By Mark Bendeich

(Reuters) – Western trade sanctions against Iran have begun to strangle its oil exports, a U.S. advisory body said, amid signs the squeeze on Tehran is only set to intensify and could push global crude prices higher unless Washington eases its grip.

With crude prices trading at around 10-month highs and limited spare production capacity world-wide to make up for the embargo on Iran, the United States may seek to offer Iran’s major trade partners more room to move on sanctions.

By Mark Bendeich

(Reuters) – North Korea’s neighbors and its old enemy, the United States, appealed for stability on Monday after the death of the totalitarian state’s leader, Kim Jong-il, plunged one of the world’s most heavily militarized regions into fresh uncertainty.

Kim suffered a heart attack while travelling on a train, North Korean state media said, setting up the autocratic, well-armed and nuclear-ambitious state for only its second leadership change since the Korean war ended in an uneasy truce in 1953.

SYDNEY/PARIS/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – The beauty of Apple products secured Steve Jobs a place in history long before his death, but design professionals said the depth of his influence on their profession goes much deeper than the minimalist look of an iPhone.

The Mac and the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad, born out of his vision of marrying high technology with an elegant and simple form, are already recognized as iconic products of the digital age.

SYDNEY/PARIS, Oct 6 (Reuters) – Even before he died, Steve
Jobs had secured his place in the pantheon of industrial design
and as one of its most influential figures of the last century.

The Mac, the iPod and iPhone, born out of his vision of
marrying high technology to an elegant and simple form, are
already recognised by designers as among the most iconic
products of the digital age.

SYDNEY/LONDON (Reuters) – Global miner Rio Tinto (RIO.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) missed forecasts on Thursday despite a record first-half profit, as escalating costs and currency movements blunted the effect of robust metals prices.

Booming iron ore sales to China and strong prices offset weaker volumes and propelled underlying profit 35 percent higher to $7.8 billion. The group also expanded its closely watched share buyback program by $2 billion.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – An 11th-hour deal to resolve the U.S. debt crisis may avert the superpower’s first-ever default and restore some confidence in the dollar, but it faces the risk of a costly credit downgrade, investors and economists said.

Japan welcomed news that late on Sunday, the White House and Republican and Democrat leaders agreed on a plan to raise the U.S. borrowing limit and avoid a catastrophic default, buoying the dollar and share markets.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s opposition claimed the upper hand on Tuesday in its bid to form a government, as counting from this month’s inconclusive election gave it more votes and parliamentary seats than the ruling Labor party.

Neither the conservative opposition nor Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s Labor Party won a clear majority at the Aug. 21 election. Both are now locked in a race to secure enough support from independent MPs to form a minority government.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s opposition claimed the upper hand on Tuesday in its bid to form a government, as counting from this month’s inconclusive election gave it more votes and parliamentary seats than the ruling Labor party.

Neither the conservative opposition nor Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s Labor Party won a clear majority at the August 21 election. Both are now locked in a race to secure enough support from independent MPs to form a minority government.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – An independent Australian lawmaker voiced hopes on Sunday for a new government within a week, as pressure mounted on cross-bench MPs to back one of the two major political parties to form a minority government.

Neither the ruling Labor party nor the conservative opposition won a majority at Aug. 21 elections, which delivered the nation’s first hung parliament in 70 years and put the fate of government in the hands of four independents and one Green MP.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – An independent Australian lawmaker voiced hopes on Sunday for a new government within a week, as pressure mounted on cross-bench MPs to back one of the two major political parties to form a minority government.

Neither the ruling Labour party nor the conservative opposition won a majority at August 21 elections, which delivered the nation’s first hung parliament in 70 years and put the fate of government in the hands of four independents and one Green MP.