Beijing - China's ruling Communist Party sees the signing of four economic agreements with Taiwan on Tuesday as a small step on the path that it hopes will lead to eventual unification with the island state, a leading scholar said.

"In this situation the main aims are to promote economic, trade and cultural exchanges across the Strait, and to realize and normalize the 'three direct links' of trade, mail, and air and shipping services across the Taiwan Strait," Li Jiaquan told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

"This trip does not cover political issues," Li said of the three-day visit to Taiwan by Chen Yunlin, the head of China's Association of Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

Baghdad - The United States has agreed to three out of the five amendments that Iraq made to a long-term security pact between the two countries, the semi-official Iraqi al-Sabah newspaper reported on Monday.

The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) aims to regulate the future of US troops in Iraq after the UN mandate expires at the end of
2008.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said he expects a reply from Washington soon on amendments to the pact which Iraq proposed last week.

New Delhi, Nov 3: King of Belgium Albert II is arriving in New Delhi on Monday on a ten day State visit to India.

Economic and academic relationship between Belgium and India are expected to get a major boost during the visit of King Albert.

A series of commercial agreements between Belgian and Indian companies will be signed during the visit.

Queen Paola, Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht and high-level business and academic delegation including CEOs of key Belgian companies and top officials of universities of the European nation will accompany the King.

Chennai, Nov 1: The South Indian Artiste's Association today observed a day-long fast to protest against the ongoing conflict in Tamil dominated area of Sri Lanka.

South Indian actors Nepolean, Satyaraj, Vijay, Arjun, Pasupathi and Manorama, led by the Association's president R Sarath Kumar, observed the fast.

Talking to reporters Sarath Kumar said, "The programme was organised to express the Association's solidarity with Tamils living in Sri Lanka and support them."

"It is good that the Central and state governments have already started taking steps to find an amicable solution on the matter," he added.

Kumar hopes that normalcy will return to Sri Lanka soon.

Tel Aviv - Israeli Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has sent a message to Syria, saying he wants to step up peace negotiations with Damascus now that it has become clear he will stay in power for a few more months, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday.

Olmert asked Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul in a meeting in Tel Aviv to convey the message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Yediot Ahronot reported.

Olmert resigned last month from the premiership and the leadership of his ruling Kadima party to fight corruption allegations.

Washington, Oct 31: Pakistani Ambassador to the US has questioned as to why foreign governments can bail out banks in their own countries but ignore the economic meltdown in Pakistan where a financial collapse could encourage extremists and undermine the global war against terrorism.

Haqqani told the World Affairs Council this week that “ Pakistan needs the support of the international community in rebuilding its economy and providing hope to its people, because hope is what will help country’s elected government to defeat the extremists and terrorists that pose a threat to the future of all of us.”