In Brief

* BLAST – A second unknown group calling itself Mujahedeen Egypt has claimed the deadly triple bombings in Sharm el-Sheikh and given the names of five “martyrs” who allegedly died in carrying out the attacks.

* NUCLEAR – The United States and North Korea were holding rare bilateral talks in what the US side termed a “getting acquainted” session ahead of six-party negotiations over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. * IMPEACH – Philippine legislators began impeachment proceedings against President Gloria Arroyo for vote-rigging and corruption, as tens of thousands took to the streets of Manila to demand her resignation.* ATTACKS – Australian Prime Minister John Howard and an Islamic leader have traded accusations of inciting hatred as the country feverishly debates new anti-terrorist measures against London-style suicide attacks.* DISEASE – China denied a mysterious disease that has killed at least 17 people in southwestern China was SARS or bird flu and said it was likely a bacteria spread among pigs.* QUAKE – After yet another huge earthquake and a tsunami scare overnight, some residents of the battered Andaman and Nicobar Islands said they had had enough and were planning to move.* VIOLENCE – Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened a harsh military response to Palestinian violence during and after Israel’s pullout from the Gaza Strip following the murder of two Jerusalem grandparents.* VOTE – New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark called parliamentary elections for September 17, when her centre-left Labour Party will seek to overcome a resurgent opposition to win a third term in office.* CRISIS – French military transport aircraft began flying food into the famine-struck west African state of Niger, where more than a million and half people face imminent starvation.- Nampa-AFP* IMPEACH – Philippine legislators began impeachment proceedings against President Gloria Arroyo for vote-rigging and corruption, as tens of thousands took to the streets of Manila to demand her resignation.* ATTACKS – Australian Prime Minister John Howard and an Islamic leader have traded accusations of inciting hatred as the country feverishly debates new anti-terrorist measures against London-style suicide attacks.* DISEASE – China denied a mysterious disease that has killed at least 17 people in southwestern China was SARS or bird flu and said it was likely a bacteria spread among pigs.* QUAKE – After yet another huge earthquake and a tsunami scare overnight, some residents of the battered Andaman and Nicobar Islands said they had had enough and were planning to move.* VIOLENCE – Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened a harsh military response to Palestinian violence during and after Israel’s pullout from the Gaza Strip following the murder of two Jerusalem grandparents.* VOTE – New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark called parliamentary elections for September 17, when her centre-left Labour Party will seek to overcome a resurgent opposition to win a third term in office.* CRISIS – French military transport aircraft began flying food into the famine-struck west African state of Niger, where more than a million and half people face imminent starvation.- Nampa-AFP