US US President George W. Bush has taken responsibility for the first time for the government's slow reaction to the Hurricane Katrina disaster which has badly hit the standing of his administration. US New Orleans' airport was to reopen for commercial flights in a small but significant step towards recovery for the still-largely flooded city paralysed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. UN New York has gone into security gridlock with 170 world leaders descending on the city for this week's UN summit and general assembly which marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the world body. US-Syria-Iraq US President George W. Bush warned Syria that it faces growing isolation because of its failure to stop foreign fighters entering Iraq. US-Iraq Iraq hopes to be able to replace some US troops deployed there by the end of next year, the country's president said at a press conference held at the White House. Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi set out to chart a new course for Japan, tightening his grip over his own party after voters gave him an overwhelming mandate for economic and social change. Indonesia An Indonesian Islamic militant vowed revenge after he was sentenced to death for plotting a deadly bombing at the Australian embassy. NKorea North Korea vowed to keep pushing for the right to peaceful atomic energy, putting it on a collision course with the United States as six-way talks on its nuclear weapons drive resumed. Italy-Britain Italy's highest appeals court granted Britain's request to extradite London bombing suspect Hamdi Issac, a lawyer acting for the British government said. Norway Oil-rich Norway swung to the left after the opposition won an absolute parliamentary majority by vowing to spend more on education, health and welfare.