Iran dismissed the latest United Nations sanctions over its nuclear programme as “annoying flies” and “a used tissue”, after the US and its allies scored a long-sought victory.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton called the proposed new United Nations sanctions against Iran’s suspect nuclear programme the toughest yet.

An Indian warship sank a pirate boat after it refused to stop and be searched in the latest encoutner in the Gulf of Aden where piracy has been described as 'out of control'.

Pirates have hijacked a Thai fishing boat with 16 crew members off the coast of Somalia – the eighth ship seized in the area in the past two weeks.