Iran’s new president has called on Israel to join an international treaty banning the spread of nuclear weapons, chiding the Jewish state for being the only Middle East nation that has failed to do so.

Egypt’s president Mohammed Morsi has criticised Syria’s “oppressive” regime during a visit to the country’s key ally Iran.

The worst kept secret at the United Nations is that Ban Ki-moon wants a second term as secretary-general and will almost certainly get it, possibly this month.