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India's space agency has abandoned its inaugural moon mission a day after scientists lost communication with the orbiting Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft. The unmanned craft was launched last October in what was billed as a two-year mission of exploration. The launch was seen as a major step for India as it seeks to keep pace with other space-faring Asian nations. Despite the termination of the mission, Isro chief G Madhavan Nair told reporters that the project was a great success and 95% of its objectives had been completed. Isro scientists said the agency was in talks with the US and Russia to track the spacecraft, which was orbiting 200km from the surface of the moon. Following its launch from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh last October, it was hoped the robotic probe would orbit the Moon, compile a three-dimensional atlas of the lunar surface and map the distribution of elements and minerals.

A US general in Afghanistan has called for a revised military strategy, suggesting the current one is failing. In a strategic assessment, Gen Stanley McChrystal said that, while the Afghan situation was serious, success was still achievable. The report has yet not been published, but sources say Gen McChrystal sees protecting the Afghan people against the Taliban as the top priority. The report does not carry a direct call for increasing troop numbers. Copies of the document have been sent to Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. The report came as further results from last week's presidential election were expected to be released, at 1230 GMT. President Hamid Karzai is leading so far. The independent Electoral Complaints Commission says that of more than 2,100 allegations of wrongdoing during voting and vote-counting, 618 have been deemed serious enough to affect the election's outcome, if proven.

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has urged Zimbabwe's political rivals to work together if they are to see foreign aid restored. He said the power-sharing government must fully implement its agreement to "create confidence". He was speaking after holding talks with President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare. Mr Tsvangirai's MDC party accuses Mr Mugabe of acting in bad faith and donors remain dubious. The former opposition Movement for Democratic Change says its activists continue to be harassed even after it joined the government in February. It also complains that it has not been consulted about key appointments, including the central bank governor and the attorney-general.