Iran has `not responded positively` to nuclear offer
Major world powers expressed disappointment Friday that Iran has "not responded positively" to a plan for resolving the standoff over its nuclear programme or agreed to new talks.

Floods devastate UK Lake District; much of Ireland
A British police officer was swept to his death Friday as raging floods engulfed northern England`s picturesque Lake District following the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Britain.

Outlook for tough Iran sanctions is dim: Report
The Obama administration is shifting the focus of its Iran policy from talk to sanctions, but the prospect of winning early international support for toughened new penalties appears dim.

Iran to launch satellite on its own by late 2011
Iran plans to launch a communications satellite by late 2011 with no outside help, a top Iranian official said on Friday, after Italy and Russia declined to put it into orbit.

White House at odds with bishops over abortion
The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama`s health care overhaul.

Govt reviewing costly post-9/11 air defense system
The government is to review an air defense system established after the September 11, 2001 attacks to determine whether the costly program is still necessary, the New York Times reported Friday.

Abbas confirms Palestinian vote to be postponed
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said presidential and legislative elections scheduled for January will be postponed, confirming that he has accepted advice not to hold the vote.

Masked gunman kills Russian priest at Moscow church
A masked gunman entered a church and murdered a Russian Orthodox priest who had received death threats for converting Muslims to Christianity and criticising Islam, prosecutors and church officials said on Friday.

US seeks release of geologist in China secrets case
The United States is seeking the release of an American citizen detained in Beijing for two years, in a case similar to the detentions of Rio Tinto staff which launched an international debate over China`s secrets laws.

IAEA chief hopes for Iran fuel deal by year-end
The chief of the United Nations` nuclear watchdog said on Friday he hoped for an agreement with Iran on an offer to send enriched uranium abroad for further processing before the end of the year.

Abbas confirms Palestinian vote to be postponed
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said Presidential and Legislative Elections scheduled for January will be postponed, confirming that he has accepted advice not to hold the vote.

5000 children under 5 die in India everyday: UNICEF
Despite an improvement in child mortality figures, 5,000 children under the age of five die in India everyday due to preventable causes, according to a latest UNICEF report.

Romanians to elect new president amid economic crisis
Romanians go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president amid severe economic and political crisis.

‘Radicalisation to violence is taking place in US’
In view of the spate of arrests of home-grown extremists and busting of terror plots inside the country, a top New York police official said that the "radicalisation to violence" is now taking place in the United States.

China vows to punish H1N1 death cover-ups
China has promised severe punishment for officials caught concealing deaths from H1N1 swine flu after a medical expert said suspect cases may have been held back by local governments.