Tehran (Agencies): Thousands of Iranian students ignored official warnings to demonstrate for the fourth day running on Tuesday against a dissident's death sentence and to demand freedom of speech and political reform.

Beijing (Agence France-Presse): China's landmark 16th Party Congress on Tuesday cast its first votes on what is set to be a major clear-out of the ageing leaders who have ruled the country for more than a decade, delegates said.

Washington (Agencies): The White House on Tuesday dismissed the Iraqi parliaments unanimous rejection of a tough new United Nations disarmament resolution as mere "political theater" and said it awaited Baghdad's official response.

London (Reuters): A war against Iraq could escalate into a nuclear conflict that would kill nearly four million people and have catastrophic health and environmental consequences, medical experts said on Tuesday.

Baghdad (Agence France-Presse): Iraq's parliament voted unanimously on Tuesday to reject a tough United Nations disarmament resolution seen as a last chance to avoid war, but agreed to leave the final word to President Saddam Hussein.

Singapore/Kuala Lumpur (Agencies): Joint-venture company, Transasia Pipeline Co., has completed a deal to buy a 40 percent stake in Transgasindo, a unit of Indonesian gas transmission company, PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, or PGN, ConocoPhillips said Tuesday.

New York (Agence France-Presse): TThe number of the world's poorest people borrowing from microcredit agencies has swelled from 7.6 million to 26.8 million in four years, the Microcredit Summit campaign announced Monday.

Kuala Lumpur (Agence France-Presse): Taiwan's Economic Minister Lin Yi-fu on Tuesday proposed the establishment of a free trade area (FTA) with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Hong Kong (Agence France-Presse): Hong Kong has retained its ranking as the world's freest economy for a ninth consecutive year but regional rival Singapore is breathing down its neck, a survey found Tuesday.

Dallas, Texas (Associated Press): Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points and had a season-high 17 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 82-73 Monday to remain the NBA's lone unbeaten team.

Shanghai, China (Agence France-Presse): Lleyton Hewitt sent a strong message to rival Andre Agassi in their duel for the world's number one ranking here Tuesday, defeating Spaniard Albert Costa in three sets in the first round of the season-ending Masters Cup.

Los Angeles (Agence France-Presse): Kim Clusters of Belgium did what few could in 2002, defeating world No. 1 Serena Williams 7-5, 6-3 here Monday to capture the prestigious WTA Tour Championships.