"President George W. Bush came here to talk about the U.S. economy but it was his message about Iraq - a day after an Army helicopter was shot down - that brought a crowd to its feet Monday when he declared: The enemy in Iraq believes America will run ... America will never run. Iraq and the economy are both difficult issues for Bush. A majority of people surveyed in recent polls disapprove of his handling of both," reported the AP news agency.
"The triumphal post-war glow in which US President George W. Bush once taunted Iraqi militants by saying bring them on has faded to a grim determination against a resistance growing more deadly. It's getting worse, in the sense that, as today ... We've seen a much more sophisticated use of improvised explosive devices against coalition forces, the top US civil administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, said on CNN's Late Edition on Sunday," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein did not order a counterattack when US troops began marching into Iraq because he thought the ground thrust was a ruse and was convinced he would survive an invasion. The report said Aziz told interrogators that French and Russian intermediaries that they would block a US-led war through delays and vetoes at the UN Security Council," reported The Washington Post.
"According to the newspaper, US-led investigators also asked other former high-ranking Iraqi detainees why, if Saddam did not have weapons of mass destruction, was he willing to let the world believe that he did. The report said that several detainees said they believe that Saddam was afraid to lose face with his Arab neighbours who he believed paid him deference because they feared he had weapons of mass destruction," reported The Washington Post.
"US troops yesterday scoured through the wreckage of the downed helicopter in which 15 of their comrades died as the coalition vowed to fight back after the deadliest single attack on its forces since they entered Iraq. Despite US efforts to downplay the rising number of attacks, the crash came amid a surge in violence which has killed at least 42 Iraqis and 28 coalition soldiers and other personnel in the last eight days," reported the AFP news service.
"Europeans believe Israel poses the biggest threat to world peace, just ahead of North Korea, Iran and the United States, according to an EU poll yesterday which has sparked outrage from Israeli authorities. The European Commission said the Israeli reaction was legitimate, but otherwise refused any further comment on the poll results beyond repeatedly stating that EU policies were not affected by such poll findings. The Israeli ambassador to Italy said yesterday that the poll could have significant diplomatic consequences," reported the AFP news service.
"Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said he is ready for peace talks following an Israeli offer, the first tentative moves towards breaking a months-long stalemate. Arafat formally chose Ahmed Qorei on Sunday to form a new Palestinian government, a step that could enable the sides to resume peace talks," reported the news Agencies.
"In an abrupt turnabout last week, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said contacts were already underway with Palestinian officials, adding, We are ready to enter negotiations at any time," reported the news Agencies.
"Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been denounced in the West and applauded by many Muslims for voicing the old anti-Semitic belief that Jews rule the world But the former Malaysian premier's remarks have also widened the debate among Arabs about whether they should look to themselves, not the Jews and Israel, to explain their predicament," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Saudi Arabia said it foiled an imminent terrorist attack and killed two militants in a shootout in the holy city of Mecca yesterday," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A woman punched and kicked a three-meter (10-foot) saltwater crocodile on the nose, yelling out Help! In the name of Jesus! to free her teenage nephew from its jaws during an attack in Australia's Outback," reported the AP news agency.
"U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said Monday China should abandon its fixed exchange-rate system "as soon as possible,'' so it can prove to the world it isn't rigging its currency," reported the AP news agency.
"Sri Lanka's prime minister dismissed the crisis threatening his country's government as typical of the ups and downs of Sri Lankan politics. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he assured President George W. Bush in their meeting Wednesday that most members of Parliament support his pursuit of peace with Tamil Tiger rebels," reported the AP news agency.
"Uttering the word guilty 48 times with chilling calm, Gary Leon Ridgway admitted being the serial murderer known as the Green River Killer and confessed to strangling four dozen women over two decades, saying I wanted to kill as many women as I thought were prostitutes as I possibly couldso many women I have a hard time keeping them straight. Ridgway, a short man with glasses, thinning hair and a sandy mustache, pleaded guilty to more murders than any other serial killer in U.S. history," reported the AP news agency.
"Turkey won't send peacekeeping troops to Iraq without a significant change in the situation there, a Turkish official said on Tuesday in what was a major setback to US efforts to attract military help in Iraq," reported the AP news agency.
"The head of Denmark's domestic intelligence agency confirmed on Tuesday that some European Muslims angered by the US occupation of Iraq are heading there to foment anti-American resistance," reported the AP news agency.
"European Union leaders will raise controversial issues including human rights in Chechnya and the Yukos Oil affair in talks with Russian President Vladimir in Rome this week," reported the news Agencies.
"Republicans swept hard-fought governor's races in Kentucky and Mississippi on Tuesday, expanding their base in the South as Americans cast votes in state and local elections that could set the political tone for 2004," reported the Reuters news agency.
