San Francisco  - Apple unveiled its proposed new software for its genre-defining iPhone Tuesday and gave acolytes of the world's most popular smartphone the feature they most wanted: the ability to cut and paste text and pictures on the device.

Lack of the cut and paste facility had been one of the main drawbacks of the device, compared to competitors like the Blackberry.

Indian Wells, California  - The women's WTA is well-placed to withstand the current world economic downturn with major sponsors all healthy, though boss Larry Scott says he expects no growth in tournament revenues this year.

"We are fully sponsored, they've not gone away. We're doing better than a lot of other sports," said the CEO during a visit to the Indian Wells Masters on Tuesday. "There is anecdotal evidence that entertainment and sport do not suffer so much in a recession.

"People don't want to give up their diversions."

Mexico City  - Twelve people died and 14 others were injured in northern Mexico when the tourist bus they were travelling in crashed with a truck.

The Mexican daily Reforma reported Tuesday that there were 11 US citizens among those killed in the crash, which happened late Monday near the city of Saltillo, in the state of Coahuila. The bus driver, a Mexican, was also killed.

Prague - The Czech government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek Tuesday withdrew Czech-US missile defence treaties from Parliament's lower house in a move that prevents the chamber from striking them down.

"It does not mean that we would give up on the ratification process," Topolanek said at a briefing televised on the CT24 news channel, adding that the cabinet may re-submit the treaties to the house at any time.

Washington - The was widely expected to keep interest rates steady in the range of zero to 0.25 per cent when it releases its periodic decision on Wednesday.

The Federal Open Market Committee, which began meeting on Tuesday, is to announce its decision at 1815 GMT Wednesday.

The central bank has been working to revive borrowing and stabilize the financial system amid a serious ongoing recession in the United States, which has cascaded into foreign markets.

The bank could also expand its purchases of asset-backed securities and treasury bills with an ultimate goal of freeing up more credit lines.

Washington  - North Korea has informed the United States that it no longer wants to receive food shipments as tensions grow over the stalled nuclear negotiations and Pyongyang's plans to launch a rocket next month.

US State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Tuesday North Korea did not provide a reason for cutting off the aid, but added that Washington regrets the decision.

"This was a program intended to try to help get food to needy North Koreans," Wood said. "And we're obviously disappointed in that."