Iraq Iraqi election officials plowed through mounds of ballots from the historic referendum on a new constitution, following a strong turnout that drew many Sunni Arabs back into the political process. Iraq President George W. Bush praised Iraqis, and singled out Sunni Arabs, for turning out to vote in a constitutional referendum that he described as a "milestone" for the war-weary country. SAsia The death toll from South Asia's earthquake soared past 53,000 in Pakistan and could rise still far higher as relief workers struggle to reach survivors, the Pakistani Kashmir leader said. Turkey Turkish labs were trying to determine the cause of chicken deaths in eastern regions close to Iran and Syria, as officials played down the possibility of deadly bird flu spreading there after its discovery in the northwest. China Two Chinese astronauts returned safely to Earth, touching down to a hero's welcome as China's second-ever manned space mission marked another step in its drive to becoming a space power. Japan Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made another controversial visit to a war shrine that critics say glorifies Japan's past militarism, infuriating South Korea and risking damage to already strained relations with China. Iran Iran said it would not return to a full freeze of its disputed nuclear activities and voiced confidence it could avoid being referred to the UN Security Council. Iran Military action against Iran is not on anyone's agenda, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said after a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Iran's controversial nuclear programme. Mideast Three Israelis were killed and another four wounded in a drive-by shooting close to the major Gush Etzion Jewish settlement bloc in the southern West Bank. Argentina At least 32 inmates died in a prison riot and subsequent fire that officials said was one of the most tragic in Argentine history. US US scientists say they have devised two new methods of extracting precious embryonic stem cells from mice without destroying their pre-existing ability to generate life, potentially offering a way out of a protracted political stalemate over regenerative medicine. Britain British American Tobacco (BAT), the world's second largest cigarette company, has secretly been operating a factory in North Korea for the past four years, according to a British newspaper report.