New Bin Laden "Video Message" Urges Strikes Against U.S.
In a videotape message aired in the Arab world on Thursday, Saudi exile Osama bin Laden urged his followers to hit the U.S. economy "with every available means," while an Afghan minister warned his al-Qaeda network still posed a global threat, news agencies reported.

Israel's Sharon Notes Less Violence, But Halts Peace Talk Speculation
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said for the first time Thursday that Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority was making progress in its crackdown on resistance activists, but halted growing speculation about backdoor peace talks.

Afghan Civilians Killed in U.S. Bombing; No Al-Qaeda Members in Road Convoy
Some 40 civilians were killed and 20 injured early Thursday when U.S. planes pounded a village in eastern Afghanistan, residents said, while an Afghan tribal official insisted Thursday there were no al-Qaeda members in a road convoy that U.S. planes bombed last week.

Petition Drive in U.K. to Prevent Conversion to Mosque
Plans to convert a spacious private house in Birmingham into a mosque have run into trouble after more than 400 people signed a petition against it.

• Editor: India Poised for "Limited War" Against Pakistan
• Turkey, NATO Chief, Urge Caution Over Possible Military Strikes on Iraq
• British Muslims Warn of Activist Recruiters
• Israel-India Defense Link Worries Pakistanis
• Ben-Eliezer Elected Chairman of Israel's Labor Party
• Army Outposts Attacked in Philippines
• Malaysian "Islamic Jihad" Cult Group Found Guilty of Rebellion
• Brunei Tribal Leader Embraces Islam in Royal Ceremony
• Israel Abducts Eight Suspected Hamas Members
• India And Pakistan Closer to War