* US, allies planning Iran sanctions without UN support The United States and its allies are discussing economic sanctions on Iran without the United Nations’ support.

* Europe spends trillions in historic bank rescue EU states on Monday (13 October) outlined the details of a historic state bail-out of Europe’s financial sector.

* France’s War with Jihadis France’s war with the jihadis is more intense than most Americans or even most Europeans would imagine.

* Israel seals off West Bank ahead of Sukkot holiday The holiday of Sukkot, celebrated for seven days, is part of the Jewish high holiday season, which usually falls in the autumn and began this year on September 29 with Rosh Hashana.

* Iraq’s Kurds meet Turkish delegation in Baghdad Iraq’s senior Kurdish leader met with Turkish officials Tuesday in Baghdad, a news agency reported, the first direct talks between the two sides in four years.

* Syria to open embassy in Beirut Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree to set up diplomatic ties with Lebanon and open an embassy.

* Ban confronted Ahmadinejad on speech UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said that he personally confronted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over his address to the UN General Assembly last month.

* Former global leaders in Iran to support Khatami Iran’s reformist ex-president Mohammad Khatami is hosting former UN chief Kofi Annan and other high-level European dignitaries this week.

* EU ministers keep Russian partnership on hold Despite pressure from some EU capitals, the union’s foreign ministers stopped short of resuming talks on a new EU-Russia partnership treaty.

* Iraqi officials to probe attacks on Christians Iraq’s government pledged on Tuesday to send senior officials to northern Iraq to tackle violence against Christians which has led thousands to flee their homes fearing for their lives.