Beijing (Agencies): China's foreign trade minister urged Taiwan on Wednesday to start the ball rolling on opening direct air and shipping links with the mainland.

Nablus, West Bank (Associated Press): In the biggest sweep in months, Israeli troops hunting for militants stormed dozens of homes in this Palestinian city on Wednesday, ordering residents to line up in the dawn chill as tanks blocked roads and helicopters hovered above.

Dubai/Moscow/Baghdad (Agencies): Gulf Arab states urged neighboring Iraq to accept the U.S.-drafted United Nations resolution on disarmament to avert a possible war in the oil-rich region.

Tehran (Agence France-Presse): Iran's hardline judiciary was under mounting pressure on Wednesday to overturn a death sentence on a prominent reformist academic, amid more student protests and warnings of dire consequences from top political leaders.

Canberra (Agencies): Australia declared on Wednesday that it would not be intimidated by new threats purportedly made against it by terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.

London (Reuters): The United States has regained top spot as the world's most competitive economy and has the best prospects for growth over the next five to eight years, the World Economic Forum said in a report published on Tuesday.

Sydney (Agence France-Presse): Providing poor countries with access to patented medicines is the most crucial issue facing this week's informal meeting of trade ministers in Sydney, according to Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile.

Dongguan, China (Agence France-Presse): American John Daly will be hoping to end his title drought while European Ryder Cup hero Colin Montgomerie will be seeking back-to-back wins when the TCL Classic begins Thursday.

New York (Reuters): Karl Malone had 21 points and Andrei Kirilenko added 20 points and nine rebounds as the Utah Jazz piled up a big lead before coasting to a 108-87 win over the struggling New York Knicks in NBA play on Tuesday.

Shanghai, China (Associated Press): Amassive collapse Wednesday night by Andre Agassi handed a devastating blow to his bid to finish the year ranked No. I when he was upset 7-5, 6-1 by Jiri Novak in the Tennis Masters Cup.