13 missing after ship sinks off Iranian coast

Tehran, Iran:  An Iranian news agency says a diving support ship has sunk in the Persian Gulf and 13 people, including eight foreigners, are missing.

The semiofficial ISNA news agency said Friday that the vessel, the Koosha 1, went down some 15 miles (25 kilometers) off Iran's coast Thursday afternoon.

Occupy Wall Street-inspired protest closes London's St Paul's Cathedral

London:  St Paul's Cathedral said today it was closing its doors to the public for the first time in modern history because of anti-capitalist demonstrators camped outside the London landmark.

More than 200 activists inspired by the Occupy Wall  Street movement have taken over a paved area in front of the cathedral in the city's financial district since last Saturday to protest against corporate greed and state cutbacks.

Obama announces total Iraq troop withdrawal

Washington:  President Barack Obama on Friday declared an end to the Iraq war, one of the longest and most divisive conflicts in U.S. history, announcing that all American troops would be withdrawn from the country by the end of the year.

Pakistan gets seat on United Nations Security Council as non-permanent member

New York:  A Pakistani diplomat getting a hug from his Indian counterpart - a rare sight given that the two South Asian nuclear rivals have been at war four times. But an uncharacteristic bonhomie was on display on Friday when Pakistan won a seat on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member.

7.6 magnitude earthquake hits South Pacific

Nuku'alofa, Tonga:  A strong earthquake struck far off the South Pacific island nation of Tonga on Friday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude-7.6 quake struck Friday at 1:57 p.m. (1757 GMT) about 541 miles (870 kilometers) south of Nuku'Alofa on Tonga. The quake struck at a depth of 24 miles (39 kilometers).