliban activities are rampant.

    As the Obama administration is trying to curb insurgency in Afghanistan and has ordered 17,000 more U.S. troops to bolster the American military presence there, Obama is widely expected to ask Australia to make more contribution to the Afghan War. 

Obama meets former Soviet leader Gorbachev last week

    WASHINGTON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama met with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev here last Friday, the White House confirmed on Monday.

    The meeting was not on Obama's official daily schedule. As planned, Gorbachev was at the White House for meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.Full story 

U.S., British leaders discuss G20 Summit 

    WASHINGTON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday discussed by telephone with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown the forthcoming G20 economic summit in London, the White House said.

    The two leaders also talked about the situation in Afghanistan and issues of Iran. "The president and the prime minister both agreed that it was an extremely productive conversation, especially in the run-up to their bilateral meeting in London and the G20 Summit," the White House said in a statement. Full story