Sharon begins visit to India, a longtime ally of Palestinians
NEW DELHI, India - Ariel Sharon began a landmark visit to India yesterday, intent on cementing defense deals and fortifying his country's friendship with a longtime Palestinian ally during the first visit here by an Israeli prime minister.
Pakistan, India's neighbor and chief rival, immediately warned of the "dangerous consequences" of a military alliance between Israel and India, knowing that Sharon hopes to seal the $1 billion sale of an advanced airborne radar package.
China urges renewed fight against Falun Gong `cult'
BEIJING - China is calling for a renewed "fight until the end" against the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, which it accuses of a litany of offenses - including trying to block the government's efforts to fight SARS.
"We should be fully aware that the fight will be long, arduous and complicated," authorities said in a commentary carried by the official Xinhua News Agency. "We must be vigilant against the Falun Gong cult and should in no way relax our efforts."
100 are killed in Nigeria in crash of 3 buses, truck
LAGOS, Nigeria - Three buses and a truck collided early yesterday in central Nigeria, killing more than 100 people in the impact and the fiery explosion that followed, authorities said.
State television showed charred remains of some victims of the accident, which happened about 60 miles from the capital, Abuja.
Authorities said other circumstances of the crash were unclear.
