IN BRIEF

* UNREST – A US soldier died of wounds sustained in an attack on his patrol in Baghdad while 14 suspected insurgents were killed in US-led operations in north-western Iraq, the US military said.

* ESCAPE – Taliban rebels offered shelter to four Arab militants who were being hunted by US and Afghan forces after they escaped from a high-security prison at the main American base in the war-torn country. * TROOPS – Australia’s government made a decision on a new troop deployment to Afghanistan but refused to immediately announce whether its military will join US-led coalition forces bracing for a rebel offensive ahead of parliamentary elections.* NUCLEAR – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded that North Korea renounce nuclear weapons for good when talks resume after a year, as South Korea offered a major food package as an incentive for its impoverished neighbour.* BLAST – An explosion caused by a home-made bomb rocked the Italian cultural centre in the Spanish city of Barcelona, injuring a policeman, local officials and Spanish radio said.* INQUIRY – A murder and arson inquiry has been opened after 24 people died in a fierce blaze at a shop in the northwest Russian city of Ukhta, the local prosecutor general said.* ACCIDENT – At least 56 people were killed and 30 were seriously injured when an overloaded bus plunged over an embankment southwest of Asmara in Eritrea’s worst-ever road accident, officials said.* KILLED – At least 24 people were killed as an explosion sparked a fire in a shopping centre in the northern Russian city of Ukhta, the RIA-Novosti news agency reported, quoting interior ministry sources.* IMPEACH – Opposition legislators said they would try to impeach Philippine President Gloria Arroyo after the embattled leader defied strong pressure to resign over a political scandal.* PROCESSION – Thousands of opposition supporters were marching on the Sri Lankan capital, ending a 10-day procession aimed at pressuring President Chandrika Kumaratunga to call nationwide elections.* DISADVANTAGED – Australia’s indigenous community remains the most disadvantaged in the country, with rates of incarceration and reports of child abuse creeping higher in the past two years, an official report said.- Nampa-AFP* TROOPS – Australia’s government made a decision on a new troop deployment to Afghanistan but refused to immediately announce whether its military will join US-led coalition forces bracing for a rebel offensive ahead of parliamentary elections.* NUCLEAR – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanded that North Korea renounce nuclear weapons for good when talks resume after a year, as South Korea offered a major food package as an incentive for its impoverished neighbour.* BLAST – An explosion caused by a home-made bomb rocked the Italian cultural centre in the Spanish city of Barcelona, injuring a policeman, local officials and Spanish radio said.* INQUIRY – A murder and arson inquiry has been opened after 24 people died in a fierce blaze at a shop in the northwest Russian city of Ukhta, the local prosecutor general said.* ACCIDENT – At least 56 people were killed and 30 were seriously injured when an overloaded bus plunged over an embankment southwest of Asmara in Eritrea’s worst-ever road accident, officials said.* KILLED – At least 24 people were killed as an explosion sparked a fire in a shopping centre in the northern Russian city of Ukhta, the RIA-Novosti news agency reported, quoting interior ministry sources.* IMPEACH – Opposition legislators said they would try to impeach Philippine President Gloria Arroyo after the embattled leader defied strong pressure to resign over a political scandal.* PROCESSION – Thousands of opposition supporters were marching on the Sri Lankan capital, ending a 10-day procession aimed at pressuring President Chandrika Kumaratunga to call nationwide elections.* DISADVANTAGED – Australia’s indigenous community remains the most disadvantaged in the country, with rates of incarceration and reports of child abuse creeping higher in the past two years, an official report said.- Nampa-AFP