Singapore (Agence France-Presse): Asia is the most disaster prone region in the world and governments must develop a culture of preparedness for calamities experts at a conference here said on Wednesday.

Sydney, Australia (Reuters): The world must be vigilant not to allow the U.S .-led war on terrorism to slide into a clash of civilizations that pits Islam against the West, former United Nations human rights commissioner, Mary Robinson, said on Wednesday.

Canbera (Associated Press): A seniro opposition lawmaker Wednesday accused Prime MInister John Howard of being anti-Asian and of squandering Australia's credibility in the region by playing deputy sheriff to the United States.

Berlin (Reuters): Europeans, having at times accused George W. Bush of cowboy diplomacy, worried on Wednesday the U.S. president would be more emboldened, especially on Iraq, following his Republican party's midterm election gains.

Jerusalem (Reuters): Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as Israel's new foreign minister on Wednesday, with plans to challenge Ariel Sharon as Israel's leader with a get-tough policy towards the Palestinians.

Luxembourg (Agence France-Presse): At least 19 people were feared dead Wednesday after a commuter plane carrying mostly German businessmen crashed in heavy fog as it prepared to land at Luxembourg airport.

Baghdad (Reuters): Iraqis began their bleakest Ramadhan for at least a decade on Wednesday, in the shadow of war and enduring the strain of 12 years of UN sanctions.

London (Reuters): Oil prices hovered near five-month lows on Wednesday after a steep fall the day before as worries over flagrant Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota-busting outweighed fears of a war against Iraq.

Bangkok (Agence France-Presse): The World Bank said Wednesday it expected the Thai economy to grow just 3.8 percent in 2002, well down on official forecasts of 4.5 percent, due to the global slowdown and the potential for oil price hikes.

Spain (Agence France-Presse): Ireland's Padraig Harrington and defending champion Retief Goosen of South Africa will battle it out for the-European No. 1 spot in the season-ending Volvo Masters starting here on Thursday.

Orlando, Florida (Associated Press): Tracy McGrady broke the 40-point barrier for the second straight game, scoring 41 points Tuesday as the Orlando Magic held off a Sacramento rally to beat the Kings 125-121.

Los Angeles (Associated Press): There's one last chance for ye): another Williams vs. Williams final in 2002.