Almaty: World powers hope Iran will respond positively on Wednesday to their new offer to lift some sanctions if Tehran scales back nuclear activity the West fears could be used to build bombs. But any hopes of a significant easing of the deadlock in the decade-old nuclear dispute were dented when Russian media cited a source close to the talks as saying there had been no clear progress in the discussions in Kazakhstan.

Washington: A 325-meter asteroid that will safely fly by the Earth in 2029 and 2036, may strike the planet in the year 2068, scientists have warned. However, the chances of 99942 Apophis striking the Earth are slim with impact odds being about 2.3 in a million, the article published on NASA's website said.

Luxor (Egypt): An Egyptian security official said at least 19 foreign tourists were killed as their hot air balloon crashed near the famed ancient city of Luxor. The casualties included French, British and other nationals.

ROME: Italy faced political deadlock on Tuesday after a stunning election that saw the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement of comic Beppe Grillo become the strongest party in the country but left no group with a clear majority in parliament.

HAVANA: Raul Castro was re-elected as Cuba's president on Sunday, officially to his last five-year term, with a new regime number two: Council of State Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, official media said.

Washington: As Hyderabad was hit by twin blasts on Thursday, India's top diplomat Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai was in the US outlining terrorism as a significant security challenge. Mathai said that India could face an increased terror threat from Afghanistan in the years ahead. Mathai said that terror is a common challenge and that India-US together in fight.

DHAKA: Bangladesh has launched a crackdown on Internet sites for "hurting religious feelings" in the majority Muslim nation amid protests by Islamic groups against bloggers seen as anti-Islamic, officials said on Thursday.

Giasuddin Ahmed, vice chairman of the country's telecommunications regulator, told AFP at least two websites had been blocked. Authorities had also removed 10 blog posts for "spreading hatred, provoking social disorder and hurting religious feelings of the people".

ISLAMABAD: The ambience at the Polo Lounge is serene and reeks of old money, a lot like its owner, some would say. After all, the fine-dining restaurant is Hina Rabbani Khar's 'baby'. On the menu are steak, prawn and lobster - quite fittingly "foreign" for an eatery owned by Pakistan's foreign minister.

BEIJING/SAN FRANCISCO: A Chinese military unit is believed to be behind a series of hacking attacks, a US computer security company said, prompting a strong denial by China and accusations that it was in fact the victim of US hacking.

DHAKA: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina will make her second visit to India in September, when the two countries will complete the Teesta agreement two years after it was originally scheduled.

Announcing Hasina's visit, foreign minister Salman Khurshid told journalists at the end of his two-day trip that he had also laid the ground for President Pranab Mukherjee's visit in early March.