In Brief

* WARNED - The United States renewed its warning for Americans worldwide to be on guard against terrorist attacks by al Qaeda and other extremist groups.

The US State Department renewed for six months its "worldwide

caution" message issued previously on March 8, advising Americans

to particularly take care on public transportation in the wake of

recent subway bombings in London.

* LEADER - Iran's new President Mahmood Ahmadinejad took office

as the country's hardline regime said it hoped to resume some

nuclear activities despite the risk of triggering an international

crisis.

 

* NUCLEAR - Tough six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear

program seemed to be nearing a close as the parties tried to

finalise agreement on the basic principles for ending a three-year

standoff with the Stalinist regime.

 

* SUSPECTS - Up to 60 Islamic militants are operating in terror

cells in Australia and an attack is inevitable, a former

intelligence officer warned, sparking controversy by saying racial

profiling was unavoidable at such a time.

 

* FAREWELL - World leaders joined ordinary Saudis in bidding

farewell to King Fahd after a simple funeral for the man who ruled

the wealthy oil powerhouse for more than two decades.

 

* RIGHTS - Nepal's use of vigilante groups to protect villages

from Maoist rebels has led to increasing civilian casualties,

Amnesty International said in a report which also alleged

"systematic and routine" torture by troops.

 

- Nampa-AFP

 

* LEADER - Iran's new President Mahmood Ahmadinejad took office as

the country's hardline regime said it hoped to resume some nuclear

activities despite the risk of triggering an international crisis.*

NUCLEAR - Tough six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program

seemed to be nearing a close as the parties tried to finalise

agreement on the basic principles for ending a three-year standoff

with the Stalinist regime.* SUSPECTS - Up to 60 Islamic militants

are operating in terror cells in Australia and an attack is

inevitable, a former intelligence officer warned, sparking

controversy by saying racial profiling was unavoidable at such a

time.* FAREWELL - World leaders joined ordinary Saudis in bidding

farewell to King Fahd after a simple funeral for the man who ruled

the wealthy oil powerhouse for more than two decades.* RIGHTS -

Nepal's use of vigilante groups to protect villages from Maoist

rebels has led to increasing civilian casualties, Amnesty

International said in a report which also alleged "systematic and

routine" torture by troops.- Nampa-AFP

---