Russia

MOSCOW - President Boris Yeltsin issued a dire warning that Russia's financial crisis had reached alarming proportions and demanded radical, urgent steps to avert political instability and social unrest.

Iran

TEHRAN - Moderate President Mohammad Khatami called for tolerance in dealing with different political tendencies and gentleness toward youths in order to attract them to Islam, Iran's state-run radio said.

Vatican City

The Vatican said it was in the black for the fifth consecutive year in 1997, in large part to contributions from local churches and a healthy return on its investments.

Mexico

OAXACA - Police arrested a suspect in the murder of rural priest Mauro Andres Ortiz Carreno, the government's Notimex news agency reported.

MEXICO CITY - Tropical storm Blas is taking shape far off Mexico's Pacific coast and forecasters expect it to grow to hurricane force.

Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN - Striking workers and university students clashed with riot police on the fifth day of a telephone strike, injuring at least six people.

China

BEIJING - The government said an Israeli plan to strengthen its hold on Jerusalem would further complicate the political situation in the Middle East.

Indonesia

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said his government is ready to give East Timor special status in a bid to find a lasting solution to the issue that is acceptable to the international community.

Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO - Country singer Jose Luiz Costa, known by his millions of fans as Leandro, died Tuesday of cancer at the age of 36, a spokewoman said.

Bangladesh

DHAKA - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the world's 11th longest bridge over the River Jamuna, saying it marked the beginning of a new era of economic development.

Japan

TOKYO - The estate of late Bridgestone Corp. president Kanichiro Ishibashi was hit by a record inheritance tax of $822 million, Japanese media reported.

India

CHANDIGARH - Thirty-seven people died when a tourist bus plunged into a river in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, police said.

Colombia

BOGOTA - A powerful earthquake Monday shook Cartagena, the prime tourist resort on Colombia's Caribbean coast, but authorities said no injuries or serious damage were reported.

Israel

JERUSALEM - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat urged the Clinton administration to step up pressure on Israel and go public with its plan for an Israeli troop withdrawal in the West Bank, the chief Palestinian negotiator said.

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Egypt

CAIRO - Torture, killings and excessive use of force increased in Egypt last year as the state battled Moslem militants, an Egyptian human rights group said.

Syria

DAMASCUS - The new U.S. ambassador to Syria, Ryan C. Crocker, presented his credentials to Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara to start his job officially.

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