Russian immigration officials say they have not received an application from Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency leaker who wants to get asylum in Russia.

Radioactive metal has been found in the luggage of a passenger bound for Iran, Russian customs agents said today.

Eleven people have died in a blast on a bus after passengers attempted to cook food using a gas cylinder.

Saudi security forces have taken positions around a hijacked Russian plane as negotiations resume to end a stand-off with Chechen hijackers.