25 January 2005 Tuesday 14 Zilhaj 1425 Iraqi agencies guilty of HR abuses: US official BAGHDAD, Jan 24: Iraq's security apparatus is guilty of human rights abuses, a senior US official said, once more fanning concern about police conduct in the battle against the country's militants. ... Americans starting to question justification: Opinion poll on invasion LOS ANGELES, Jan 24: In the nearly two years since US-led troops invaded Iraq, opposition to the invasion has grown in the United States and few Americans believe that the upcoming elections will improve the situation in the country. ... Saddam men make it to election list KIRKUK: Iraq's two main Kurdish political parties have put aside their differences for the Jan 30 election. Like the Shias in the South, they have organized a single, sectarian ticket that they hope all Kurds will vote for. ... Israel plans to seize Arab land in Jerusalem JERUSALEM, Jan 24: Israel is considering enforcing a decades-old law that could strip thousands of Palestinians of titles to property in Arab East Jerusalem, a step Palestinians say would prejudice peace talks. ... Mideast politics gets an optimistic start TEL AVIV: The signs have been so surprisingly positive that they elicited upbeat assessments even from some of Israel's more circumspect leaders. ... Mossad chief sees a nuclear Iran TEL AVIV, Jan 24: The chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency said on Monday arch-foe Iran was on the brink of enriching uranium, a process key to building a nuclear bomb. ... 15 killed as blizzard lashes US NEW YORK, Jan 24: At least 15 people died in the aftermath of a blizzard that hit north eastern United States over the weekend, dropping over one metre of snow. ... Bush remarks on democracy & mly clarified WASHINGTON, Jan 24: The United States has no plan to use its armed forces for implementing President Bush's agenda for extending democracy to countries l run by autocratic rulers, officials said on Monday. ... Pentagon operating spy branch, says paper WASHINGTON, Jan 24: A Republican lawmaker said on Sunday his US Senate committee would look into a reported move by the Pentagon to reinterpret US law to give Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld broad authority over spy operations abroad. ... Cold snap grips Europe PARIS, Jan 24: A cold snap gripped much of western Europe on Monday with temperatures dipping below zero and snow and ice affecting traffic in many areas. ... British police to study Diana's crashed car: Newspaper reveals secret deal LONDON, Jan 24: French police have agreed to ship secretly to Britain the Mercedes in which Princess Diana was killed so that British police can study the vehicle, a newspaper reported on Monday. ... A fantasy of freedom LONDON: There is one tiny corner of Cuba that will forever America be. It is a place where innocent people are held without charge for years, beyond international law, human decency and the mythical glow of Lady Liberty's torch. ... Rumours of another tsunami scare villagers KALLAR, Jan 24: Many fishermen on India's tsunami-hit south eastern coast say they will stay far away from the shore on Jan 26 as rumours swirl that another killer wave will batter the region. ... Powerful tremor triggers panic in Indonesia BANDA ACEH, Jan 24: Powerful earthquakes rocked Asia on Monday, killing at least one person and further rattling traumatized survivors of last month's killer tsunami. ... Hitchcock tops poll of best Oscar losers LONDON, Jan 24: British director Alfred Hitchcock is the best film-maker never to have been handed an Oscar, according to a poll of British movie viewers released on Monday, a day before the 2005 nominations come out. ... Myanmar opens intelligence trials YANGON, Jan 24: Trials for more than 300 people linked to Myanmar's disbanded military intelligence unit began on Monday under a cloud of secrecy inside the notorious Insein prison, a legal source said. ... World leaders failing: WEF GENEVA, Jan 24: World leaders have made no progress in keeping promises to tackle key global challenges such as poverty or climate change and need to engage the corporate world far more, a think tank set up by the World Economic Forum said on Monday. ... Media urged not to demonize cultures: Pope's message VATICAN CITY, Jan 24: The media has to be careful not to "demonize" entire cultures, countries or ethnic groups, otherwise it runs the risk of fomenting violence, war and even genocide, Pope John Paul said on Monday. ...

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