Manama, Bahrain - Iran's speaker of parliament Ali Larijani, in an interview published in Bahrain on Wednesday, criticized US policies on the Middle East conflict and the situation in Iraq.

"The West needs to reconsider what they say. The top US diplomat Condoleezza Rice, during the Israeli aggression against Lebanon which lasted 33 days, described the war as 'the birth pangs of a new Middle East'," Larijani was quoted as saying by Al Wasat.

"As a woman who did not try the experience of pregnancy she seems to not have known that a birth needs longer time than that."

Hanoi - Vietnam is isolated from losses linked to toxic US subprime mortgage loans but the global economic crisis they have unleashed is hitting its export markets, government officials said Wednesday.

The Trade and Industry Ministry projected the country would earn 15.7 billion dollars from exports in the fourth quarter, or roughly 5 billion dollars for each remaining month of the year. That figure represents a drop from the recent monthly average of more than 6 billion dollars as demand for key exports drops.

Producers and exporters are reporting that prices of exports such as rubber, coffee, pepper, rice and seafood are falling.

Cairo - The US will not review its policy of isolating Syria because Damascus has not moved far enough to allay US fears over its role in the Middle East, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Welch, said in an interview Wednesday.

Syria's move to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon is "a start" but is not enough to convince Washington to change its policy, Welch told the pan-Arab London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

In mid-October Syria initiated diplomatic ties with Lebanon for the first time since independence 60 years ago.

New Delhi, Oct 22 : The Union government has said that it has asked Colombo to ensure that the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka do not get enmeshed in the hostilities and that their safety is not compromised after serious concern were raised over deteriorating humanitarian situation in the island nation.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Lok Sabha today that Colombo has assured New Delhi that the safety and well being of the Tamil community there would be taken care of.

Mumbai, Oct 22 : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has been granted bail till October 24 after a Kalyan court sent him to 14-day judicial custody till November 5 in connection with a case of attack against North Indians.

Meanwhile, the Railway Police is also seeking custody of Raj Thackeray in a case related to destruction of property and have reached the Kalyan court with a warrant in Raj’s name.

London, October 22 : Enrique Iglesias, who was onboard a private plane, had to make an emergency pit stop owing to the plane’s engine trouble.

The Spanish singer, who was his way to Europe for the promotion of his ‘Greatest Hits’ album, reportedly had an air-scare when the jet’s engine ran into trouble and had to make an emergency landing at the Luton Airport in the UK.

The pop icon’s spokesperson reassured fans with an official statement ensuring the safety of the star and others on board.

“Yesterday Enrique Iglesias’s plane made an emergency landing at Luton Airport in the UK,” the Mirror quoted him as saying.