China

BEIJING -- A video arcade owner was executed for killing three children who failed to pay a 30-cent debt, state media said.

Congo

KINSHASA -- Congo's international airport has reopened to some limited civilian air traffic four days after a string of explosions at munitions and fuel depots killed 109 people and injured 200 others.

Russia

MOSCOW -- Parliament decided it would vote on ratifying the global nuclear-test-ban treaty on Friday and looked set to approve the deal just a week after backing another major arms control agreement.

Nigeria

LAGOS -- A coalition of local human-rights groups accused the government and Royal Dutch/Shell of sponsoring renewed violence in Nigeria's oil-producing Ogoniland.

Italy

ROME -- Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema will announce his irrevocable resignation to parliament Wednesday after the humiliating defeat of his center-left coalition in regional elections, political sources said.

Indonesia

JAKARTA -- Former President Suharto's eldest daughter was questioned for six hours by Indonesian investigators conducting a corruption probe against her disgraced father.

JAKARTA -- Some 15,000 teachers staged protests in several cities, demanding a 300 percent hike in wages and benefits.

France

PARIS -- France's far right asked on Tuesday for compensation for French settlers repatriated as a result of Algerian independence in 1962.

South Korea

SEOUL -- An International Monetary Fund official said impoverished North Korea could receive aid from the world body, but first, North Korea must ask for help.

SEOUL -- The June summit between North and South Korea could lead to the end of a half-century of hostilities on the Korean peninsula, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Joung-binn said.

Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR -- The judge in the sex trial of former Malaysian finance minister Anwar Ibrahim said he will rule on Friday on whether prime minister Mahathir Mohamad must testify.

Ukraine

KIEV -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said after meeting President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine that he wanted to raise relations with the former Soviet neighbor to a new level.

KIEV -- President Bill Clinton will visit Ukraine on June 6 to back reform efforts and boost relations between the two countries, the spokesman for Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said.

India

NEW DELHI -- India and Britain sought to throw off the shadows of colonial history and recent political tensions, calling for a partnership based on strong commercial ties and common interests.

Pakistan

KARACHI -- A two-judge panel of the Sindh provincial High Court agreed to hear the appeal of deposed Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif's hijacking and terrorism convictions and life sentences.

Australia

CANBERRA -- Health authorities issued a national alert after eight people, including two babies, were diagnosed with the potentially fatal, mosquito-borne virus Australian Encephalitis.

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Vietnam

HANOI -- Some 30 Vietnamese staged a rare pro-democracy street protest near the ruling Communist Party's headquarters in Hanoi, witnesses said.

Mexico

MEXICO CITY -- The government has declared nine drought-stricken states in northern Mexico disaster areas, clearing the way for federal aid, the government news agency Notimex reported.

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