BUSHEHR, Iran – Iran would stop higher-grade enrichment if  it is assured of nuclear fuel supplies for a research reactor,  President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying in a Japanese  newspaper yesterday.

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CANBERRA – Australians go to the polls today with all  signs pointing to the first hung parliament in over half a  century, a prospect that has driven down the dollar and stock  prices as investors fear the resulting uncertainty.

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TOKYO – Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said yesterday his ministry is communicating with other Group of Seven  countries on currencies amid growing concern the strong yen will  further dent Japan’s export-reliant economy.