Seoul (Reuters): South Korea said on Thursday that its army was prepared for any outcome to the nuclear standoff with the North -including the "worst-case scenario" of a full-scale war on the peninsula.

Islamabad (Associated Press): Islamic radicals emerged as winners on Thursday in nationwide by-elections, reflecting voter discontent at the government's policy of supporting the U.S. led war on terrorism in neighboring Afghanistan.

Florida (Associated Press): Security reached an all-time high as NASA counted down the final hours and minutes to Thursday's planned launch of space shuttle Columbia with Israel's first astronaut.

Singapore/Manila (Associated Press): About a dozen senior operatives belonging to an Islamic militant group with links to al-Qaeda are at large in Southeast Asia and attempts to round them up are being hampered by a lack of collaboration between nations, a security analyst said on Thursday.

Washington (Reuters): The United States and Singapore reached a compromise on investment issues that have blocked completion of a bilateral free trade agreement since November, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Bandar Sen Begawan (Agence France-Presse): The sultanate of Brunei on Thursday unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to diversity its oil-dependent economy and attract foreign investment, including plans for a major shipping hub.

London (Reuters): Traction control systems are likely to remain in Formula One this year despite the FIA's wish to scrap them as soon as possible, according to the governing body's president Max Mosley.

Melbourne, Australia (Reuters): Kim Clijsters dropped the smiles and the giggles for just 33 devastating minutes on Thursday but it was long enough to thrash Petra Mandula 6-0, 6-0 and reach the third round of the Australian Open.