Beijing (Agencies): China's top leaders have ordered police to investigate a mass poisoning in the eastern city of Nanjing that is believed to have killed scores of people, many of them middle school students.

Srinagar, India (Reuters): Islamic militants ambushed a Kashmiri minister's car on Sunday as the Indian state appeared set for a violent start to voting in elections that are likely to do little to ease tensions with Pakistan.

Sydney (Agence France-Presse): International students are flocking to Australia in record numbers, contributing more than A$4 billion (US$2.2 billion) to the local economy in 2001/02, but experts warn strong growth must not dilute academic standards.

Washington (Agence France-Presse): Pressure grew on Baghdad Sunday to agree to the return of United Nations weapons inspectors, amid predictions of military action in the New Year if President Saddam Hussein failed to comply.

Washington (Agencies): Ramzi bin al-Shaiba, the alleged coordinator of the Sept. 11 attacks, found alone and asleep last week in an apartment in Karachi, Pakistan, was arrested without a struggle, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

Thailand (Reuters): The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels sit down on Monday for their first peace talks in seven years to end a two-decade civil war that has driven tourists and investors from the island.

London (Reuters): OPEG Secretary-General Alvaro Silva said on Friday that there was no shortage of oil in world markets ahead of a meeting this week to decide whether to relax output curbs.

Manila (Agence France-Presse): The Philippines' economic recovery may be delayed because the government has trouble dealing with the ballooning budget deficit, Deutsche Bank said in a report obtained here Saturday.

Shanghai, China (Agencies): Anna Smashnova dashed Anna Kournikova's .hopes of a first WTA title with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in Sunday's final of the Shanghai Open.

Italy (Associated Press): Rubens Barrichello led teammate Michael Schumacher in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix as the dominant Ferraris led throughout at the Monza circuit here to a boisterous celebration by the home fans.