"Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas submitted his resignation yesterday in a power struggle with Yasser Arafat, dealing a possibly fatal setback for a US-backed plan for peace with Israel. It was not clear whether the resignation would be accepted by Arafat, who is wary of being blamed for a collapse of peacemaking and of Israeli threats to expel him," reported the news Agencies.
"European Union (EU) foreign ministers yesterday denounced the political wing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation following the group's claim of responsibility for a truce-shattering bomb attack in Jerusalem. The decision, long sought by both Israel and the United States, opened the way for the freezing of the group's assets and its leaders being placed on a terrorist blacklist," reported the news Agencies.
"Iran is likely to escape the threat of United Nations sanctions but face more pressure to lift the secrecy around its nuclear programme when the UN's atomic watchdog meets here from tomorrow. The United States hopes to get the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board to pass a resolution urging Teheran to reveal the full extent of its nuclear research to inspectors trying to establish whether it is on the road to developing atomic weapons," reported the AFP news service.
"What used to be the world's longest undefended border has become a major headache for many Canadians trying to enter the United States as Customs officials are calling those with any criminal offence record persona non grata in the United States. After Sept 11, Customs officials zealously applied a law prohibiting any foreign national with even a minor criminal record from entering the country, unless they get a waiver from the US government," reported the AFP news service.
"Five Britons who spent two and a half years in jail in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of a series of bomb attacks were systematically tortured. The five Britons, who were granted clemency last month along with a Canadian and a Belgian, said they were beaten, tortured and deprived of sleep in order to extract confessions. The Saudi embassy here rejected any suggestion that the men were tortured, saying recently that they stayed in air conditioned rooms with regular access to visitors, lawyers, exercise facilities and whatever food they asked for," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Citing shared concerns about North Korea's nuclear weapons programmes and other issues, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States' relations with China are at their highest point in more than 30 years. Powell said on Friday that relations have prospered despite continuing differences with China over such issues as human rights, China's proliferation activities and the continuing absence of political reform in that country," reported the AP news agency.
"A car on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride derailed on Friday, killing one person and leaving another 10 people injured," reported the AFP news service.
"Around 22 million Americans suffer from alcohol and drug abuse or dependence, according to a study published on Friday by US health authorities. According to the study conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services last year, 71.5 million Americans smoke, mostly cigarettes," reported the AFP news service.
"In Wayne, Nebraska, a former florist accused of holding a Texas man captive in the basement of his flower shop for nine days and sexually assaulting him was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison," reported the AP news agency.
"Several women's groups protested on Friday against actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican candidate for governor of California, whom they consider anything but an ally for his past remarks about women," reported the AFP news service.
"Researchers horrified to find they had used a mislabelled bottle in an experiment retracted their findings on Friday, saying they had failed to show the drug Ecstasy can cause a certain pattern of brain damage. They determined that the original bottle had been mislabelled. They noted that the idea remained valid because other studies had shown that Ecstasy users could develop Parkinson's disease-like symptoms," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A schoolboy admitted on Friday to sending a letter apparently containing a deadly poison to Prince William, second in line to the British throne. Paul Smith, 17, also admitted sending a bottle of aromatherapy oil laced with caustic soda to Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie. Appearing in a court here on Friday, Smith admitted sending letters containing a powder which he claimed was either anthrax or ricin to various people and organisations. These included Prince William, the House of Commons, Scotland Yard, the Scottish Parliament, the Home Office and the BBC," reported the AFP news service.
"A driver who was manhandled by a police officer after honking her horn at a car in front of her was awarded US$225,000 by a jury. The jury decided on Friday that police officer Louis Ferraro used excessive force in his 1997 arrest of Kim Lee, who said he handcuffed her and slammed her head on the trunk after she honked at a car stopped at a green light on a busy Miami street," reported the AP news agency.
"Pulverised trees, rooftops and rocks blanketed flooded roads yesterday after the most powerful hurricane to hit Bermuda in 50 years roared into the British territory, leaving four missing and 26,000 homes without power," reported the AP news agency.
"A man suspected of involvement in Northern Ireland's deadliest bombing was arraigned yesterday on charges of conspiring to detonate a dissident Irish Republican Army car bomb and possessing explosive devices used in 13 attacks. Nine police officers escorted a handcuffed Sean Gerard Hoey, 34, into Craigavon Magistrates Court southwest of Belfast to hear the 15 charges against him," reported the AP news agency.
"UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told a British daily yesterday that a fundamental overhaul of the United Nations may be needed as the body struggled to find consensus on the rebuilding of Iraq," reported the news Agencies.
"More British troops were on their way to Iraq yesterday as US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ended his inspection of the war-torn country by admitting the US may have paved the way for the attacks now plaguing its troops by failing to destroy Saddam Hussein's forces. And US President George W. Bush was preparing a major weekend address on his Iraq policy," reported the AFP news service.
"Former British environment minister Michael Meacher accused the US of using the fight against terrorism as a bogus cover for its real aim of dominating the world and controlling its energy supplies. Meacher, one of the longest-serving members of the House of Commons, said in a BBC interview that the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States gave Washington a “comfortable excuse” to seize control of Afghanistan and Iraq," reported the AFP news service.
"Afghan and US-led troops have expanded their hunt for hundreds of Taliban militiamen in southern Afghanistan, after killing scores of rebels in more than a week of heavy fighting," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Followers of a faith steeped in martyrdom, mourning and physical pain, Iraq's Shiite Muslims are still reeling from the assassination of Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, one of their most revered religious leaders. Only when their tears finally dry will they see just what they have lost. Al-Hakim had the rare mix of religious authority and political acumen needed to put the long-oppressed Shiites in control of Iraq," reported the AP news agency.
"Charles Taylor used fear, patronage and state monopolies to control what diplomats and business leaders estimate amounted to 90 percent of Liberia's economy - everything from the imported rice that feeds the country to fortunes in diamonds, timber and lucrative shipping registry fees. Tracking that money, and breaking Taylor's control of what's left, is crucial to rebuilding war-ruined Liberia. But diplomats say Taylor, working the phone from his new villa in exile in the jungles of southern Nigeria, isn't letting go easily," reported the AP news agency.
"Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Qureia emerged as Yasser Arafat's choice to take over as prime minister following the resignation of Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian officials said. While Qureia considered the offer, it remained unclear Monday if Israel would agree to deal with him. Israeli leaders have said they will not negotiate with any new government controlled or hand-picked by Arafat," reported the AP news agency.
"Pressure mounted yesterday for Prime Minister Tony Blair to quit over his part in the suicide of a weapons expert at the heart of a furious row over the government's case for going to war in Iraq. A poll in the Mail on Sunday newspaper showed 43% of people believed Blair should resign over the affair, 42% believed he should stay in office and 15% were undecided," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The figures in the YouGov poll, taken the day after the judicial inquiry into the death of David Kelly adjourned for 10 days to allow Judge Lord Hutton to decided which witnesses to recall for cross examination, were the first to show that more voters are against Blair than for him," reported the Reuters news agency.
"British police staged a mock attack on an underground train in the heart of London yesterday to prepare for what Britain's top policeman has said is an almost inevitable strike on Washington's closest ally," reported the Reuters news agency.
"British troop reinforcements began arriving in Iraq yesterday as US President George W. Bush prepared to seek more international help to stem violence illustrated by a missile attack on a plane at Baghdad airport. Under pressure over his handling of post-war Iraq, Bush was also expected to use a televised address yesterday evening to try to convince Americans they must stay the course. The dangers of occupying Iraq were highlighted again on Saturday, when guerillas fired several missiles at a US transport plane taking off from Baghdad but failed to hit it," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A purported audio tape by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda group vowed attacks on Americans everywhere and so devastating that Washington would forget the horror of the Sept 11 suicide hijackings. The tape, dated Sept 3, came a few days before the second anniversary of the attacks – blamed on al-Qaeda. Washington said last week it was on alert for possible attacks by the militant group," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The second anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks this week looks set to be a low-key affair, reflecting a partial healing of wounds inflicted by the trauma and a switch in focus caused by the war in Iraq. A year later, the tone will be as sombre, but also more private and reflective, with many minds more attuned to the volatile situation in Iraq than to the events that actually triggered the war there," reported the AFP news service.
"Israel promised a fight to the death with Hamas yesterday as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned the radical group's leaders were dead men and a senior official said it wanted to wipe out the whole of the movement. Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Yassin was slightly injured on Saturday in an air strike in Gaza City while meeting with other officials from the hardline organisation. Sharon has to understand that he will pay the price for all his crimes, and the Israeli people will pay a high price as well, Yassin told thousands of supporters," reported the news Agencies.
"Saudi Arabia plans to bill foreign pilgrims to its Islamic holy sites for health services which have been provided free previously. The move comes amid government efforts to reduce public health spending by imposing mandatory health insurance on nationals employed in the private sector with effect from 2006," reported the AFP news service.
"More than 3,000 dogs were paraded through central Berlin on Saturday in a demonstration by owners for more rights and public tolerance. Speakers at the second annual Fiffi Parade called on the local government to set aside larger areas where dogs can roam free without leashes," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Myanmar's junta slammed the United States as irresponsible yesterday, a day after the Red Cross visited Aung San Suu Kyi and refuted Washington's claim that the detained opposition leader was on hunger strike. Myanmar's government permitted the visit – the first by the Red Cross since July 28 – after repeated claims from the United States that she was refusing food amid increasing fears for the diminutive 58-year-old's health," reported the AFP news service.
"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cut short his visit to India to return home a day early after 14 Israelis were killed in suicide bombings. Sharon canceled meetings in Bombay and would depart for Israel later Wednesday. Israel believes the quick trip has been a diplomatic success, though Sharon was unable to finalize a US$1 billion sale of an advanced airborne radar system," reported the AP news agency.
"Asian countries for many years were divided on world trade issues, such as whether to support patent deals or how much they should open their economies. This year, they appear to be closing ranks, united in their opposition to several American and European proposals before a crucial meeting of the World Trade Organization opening Wednesday in Cancun, Mexico. Most Asian countries - excluding Japan, South Korea and Singapore - have said they won't commit further to opening up their markets unless developed nations make bigger cuts in barriers to trade," reported the AP news agency.
"Japan's current account surplus surged 34.6 percent in July from the year earlier as exports rose, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday. The surplus in the current account, the broadest measure of Japan's trade, totaled 1.545 trillion yen (US$13.2 billion) in July before seasonal adjustment," reported the AP news agency.
"President George W. Bush's move to seek another US$87bil to police and rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, has left the US leader under mounting fire on the home front. Critics have accused the US administration of underestimating the costs of the Iraq war and overestimated possible Iraqi oil revenues. With Bush already fighting a huge budget deficit and his campaign to be re-elected moving into high gear, the argument over who and how the bill will be paid could not have come at a worse time," reported the AP news agency.
"The US Army has ordered thousands of National Guard and Army Reserve forces in Iraq and nearby countries to extend their tours of duty to a year, The Washington Post reported yesterday. The newspaper reported that the new deployment policy only applied to those now serving in Iraq and would not affect Guard and Reserve troops deploying in the future, including two National Guard brigades scheduled to deploy on six-month tours in coming months," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Arab ministers agreed yesterday to let a delegate of Iraq's US-appointed Governing Council represent Iraq at their talks this week, a move which may set an important precedent for the body's international acceptance. Analysts had said some states would try to deny Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari's access to avoid legitimising the US-led occupation of Iraq and the Council," reported the Reuters news agency.
"More people now think the war in Iraq has increased the risk of terrorism in the United States than think it has reduced that risk, a major shift on this issue since mid-April, says a new poll released almost two years after the Sept 11 attacks," reported the AP news agency.
"Around 24 tonnes of steel plucked from the ruins of the World Trade Centre (WTC) after a terrorist attack two years ago will be used to build a US Navy ship called the USS New York," reported the AFP news service.
"Israel indicated yesterday it is willing to work with Ahmed Korei nominated as the new Palestinian prime minister, despite his close ties with veteran leader Yasser Arafat. Israel initially said after the weekend resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas that it would not deal with a successor handpicked by Arafat," reported the AP news agency.
"A suicide bomber blew up at a bus stop crowded with soldiers at rush hour yesterday, killing himself and at least six other people and leaving the pavement spattered with blood and body parts. The bomber detonated explosives at a busy bus stop near both the Assaf Harofeh Hospital and the Tsrifin army base near here. Crowds fled the area screaming," reported the AP news agency.
"Police were mounting a massive security operation yesterday as Europe's biggest arms show was set to open here, an event which campaigners against the weapons industry have pledged to disrupt. Defence ministers and senior army officers from countries including Algeria, Angola, Colombia, Pakistan and India were expected to attend the four-day exhibition to see military hardware showcased by some 950 companies," reported the AFP news service.
"Arnold Schwarzenegger would narrowly lose to Lt Gov Cruz Bustamante if Californians were to vote today in the special recall election to be held in a month's time. Although recent polls have suggested a majority want to dump Davis, the latest Field results showed Schwarzenegger lagging, partially because of growing support for a more conservative Republican alternative, Tom McClintock," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Faced with possible street protests by anti-globalisation activists that have marked previous international trade gatherings, Mexican Interior Minister Santiago Creel warned on Monday the law will be upheld at a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting this week in Mexico," reported the news Agencies.
"Anti-globalisation activists stripped naked on the beach in Mexico's Caribbean resort of Cancun on Monday to protest a meeting aimed at reviving troubled negotiations for a global free-trade deal. About two dozen men and women bared their all and lay down on the beach, their bodies spelling out No WTO on the white sands as World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministers held talks nearby," reported the news Agencies.
"The film and software industry are biding their time, arming themselves to jump in with similar legal manoeuvres to protect their copyright-protected movies, video games and operating systems from the massive black market that's emerged on Internet file-sharing services such as Kazaa and iMesh," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Smoking causes damage throughout the body by lowering levels of an enzyme key to physical and mental health, US researchers reported on Monday. Smoking is known to damage the lungs, heart and arteries, but positron emission tomography (PET) scans showed it affected these organs as well as the kidneys and spleen by its impact on monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B)," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Some Londoners do not want illusionist David Blaine to succeed in his bid to spend 44 days without food in a glass box suspended from a crane in London. Since the American showman began his stunt on Friday he has been pelted with eggs, taunted with the smell of fish and chips and woken up by a man banging a drum," reported the Reuters news agency.
"One out of every four dogs and cats in the western world is now obese and needs diet to protect itself from diabetes, heart disease and other health problems, the US National Research Council warned on Monday. In a 500-page report, an international team of experts assembled by the council outlined daily nutrient and calorie requirements for dogs and cats and offered some tips for pet-food manufacturers, veterinarians and owners on what and how to feed the animals to keep them healthy," reported the AFP news service.
