International news in brief: Iran asks for nuclear fuel in return for ceasing activities

Iran would consider ending uranium enrichment, the most crucial part of its controversial nuclear activities, if world powers send Tehran nuclear fuel for a medical research reactor, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.

Iran was also prepared to set a date for resumption of talks with six world powers to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme, Ahmadinejad told a news conference in New York, saying October would be the likely time for that.

Ahmadinejad also defended his remarks at the UN earlier this week in which he claimed most people in the world believe the US was behind the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and again challenged the UN to set up a commission to probe the attacks.

Ahmadinejad said Iran had no interest in enriching uranium from around 3.5 per cent to 20 per cent purity but was forced to do so after the world powers refused to provide nuclear fuel that is needed for a Tehran reactor that produces medical isotopes.

That level is far below the more than 90% purity needed to build a nuclear weapon, but US officials have expressed concern Iran may be moving closer to weapons-grade level.

IRINA Risenson of Israel performs with a ball during the individual competition final at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Moscow.

David Beckham is suing a magazine on the grounds it knowingly published false claims about his private life.

A lawsuit suit filed on Friday accuses Delaware-based Bauer Publishing Company LP and its affiliates of libel, slander and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Rescuers succeeded in saving 14 whales stranded on a remote New Zealand beach.

A total of 24 whales were transported 30 miles to more sheltered water to be refloated. Several died.

Three boats and two jet skis were used to herd the whales out to sea.

The head of the Commonwealth Games said a lot of work was done in recent days to get facilities ready for the upcoming event but more was still needed.

Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell rushed to India earlier this week after teams complained the athletes' village was filthy and other infrastructure needed work before the games open October 3.

Mr Fennell said India has done much work to resolve the problems in recent days.

A RUSSIAN Soyuz capsule carrying three astronauts back from a six-month mission on the International Space Station touched down safely in Kazakhstan.

Today's return to earth of American astronaut Tracy Caldwell-Dyson and Russia's Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail Kornienko had been delayed by a day.

Place: A fire raged through a Brazilian slum, destroying more than 300 homes.

Residents of the Real Parque neighbourhood in Sao Paulo were frantically using buckets of water in an attempt to douse the flames.

Peru: Police said hundreds of student protesters toppled a perimeter wall at an airport in Cuzco, the gateway to the Inca ruins Machu Picchu, prompting flight suspensions and cancellations that stranded about 500 tourists.