In Brief

CHAOS – Palestinians were in control of the Gaza Strip for the first time in their history but deadly scenes of chaos and jubilation ensued after Israel closed the door on its four-decade occupation.

* NUCLEAR – North Korea vowed to keep pushing for the right to atomic energy, keeping straight on a collision course with the United States as six-way talks on its nuclear weapons drive resumed. * BLACKOUT – A huge power cut hit much of Los Angeles, blocking people in elevators for up to two hours and causing tailbacks as traffic lights went down.* VERDICT – An Indonesian Islamic militant was sentenced to death after a court found him guilty of plotting a deadly bombing at the Australian embassy in Jakarta last year.* VICTORY – Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s stunning election victory is relief for US President George W. Bush, keeping one of his closest friends in power and ensuring a key US alliance, analysts said.* DEFEAT – Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik conceded defeat after nearly all votes in the parliamentary election had been counted, giving the leftist opposition an absolute majority.* VIOLATED – Egypt’s first multi-candidate presidential election which propelled veteran leader Hosni Mubarak to another six years in office was marred by widespread violations and irregularities that caused confusion and chaos at polling stations, rights group charged.* RIGHTS – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice lashed out at her Myanmar counterpart for political repression in the military-ruled state, during her meeting with Southeast Asian ministers.- Nampa-AFP* BLACKOUT – A huge power cut hit much of Los Angeles, blocking people in elevators for up to two hours and causing tailbacks as traffic lights went down.* VERDICT – An Indonesian Islamic militant was sentenced to death after a court found him guilty of plotting a deadly bombing at the Australian embassy in Jakarta last year.* VICTORY – Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s stunning election victory is relief for US President George W. Bush, keeping one of his closest friends in power and ensuring a key US alliance, analysts said.* DEFEAT – Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik conceded defeat after nearly all votes in the parliamentary election had been counted, giving the leftist opposition an absolute majority.* VIOLATED – Egypt’s first multi-candidate presidential election which propelled veteran leader Hosni Mubarak to another six years in office was marred by widespread violations and irregularities that caused confusion and chaos at polling stations, rights group charged.* RIGHTS – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice lashed out at her Myanmar counterpart for political repression in the military-ruled state, during her meeting with Southeast Asian ministers.- Nampa-AFP