UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The Middle East Quartet including the United States, Russia, the United Nations and European Union condemned on Friday Israel's plans for new settlement housing in occupied East Jerusalem.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying an announcement about new settlements was "a deeply negative signal" about Israel's approach to US ties.

BERLIN (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI approved in 1980 as bishop of Munich and Freising a priest accused of child sex abuse being given Church accommodation in his diocese for therapy, the diocese said on Friday.

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) - A third blast was heard in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore late Friday, hours after twin suicide attacks killed up to 45 people, police said.

ALMATY (AFP) - At least 25 people have died after two dams burst in southern Kazakhstan causing massive flooding, Almaty regional government spokesman Ilyas Biyakhmetov told AFP on Friday.