"Twenty cameras scan travelers as they arrive in the immigration halls at Singapore's Changi International Airport, translating them onto screens as ghostly outlines with blue, green and yellow skin. The thermal scanners, also in place at the island's ports, ferry terminals and land entry points, could be Singapore's first line of defence against a resurgence of SARS," reported the AP news agency.
"Tougher mechanisms and tighter coordination to detect and deal with severe acute respiratory syndrome are expected to feature prominently on the agenda when leaders meet for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit Oct. 20-21 in Bangkok, Thailand, as fears run high that the winter months could bring a second wave of the disease," reported the AP news agency.
"A murder and bank robbery suspect listed as China's most wanted man was shot dead by police after a two-week manhunt," reported the AP news agency.
"Two cargo ships have sunk in separate incidents in a strait off China's northeast coast, leaving 44 people missing," reported the AP news agency.
"The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) needs to come up with practical programmes and measures which can be implemented if it is to remain credible, its member countries agreed," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Albar said, in his opening speech at the Ministerial Preparatory Meeting for the 10th OIC Summit at the Putrajaya Convention Centre yesterday, that the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) needs to cut down on the talking and start working more on improving itself. He said it was unfortunate that the OIC was crippled by (1) its inability to move with the times, to project and develop an Islamic perspective to events and issues affecting the Islamic world, (2) the lack of political will to remove the constraints and deal with crucial issues; and (3) the limited financial capabilities to implement numerous resolutions," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Pakistan, which had stated that it might send troops to Iraq if other Muslim nations join a UN-sanctioned force there, said the world body should come out with a resolution over Turkey’s plan to deploy soldiers there. Public opinion in Pakistan is opposed to sending troops to Iraq under the current climate but the mood could change with a UN resolution, an Iraqi request and the participation of other Muslim peacekeepers," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"The cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show, which premiered in U.S. theaters almost 30 years ago, will finally make its Singapore debut. The risque musical will be screened for the first time in the conservative city-state at an outdoor Halloween party on Nov. 1 along with a handful of other horror-themed films. Local censors had originally objected to the kinky sexual practices depicted in the science fiction horror film starring Susan Sarandon and pop star Meatloaf," reported the AP news agency.
"Pakistan launched a medium-range missile capable of hitting many targets inside archrival India early Tuesday, its third - and last - in a series of planned tests which began earlier this month," reported the AP news agency.
"Singapore's new no-frills airline Valuair will start its operations early next year. Valuair founder and former Singapore Airlines chief executive Lim Chin Beng expects to obtain an air operators' certificate early in 2004," reported the AP news agency.
"Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Tuesday that his government is planning a tax on fast-capital flow in a bid to curb speculation of the local currency baht in the foreign exchange market. Thaksin's comment immediately led to a drop in the value of baht, which has strengthened to a three-year high against the dollar," reported the AP news agency.
"The Yediot Aharonot, Maariv and Haaretz dailies splashed on a Los Angeles Times report that modified US-made cruise missiles are capable of carrying nuclear warheads on submarines, allowing Israel to launch atomic weapons from land, air or sea. The three newspapers also carried reports quoting Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, which said that a Mossad unit received orders two months ago to prepare plans for strikes on targets in Iran suspected of being used to prepare nuclear weapons. However, Israeli political sources quoted by Yediot said reports about attack plans were imaginary, adding that at this stage there is no prospect of military action against Iran," reported the AFP news service.
"An unofficial peace plan drawn up by leading Israeli doves with top Palestinians over the weekend reflects a desire by the Israeli left to regain the political initiative and demonstrate to the public that an agreement with the Palestinians is possible. Sponsored by Switzerland, the protocol could be signed in Geneva on Nov 4, the eighth anniversary of former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination," reported the AFP news service.
"About 300 Afghans protested in Kabul yesterday against having been fired as part of reforms of the defence ministry, and accused top ministry officials of purging them on factional grounds. Many said the dismissals targeted officials who were not members of the mujahideen (holy warrior) factions that helped US-led troops topple the Taliban from power in 2001," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A new real estate agency, Lunar Realty, based in the southern Australian city of Melbourne, opens its doors today to sell 0.4ha blocks on the moon for A$59 and 4.04ha lifestyle blocks for A$298. Businessman Paul Jackson, 33, announced yesterday he had bought the Australian rights to sell the land from Nevada-based entrepreneur Dennis Hope. Hope registered a claim for the moon and planets with the United States, the Soviet government and the United Nations and, operating as Lunar Embassy, has been selling plots of extraterrestrial real estate ever since," reported the AP news agency.
"China launched its first manned space mission on Wednesday, becoming the third country in Earth's history to put a man in orbit - four decades after the Soviet Union and the United States. With a column of smoke, the Shenzhou 5 craft cut across a bright, azure northwest China sky at exactly 9 a.m. (0100 GMT). The official Xinhua News Agency immediately confirmed the launch and said the astronaut was air force Lt. Col. Yang Liwei, 38," reported the AP news agency.
"Inflation in New Zealand rose half a percentage point in the three months to Sept. 30 on the back of higher house prices," reported the AP news agency.
"With Pope John Paul II increasingly unable to complete his speeches, cardinals and Vatican officials have grown more willing to talk about what to do if he becomes incapacitated - although they stress that he is still able to do his work and shows no sign of resigning. Concern over the pope's health has mounted in recent weeks and has cast a bittersweet cloud over the celebrations for his 25th anniversary as pope, with cardinals from around the world coming to Rome and finding an increasingly frail pontiff," reported the AP news agency.
"A car bomb exploded yesterday near the Turkish embassy, killing the driver and wounding more than a dozen others, US officials and witnesses said. The suicide attack came one week after Turkey's parliament approved sending troops to Iraq, a step opposed by many Iraqis. The bombing also was the latest in a series of blasts to shake the Iraqi capital. Two days ago, a car bomb at the Baghdad Hotel, home to US and Iraqi officials, killed at least eight people, including the bomber," reported the AP news agency.
"One of Osama bin Laden's oldest sons has emerged as a key player in the al-Qaeda network and is part of a small group of leaders running the group from Iran, The Washington Post reported yesterday. Citing US and European intelligence sources, the newspaper reported that Saad bin Laden and other senior al-Qaeda operatives in Iran were in contact with an al-Qaeda cell in Saudi Arabia just prior to the May 12 suicide bombing in the Saudi capital that killed 35 people. The sources gave no details of the communications but said the contacts led them to conclude that the Riyadh attacks were planned in Iran and ordered from there," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The US government is claiming that more than US$3bil of the fallen Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein are in bank accounts in Syria, a US Treasury spokesman told news station CNN yesterday. The US wants Syria to co-operate in locating the money and assist in returning it to the Iraqi people. Washington fears that the money is being used by remnants of Saddam's regime for terrorist attacks against Iraqi civilians and US soldiers," reported the dpa news agency.
"In Baghdad, two US soldiers from the First Armoured Division were killed and one was injured when their vehicle was involved in a traffic accident with a civilian car on Monday afternoon in the Kazimiyah neighbourhood," reported the AP news agency.
"Iran is secretly building a nuclear site in the west of the country to test centrifuges that could be used to make highly enriched uranium for military purposes, a leading Iranian opposition group said yesterday. The site, 15km from the city of Isfahan, is used to test centrifuges that can be used to produce highly enriched uranium, which is necessary for making nuclear weapons," reported the AFP news service.
"Iran's President Mohammad Khatami yesterday warned Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi to pay attention to Iranian interests. The Nobel Peace Prize is not very important, the ones that count are the scientific and literary prizes," reported the AFP news service.
"Speaking on emerging from parliament, Khatami initially welcomed the award. But he added that Mrs Ebadi, who comes from a religious family and has expressed her love for Islam, will pay attention to the interests of the Islamic world and of Iran, and not allow anyone to exploit her success.He also said there were political criteria behind the Nobel committee's decision. It is powers like the United States and Israel that threaten peace the most and violate human rights the most, and ... the Nobel Peace Prize laureates are not to forget this," reported the AFP news service.
"The Israeli military yesterday ordered 15 Palestinian detainees expelled from the West Bank, a decision unprecedented in scope, as troops backed by attack helicopters and tanks searched for smuggling tunnels in a Gaza refugee camp," reported the AP news agency.
"Businessman Gyude Bryant was sworn in as Liberia's new interim leader yesterday with the task of steering the war-torn west African country to elections in 2005. Supreme Court Chief Justice Gloria Scott administered the oath of office, in which Bryant swore before parliament to defend Liberia's constitution as well as peace accords reached in August. The new president in turn swore in his vice-president, Wesley Johnson," reported the AFP news service.
"Violent protests continued after Bolivia's president announced he would cancel controversial plans to export natural gas, leaving another 12 people dead. Following days of protests and calls for his resignation, President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada said on Monday he would abandon the plans to export gas from Bolivia's mammoth reserves in the southern region of Tarija to the United States and Mexico," reported the AP news agency.
"Six years after her death, Pope John Paul II is to beatify Mother Teresa on Oct 19. Hundreds of thousand of faithful from all over the world are expected in Rome for the occasion. Her beatification is one of the fastest in the recent history of the Roman Catholic Church and is expected to be followed by her canonisation soon afterwards," reported the dpa news agency.
"A remote Fiji mountain village which killed and ate an English missionary 136 years ago will next month offer a traditional apology to the man's descendants. The tikina or tribe of Nubutautau believe that they were being cursed for what their forefathers did and that a traditional apology needed to be made to Baker's descendents. Indigenous Fijians are today avid Christians, although mostly of the Methodist sect," reported the AFP news service.
"The British Government said yesterday it will target hooligans, abusive neighbours and other social problems in a nationwide campaign. Home Secretary David Blunkett, responsible for law and order, said the government was seeking a major change in the attitudes of local government and police toward people whose behaviour is anti-social," reported the AP news agency.
"The study, published in the American journal Menopause, found testosterone cream improved well-being, mood and sexual function in pre-menopausal women who had registered low testosterone levels and a low libido," reported the AP news agency..
"Dr James Thomas, director of critical care at the Children's Medical Centre in Dallas where Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim were separated on Sunday, said the twins have had minimal brain swelling and blood loss after a medical procedure that lasted about 34 hours and involved 18 doctors. The team of five neurosurgeons who operated on the boys has been pleased with the twins' condition, but Thomas said prospects for a healthy recovery can change on a moment-by-moment basis," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Researchers have found blood antibodies that can herald the symptoms of lupus years in advance, potentially helping point the way toward future treatments for the life-threatening immune disease. The study team, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, reported its findings Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine," reported the AP news agency.
"China's first astronaut in space returned safely to Earth on Thursday when his craft touched down as planned after 21 hours in orbit. Beijing's mission control declared the country's landmark debut flight a success," reported the AP news agency.
"More than 30 leaders have arrived to attend the 10th Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit - making it the largest ever gathering of Muslim leaders in the movement’s history. The show of unity augurs well for Malaysia, which is leading the call for a revitalisation of the OIC by a show of commitment from member countries," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Asked abotu today threats to the OIC, Dr Mahathir answered that the threat is not directed at the OIC but is directed at Muslim people in the world. The OIC has still the capacity to act. The problem, of course, is that the OIC has not got the will to act. That is, the threat actually is within – not coming from outside," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Iraqi banks yesterday began exchanging the country's old currency, emblazoned with the face of Saddam Hussein, for the new dinar. Iraqis have until Jan 15 to exchange their old notes for the new ones," reported the AFP news service.
"The United States was to call a UN Security Council vote yesterday on the latest draft of its Iraq resolution as the war-torn country's interim Governing Council mulled ways to confront the growing wave of violence that claims American and Iraqi lives daily. Hours after a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Turkish Embassy here, US forces in Iraq said they captured a suspected leader of Ansar al-Islam, dealing a blow to the Islamic militant group suspected of organising anti-American attacks," reported the AFP news service.
"A roadside bomb ripped through a US diplomatic convoy in the Gaza Strip yesterday, killing three security guards in the first attack on US officials in three years of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Israel Radio said the convoy included representatives from US Middle East envoy John Wolf's office and the CIA, but US officials said Wolf was not in the region at the time," reported the Reuters news agency.
"About 3,000 Iranians, chanting Free political prisoners and liberty and justice are the slogans of our nation, welcomed home Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi on Tuesday. The human rights lawyer's Nobel prize has ignited strong passions in her home country, reflecting deep political divisions between reformers and hardliners over the future of the Islamic Republic," reported the Reuters news agency.
"More nations will be invited to join a group of 11 countries pressing ahead with a US plan to intercept ships and planes suspected of trafficking weapons of mass destruction, the Australian government said yesterday. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the initiative, launched by US President George W. Bush in May, agreed at a meeting in London last week that the global threat of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons needed an effective global response," reported the Reuters news agency.
"South Africa launched an official hearing yesterday, investigating charges of spying and abuse of power by top figures in the ruling African National Congress. Just months away from general elections, a flood of allegations is swirling around close colleagues of President Thabo Mbeki," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Controversial author DBC Pierre, better known for his murky past than his writing prowess, on Tuesday won the Booker prize, one of the world's top literary awards for fiction, for his debut novel Vernon God Little. He promptly pledged to give his £50,000 prize to his creditors after one of the most startling prize-givings in the 35-year history of the famed prize," reported the Reuters news agency.
"China will likely become the world's economic powerhouse this century, and Australia should forge links with Asia ahead of the United States, a former prime minister said yesterday. While the 20th century was the century of the Americans, the chances are the 21st century will be the century of Asia. We will see for the first time an eclipse of American economic power. China is a phenomenon and it's in our backyard, and it is one of the reasons why we should look long and hard at free trade agreements with the United States," reported the AP news agency.
"A German man who taught his dog Adolf to give a Hitler salute by raising his right paw has been charged with violating Germany's anti-Nazi laws," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Voters in oil-rich Azerbaijan began choosing a new president yesterday in a contest expected to transfer power from ailing President Haydar Aliyev to his son in the first dynastic succession in the former Soviet world. Ilham Aliyev is almost certain to win due to the long-term strategy of his father, who has been the dominant force since the late 1960s. His son, a playboy-turned-politician, is heavily favoured to beat seven rivals to the presidency while his father remains in a US clinic undergoing treatment for heart and kidney problems," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Bolivia's embattled government appealed for calm on Tuesday as thousands of miners, peasants and farmers marched towards La Paz to join a popular revolt as the death toll in clashes with troops hit 53. Rights officials said at least one worker was killed in El Alto as thousands protested against President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada's free market policies and failure to tackle endemic poverty in South America's poorest country," reported the Reuters news agency.
"China put its first man in space yesterday, sending a single astronaut on a 21-hour odyssey around the Earth four decades after the Soviet Union and the United States pioneered manned space flight. The Long March 2F rocket carrying taikonaut Yang Liwei lifted off into a clear blue sky over the Gobi desert at 9am and entered its predetermined orbit 10 minutes later. Official media quickly declared the launch a success," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Lt-Col Yang Liwei, China's first human being in space, is spending some of his time in space eating from his choice of 20 Chinese dishes – including one-bite nuggets of spicy shredded pork, diced chicken and fried rice cooked with nuts, dates and other delicacies. Soviet and American space pioneers consumed some of their meals as liquid or semi-solid food that came from tubes. But for China that has changed, as Astronauts now can eat roughly the same way as when they are on earth," reported the AP news agency.
"China's successful launch of its first manned spacecraft was greeted with jubilation here yesterday as the territory set aside political and economic woes to revel in the achievement," reported the AFP news service.
"An Islamic charity accused by the US Treasury Department of helping Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network said yesterday it was involved only in humanitarian and relief work. Maulana Mohammed Mazhar, president of Al Akhtar Trust International, said at a seminary run by the group: Our only crime is that we have beards and we are Muslims," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A Ukrainian newspaper editor who had acid thrown at her in an attack she believes was retaliation for political reporting was one of three women honored with Courage in Journalism Awards. Tatyana Goryachova, along with Guatemalan columnist Marielos Monzon and American foreign correspondent Anne Garrels, received the 2003 awards Thursday from the International Women's Media Foundation," reported the AP news agency.
"The Muslim world needs to pause and think out new strategies to defeat the enemies of Islam and overcome problems plaguing the ummah instead of persisting with its present destructive and divisive ways. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said pausing to think was not a waste of time but would allow the leaders to assess their strengths and weaknesses calmly so that they would not end up taking irrational actions that would only worsen their situation," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his historic presence at the 10th OIC Summit with a surprise appearance as one of the speakers at the opening session. He won warm applause from leaders of the Muslim world when he, through an interpreter, said terrorism should not be equated to any religion," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"There is an urgent need for Muslim countries to explain the contents of the Islamic message to all levels of society and combat deliberate attempts made by certain Western institutions to run down the religion, Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad said. Calling for the strengthening of the real Islam as a doctrine, Assad urged Muslims to avoid deviant practices that come from a misunderstanding of Islam," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Iraq's governing council wants to set its own timetable for the transfer of power from the occupied forces and does not want any other party - including the OIC - to set the deadline for them. Council member Dr Mahmoud Othman said the council asked for amendments to the draft resolutions because of the inclusion of the timetable," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Dr Mahmoud said the council did not mind the participation of international community as observer in Iraq, but was totally opposed to the inclusion of neighbouring countries as Iraq had had many bad experiences with its neighbours. If the coalition forces leave today, there will be chaos in Iraq. We are not ready to assume control of the country so we feel that they should stay and help us draft the constitution so that we can hold an election as soon as possible," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Southeast Asian countries yesterday criticised a reported comment by US President George W. Bush that Australia is America's sheriff in the region, with Malaysia instead calling Australia America's puppet. Bush, who is to visit Australia next week to thank Prime Minister John Howard for his support in the US war on terrorism and for sending troops to Iraq, was asked in an interview with foreign reporters at the White House whether Washington saw Australia as its deputy sheriff in Southeast Asia," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"The UN Security Council voted unanimously yesterday to adopt a resolution on post war Iraq, a victory for the United States which sought approval for its occupation of the country. US President George W. Bush, under pressure over the growing cost of the Iraqi occupation in US lives and money, was hoping the resolution would encourage nations to support the occupation with troops and cash. It also asks Iraqi leaders to draw up a plan by Dec 15 for a new constitution and elections," reported the Reuters news agency.
"US President George W. Bush's foreign policy is not good for America, not good for the world, Madeleine Albright, the former US secretary of state under Bill Clinton's presidency, told French radio yesterday. In an interview with the Europe 1 station Albright heavily criticised the actions of the Republican leadership that replaced the Democratic administration she worked for, and notably the chaos that reigns in Iraq," reported the news Agencies.
"Former President Bill Clinton warned President George W. Bush before he left office in 2001 that Osama bin Laden was the biggest security threat the United States faced, Clinton said on Wednesday. Speaking at a luncheon sponsored by the History Channel, Clinton said he discussed security issues with Bush in his exit interview,", a formal and often candid meeting between a sitting president and the president-elect," reported the Reuters news agency.
"US President George Bush hailed Australia as America's sheriff in the Asia-Pacific Thursday, but embarrassed politicians played down the badge saying it could hamper relations with neighbouring countries. Asked about the deputy sheriff description ahead of a brief visit to Australia next week, Bush immediately offered Australia a promotion," reported the AFP news service.
"Government moves to weaken the power of trade unions in Australia's universities sparked a nationwide strike by 40,000 academics yesterday, shutting classrooms and libraries at all public colleges. The walkout at all 38 public universities was ordered in response to a government decision to link higher education funding to the introduction of new rules allowing staff to opt out of collective bargaining agreements," reported the AFP news service.
"Two Democratic legislators have charged that Halliburton corporation - a leading US oil and gas service company with close links to Vice-President Richard Cheney - is likely overcharging for petrol it is importing into Iraq. The charge, levelled by Democratic Congressmen Henry Waxman and John Dingell on Wednesday, came amid an increasingly passionate debate in Congress over President George W. Bush's request for US$87bil to pay for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. Americans were also told that when an Iraqi fills up his petrol tank, US tax payers subsidise 90% of the purchase," reported the AFP news service.
"The United States sells more arms than any other country, and Saudi Arabia leads the world for buying arms among developing countries, a report from the International Institute of Strategic Studies said on Wednesday. The United States holds a 40.3% market share in arms sales, raking in US$10.241bil from sales last year, according to the institute's annual report The Military Balance 2003-2004, on arms around the world," reported the AFP news service.
"The US House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 398-4 to sanction Syria for its alleged ties to terrorist groups and purported efforts to obtain nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. The legislation, the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act, also calls on Damascus to end its occupation of Lebanon," reported the AFP news service.
"President George W. Bush last week ended two years of opposition to the legislation, and has indicated he will sign it. The legislation gives the White House a range of options for sanctioning Syria, from restricting US exports and business investment to downgrading Washington's diplomatic representation and imposing travel restrictions on Syrian diplomats in the United States," reported the AFP news service.
"Several thousand opposition supporters in the capital Baku clashed with riot police yesterday as they rampaged through the city to protest the election of Ilham Aliyev, the son of the outgoing president. The crowd, which was shouting Musavat, Musavat - the name of the opposition party - rampaged down one of the main thoroughfares on the seafront, picking up pavement bricks to use as missiles and smashing shop and car windows," reported the AFP news service.
