"Britain and America are drawing up plans to give Saddam Hussein as little as 48 hours to flee Baghdad or face war, if UN weapons inspectors report this week that the Iraqi dictator is still refusing to disarm fully. The proposals will form the framework of a long-awaited second resolution, which could be put before the Security Council by next weekend," reported the Sunday Telegraph.
"Former South African president Nelson Mandela has been requested to negotiate an exit plan for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in efforts to avert a US-led war on Iraq. Mandela last week criticised the architects of an Iraqi attack, saying US President George W. Bush can't think properly and that his war campaign could plunge the world into a holocaust," reported the AFP news service.
"US Secretary of State Colin Powell called the camp in northern Iraq a terrorist poison and explosives training centre, a deadly link in a sinister nexus binding Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda. But journalists who visited the site depicted in Powell's satellite photo found a half-built cinderblock compound filled with heavily-armed Kurdish men, video equipment and children - but no obvious sign of chemical weapons manufacturing," reported the AP news agency.
"Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix said yesterday that he hoped he had seen the start of closer co-operation by the Iraqis with the UN arms inspection programme," reported the AP news agency.
"Iraq handed over more documents to chief weapons inspectors during a second round of crucial disarmament talks in Baghdad yesterday," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Saudi Arabia's leaders have decided to prepare for an era of military disengagement from the United States, to enact democratic reforms and rein in the powerful conservative clergy. The presence of foreign, especially American, forces since the 1991 Gulf war has been a contentious issue in Saudi Arabia and has angered Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Israel has offered the Palestinians a phased ceasefire to end two years of fighting, a senior government official said, while predicting that international pressure to remove Yasser Arafat from leadership will increase after the Iraq issue is resolved," reported the AP news agency.
"Colombia and the United States blamed Marxist rebels on Saturday for a car bomb that laid waste to a high-society club, killing at least 32 people and injuring about 160 in the worst bombing in a decade. The blast ignited the gas tanks of other cars, blowing out exterior walls, crushing and burning many victims to death. Six children were among those killed," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Hundreds of women demonstrated in the city of Eldoret on Saturday to demand the right to wear trousers and miniskirts freely. They marched through the streets singing songs and chanting to protest violent harassment by men who stripped some women a week ago for wearing allegedly provocative trousers or short skirts," reported the dpa news agency.
"Thousands of people protested in the Indonesian capital yesterday against a possible US-led attack on Iraq in one of the biggest demonstrations yet on the issue in the world's most populous Muslim country. The official Antara news agency put the number of protesters, who ranged from students to families with babies in arms, at tens of thousands. Other observers said the crowd was closer to 7,000 when it marched past the US embassy, pausing occasionally for speeches, songs and chants of Allahu Akbar (God is greatest)," reported the Reuters news agency.
"US President George W. Bush, preparing for possible war in Iraq, said all options were open to end the nuclear standoff with North Korea which warned of horrible nuclear disasters should the United States attack. Bush said he hoped the problem could be resolved diplomatically and the United States has repeatedly stressed that it has no intention of attacking North Korea, which Bush last year branded part of an axis of evil along with Iraq and Iran," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Germany and France are working on a new initiative to try to avert war in Iraq, a German government spokesman said yesterday, with a magazine saying they aim to present the plan to the UN Security Council," reported the Reuters news agency.
"US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday branded as inexcusable moves by France, Germany and Belgium to stall Nato planning for the protection of Turkey in the event of a war in Iraq," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard stood with the United States Monday amid the swirl of uncertain diplomacy over Iraq. He said there still was a faint hope the crisis with Iraq could be resolved without military force. He said the growing international political and diplomatic pressure made another U.N. resolution on Iraq desirable," reported the AP news agency.
"The threat of war in Iraq is expected to be discussed on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit this month if Qatar, which holds the presidency of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), calls for a meeting," reported the Malaysian Star newspaper.
"Turkey requested emergency consultations under Nato's mutual defence treaty yesterday after France, Germany and Belgium blocked the start of military planning to protect Turkey against the threat of an Iraqi missile attack. It was believed to be the first time in the 53-year history of the alliance that a member nation formally invoked Article 4 of the founding treaty, and it was another indication of deepening divisions in the alliance over the Iraq crisis. The move of the three nations was a blow to the United States which has lobbied hard for more than three weeks for the alliance to start the military planning, backed by 16 of the 19 Nato allies," reported the AP news agency.
"Australian survivors and relatives of those who died in the Bali nightclub bombings have joined a US lawsuit against the alleged financiers and supporters of al-Qaeda that seeks trillions of dollars in compensation," reported the Reuters news agency.
"President Mohammad Khatami said on Sunday Iran had mined uranium for use in its nuclear power plants and would reprocess the spent fuel itself, but insisted its nuclear programme was solely for civilian use. The surprise announcement, in a speech broadcast on state television, was the first time Iran has acknowledged possession of uranium ore reserves," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Scientists said on Sunday they had, for the first time, genetically manipulated human stem cells – a first step towards making the body's so-called master cells into a useful tool. Using the method that made the laboratory mouse so valuable to genetic researchers, the team at the University of Wisconsin deleted a disease gene from human embryonic stem cells," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The United States will not exclude other interested nations from talks over North Korea's nuclear ambitions, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Sunday. The board is certain to send the matter to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions against Pyongyang – a move North Korea has warned it will view as a declaration of war," reported the AFP news service.
"Nasa engineers were looking on Sunday into the possibility that something struck or fell away from the Columbia shuttle in space a day after its launch on a mission that ended tragically when the returning spacecraft fell apart, killing its seven astronauts," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said yesterday he saw no new evidence concerning Iraqi weapons of mass destruction in papers Baghdad gave him during a weekend visit there. And he said Iraqi co-operation, not the number of weapons inspectors, was the key to answering the question of whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Thousands of government troops have amassed near a southern Muslim guerilla stronghold, triggering the flight of villagers amid fears the military was poised to attack rebels allegedly sheltering a notorious kidnap gang," reported the AP news agency.
"China is withdrawing some staff from its embassy in Iraq, the government said yesterday as the prospect of war between the Gulf nation and the United States appeared to increase," reported the AFP news service.
"The top UN food agency said yesterday it was halting food aid to hundreds of thousands more desperate North Koreans because of an unprecedented slump in donations," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Singapore doctors have been put on alert to a new type of biological agent that can kill within two days, after London police arrested six people for making the poison," reported the Asia News Network.
"A nationwide game of musical chairs is taking shape in Israel as fears of Iraqi retaliation against the Jewish state to a possible US-led war have led Israelis to try to assess the safest place to shelter. Many Israelis living in areas which could be hit by Iraqi missiles are weighing strategic considerations to choose which part of Israel would be the least risky for their families," reported the AFP news service.
"Nato hit one of the worst storms in its 54-year history on Monday after France, Germany and Belgium blocked military planning for steps to defend Turkey in the event of a US-led war against its neighbour Iraq. The 19-nation alliance failed to break its deadlock in two highly-charged meetings of its envoys, exposing rifts across the Atlantic, within Europe and even inside the German government," reported the Reuters news agency.
"All but four of the 15 United Nations Security Council members support prolonging UN weapons inspections in Iraq. The source denied that Germany was isolated in its desire to intensify weapons inspections in Iraq and noted strong support from Russia," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Iraq yesterday hailed a decision by Belgium, France and Germany to block proposals to boost Nato defences in Turkey as a slap in the face for US war plans," reported the AFP news service.
"Fearing a massive attack by Palestinian militants, Israel completely sealed off the occupied territories for the Muslim festival of Aidiladha yesterday, while bracing for an expected US-led war on Iraq. The army also said it had killed an armed Palestinian in an overnight shooting in the Gaza Strip, after troops fired on a suspicious figure near the boundary with Israel and found the body the next morning," reported the AFP news service.
"CIA Director George Tenet warned yesterday of plots of terrorist attacks in the United States and on the Arabian Peninsula as early as the end of the haj late this week, including the use of a radiological device and poisons and chemicals," reported the AFP news service.
"Troops were deployed yesterday at Heathrow Airport to boost security because of potential terrorist threats to the city by the al-Qaeda group. On Tuesday, a radical Islamic activist warned people to stay away from government buildings and financial institutions, saying radical Muslims were prepared to act as suicide bombers," reported the AP news agency.
"Coalition warplanes bombed caves in central Afghanistan after at least five heavily-armed extremists ambushed US Special Forces as they picked their way through a remote mountain valley," reported the AFP news service.
"Investigators have recovered part of the space shuttle Columbia's left wing, considered crucial to the investigation into why it disintegrated on re-entry, killing the seven astronauts aboard," reported the AFP news service.
"One of three militant Sikhs on trial in Canada for the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight which killed 329 people was sentenced to five years' jail on Monday after pleading guilty to manslaughter for his role in building the bomb that blew up the aircraft," reported the AFP news service.
"At least seven Muslim separatist rebels and two soldiers were killed yesterday in a massive military assault on a rebel-held area in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao," reported the AFP news service.
"China brushed off an American request to increase its involvement in settling the standoff over North Korea's nuclear programme, saying yesterday that the issue should be handled directly between Washington and Pyongyang. It was the latest reflection of Beijing's caution in wading into the months-long dispute between its communist neighbour and the United States," reported the AP news agency.
"Suspected Muslim rebels battling a major government assault in the southern Philippines occupied a village and prevented residents from leaving Thursday. The standoff developed as government forces battled Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas in the Pikit area, about 920 kilometers (575 miles) southeast of Manila," reported the AP news agency.
"U.S. planes attaked a ballistic missile system in southern Iraq Tuesday, the Pentagon announced, marking the first attack on Iraqi missiles meant to attack ground targets instead of aircraft or ships at sea," reported the AP news agency.
"NASA disclosed that Just two days before Columbia's mysterious breakup during its fiery descent, a safety engineer warned by e-mail about risks of catastrophic failures from extreme heat causing the shuttle's tires to burst inside the spacecraft," reported the AP news agency.
"The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center warned that growing tensions between the United States and Iraq could lead to an increase in global computer hacking activities on both sides," reported the AP news agency.
"The United States has told Iraq's opposition it plans to install a U.S.-military-run administration and keep many lower level officials of Saddam Hussein's party in their jobs after the Iraqi leadership falls," reported the AP news agency.
"International missile experts found that an Iraqi missile system exceeds the maximum 150-kilometer (93-mile) range allowed under U.N. resolutions. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said the experts did confirm that the al-Samoud's range was over the limit but that is not the final conclusion. He said the experts were still analyzing technical issues related to the al-Samoud program and inspectors have so far reached no conclusion," reported the AP news agency.
"Investors fell deeper into their morass of fear about terrorism and war with Iraq Wednesday, sending stocks lower for a second straight day," reported the AP news agency.
"Declaring North Korea in violation of international treaties, the U.N. nuclear agency raised the stakes in the standoff Wednesday by sending the dispute to the Security Council, a move that could lead to punishing sanctions. Russia and Cuba refused to join in, saying the International Atomic Energy Agency's decision would detract from a flurry of diplomatic efforts aimed at easing the crisis," reported the AP news agency.
"A federal judge Wednesday postponed the June trial of terrorism suspect Zacarias Moussaoui, allowing time for an appellate court to decide whether he can have access to an al-Qaida prisoner. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema did not set a new date, but noted the government has proposed that jury selection begin in September and opening arguments in October," reported the AP news agency.
"Peru will overturn hundreds of terrorism-related sentences handed down by secret military courts, including that of the jailed founder of the leftist Shining Path guerrillas," reported the AP news agency.
"President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo told the Philippine army yesterday to resume an offensive against Muslim rebels after both sides ignored her call to halt clashes that have killed dozens of people. Arroyo issued her directive shortly after the rebels boycotted a meeting with military commanders to discuss a halt to hostilities that threatened to further delay talks on ending a 31-year-old separatist conflict," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The space shuttle's skin almost was certainly pierced, allowing superheated air inside the left wing and possibly the wheel compartment during Columbia's fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere," reported the AP news agency.
"New Treasury Secretary John Snow said Thursday that President Bush's proposal for $1.3 trillion worth of tax cuts would give the economy a quick boost and provide long-term benefits that would improve American living standards, defending Bush's economic program against Democrats' arguments that it is too tilted toward the wealthy, offers too little in short-term economic stimulus and cost too much in light of the administration's proposed budget. The spending plan projects record budget deficits this year and next," reported the AP news agency.
"A mixed retail sales report and Wall Street's fears of war with Iraq pulled stocks sharply lower Thursday, extending the market's sell-off to a third day. And share prices fell Thursday on the London Stock Exchange," reported the AP news agency.
"The Iraq weapons crisis enters a critical phase with the crucial meeting of the UN Security Council today followed by what is being billed as the biggest display of anti-war feeling the world has ever seen over the weekend," reported the news Agencies.
"US Special Operations forces are operating inside Iraq, laying the foundation for an invasion if President George Bush gives the order to go to war. The Central Command chief, Gen Tommy Franks, was scheduled to meet Bush at the White House yesterday for a review of his war plans," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Belgium's highest court on Wednesday delivered a landmark ruling that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon can be prosecuted for war crimes –but only after he leaves office. Israel responded angrily to what one official called a scandalous ruling, recalling its ambassador to Brussels for consultations and summoning the Belgian envoy for a dressing-down. The unique universal competence law, adopted in 1993, enables Belgian courts to try cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide regardless of where the incidents occurred," reported the AFP news service.
"Deputy Iraqi Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, arriving in Italy yesterday to drum up support against US war threats, dismissed suggestions that Baghdad's missile programme breached UN resolutions. Saying that Iraq faced a war of aggression, Aziz urged Muslims and Christians to work together to avoid bloodshed and defeat the forces of evil," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Linking Osama bin Laden's terror group to the Iraqi regime is the latest American attempt to win support at home and in Europe for its imminent military campaign in Iraq, Arabs said on Wednesday. Some also said an audiotape believed to carry the voice of Osama and aired on Tuesday night on the Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera was a fake, used by the American administration to further its war cause," reported the AP news agency.
"A British-based Islamic news agency said yesterday it has a new audio recording of Osama bin Laden in which he predicts he will die as a martyr this year in an attack against his enemies. In Washington, US counter-terrorism officials were reviewing the tape," reported the AP news agency.
"Americans rushed to buy emergency supplies on Wednesday amid a heightened warning of a terrorist attack, with anti-aircraft missiles deployed in sight of the US Capitol building and military jets circling overhead. A leading opposition lawmaker blasted the government for failing to give residents adequate guidance, which has mainly consisted of recommending people to stock up on duct tape, bottled water and batteries. The Bush administration put the nation on the second-highest level of alert for a possible terrorist attack," reported the AFP news service.
"Prime Minister Tony Blair's government was under pressure from lawmakers yesterday to explain the nature of the terrorist threat that has prompted heightened security in and around London. As light tanks and hundreds of troops continued to patrol Heathrow Airport west of here, opposition politicians called for a discussion in Parliament on the security situation," reported the AP news agency.
"A 37-year-old Venezuelan man was arrested yesterday at London's second airport, Gatwick, after a device that appeared to be a live grenade was found in his luggage," reported the AFP news service.
"Hindu hardliners yesterday attacked two shops selling Valentine cards here, smashing one of them completely and injuring several people. The Shiv Sena, a regional party based in western Maharashtra state, believes that celebrating Valentine's Day is not part of Indian culture and its working president Udhav Thackeray last week warned of violence against those celebrating the day in Mumbai," reported the AFP news service.
"Japan would launch a military strike against North Korea if it had firm evidence that the Stalinist state was ready to attack with ballistic missiles," reported the Reuters news agency.
"North Korea has the ability to strike US targets anywhere in the world if provoked, a senior foreign ministry official warned yesterday and insisted Pyongyang had a right to self-defence," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A majority of South Koreans want US troops out of South Korea, or their presence reduced, a survey showed yesterday, as a sexual assault case involving US soldiers threatened to rekindle antipathy to Washington," reported the AFP news service.
