World Highlights

¤ China's northeastern city of Harbin turned on the taps again after a toxic spill into its river left millions without water for five days and an 80-kilometre slick still flowing beyond the city.

¤ The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee urged President George W. Bush to go before the American public to explain his plan for the war in Iraq.

¤ Britain, France and Germany agreed to hold talks with Iran on resuming negotiations which broke down in August about the country's disputed nuclear programme, a British spokesman said.

¤ Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels warned the government they would intensify their independence fight unless given acceptable political power, in a speech analysts said was diplomatic but also threatening.

¤ Myanmar's military junta has extended opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's period of house arrest for another 12 months, a Home Ministry source said.

¤ Most of Zimbabwe's electorate, struggling with an imploding economy and uncertain about the poll's significance, chose not to vote in an election for a new Senate won by the ruling party before a ballot was cast.

¤ Peace and jobs are what Chechens voted for in a parliamentary poll yesterday, but many wondered if the new Moscow-backed legislature would provide them.

¤ The Muslim Brotherhood built its strength in Egypt's parliament this weekend, winning 29 seats in elections despite restrictions on voting and arrests of its supporters, official results showed yesterday.