IRAN - Iran, the world's fourth biggest oil producer, may hold back on oil sales if its nuclear programme is referred to the UN Security Council, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.

BALAKOT, PAKISTAN - The death toll from Pakistan's earthquake rose sharply to nearly 40,000, with the president warning the numbers could jump still higher as relief teams reach more villages in the endless folds of the Himalayan mountains.

PAKISTAN - The death toll from a huge earthquake that struck Pakistan, India and Afghanistan has rocketed to 18,000 as rescuers struggle to free victims.

GUATEMALA - Devastating Tropical Storm Stan has killed at least 278 people in Central America and Mexico after lashing the region for days with relentless rain, authorities said on Friday.

PAKISTAN - A massive earthquake rocked South Asia today, causing devastation across a wide area of Pakistan, northern India and Afghanistan.

MALAWI - Famine is once again stalking Africa's poorest nations as new figures released on Friday show that the food crisis in Malawi is much worse than anticipated.

PALO CAMPANA, EL SALVADOR - El Salvador's largest volcano erupted for the first time in a century on Saturday, killing two people and forcing thousands to flee their homes.

BALI, INDONESIA - Three near simultaneous blasts on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, triggered by human bombers, have killed at least 25 people and wounded more than 100, including many foreign tourists.

INDIA - India's economy expanded by 8.1 per cent in the three months to June, beating market forecasts,

TURKEY - Joining the European Union is the great Turkish dream.

USA - The United States has postponed punishing Saudi Arabia, its close ally and key oil supplier, for restricting religious freedom.

VIETNAM - Northern Vietnam was reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Damrey which triggered landslides and flooding that left at least 57 people dead and caused widespread destruction.

LIMA, PERU - A powerful earthquake hit northern Peru late Sunday, causing power outages and cutting phone service throughout much of the region. At least one person was killed, officials said.

GERMANY - Conservative leader Angela Merkel has urged Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's party to enter talks to form a "grand coalition" under her leadership.

NORWAY - The Norwegian opposition party regained power in the oil-rich country's general election yesterday, according to exit polls, after wooing voters with pledges to plough cash into their already generous welfare state system.