MIDDLE EAST

OLMERT SAYS HE WANTS TO RESUME TALKS FOR DEAL WITH PALESTINIANS

JERUSALEM — Israel’s acting prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said yesterday he wants to resume final peace talks with the Palestinian Arabs and take harsh action against Israeli squatters in the West Bank.The new leader’s first policy statement carries special weight because of a widespread assumption among Israelis that Prime Minister Sharon, who suffered a devastating stroke January 4, will never return to power and that Mr. Olmert will replace him. Hospital officials reported no change yesterday in Mr. Sharon’s condition: critical, stable, and comatose.

— Associated Press

PERSIAN GULF

EGYPTIAN, SAUDI LEADERS URGE CHENEY TO NEGOTIATE WITH IRAN

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The Arab world’s two major powers urged Vice President Cheney yesterday to give negotiations more time in the growing diplomatic conflict over Iran’s nuclear program. As Mr. Cheney wound up a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah outside Riyadh late yesterday, officials close to the talks said the monarch had spoken of “the necessity of giving negotiations a chance” before pressing for Iran’s referral to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. Mr. Cheney got a similar message from President Mubarak of Egypt when they met earlier yesterday in Cairo.

— Associated Press

U.S. LAUNCHES PLAN TO BOLSTER IRAQI POLICE

BAGHDAD, Iraq — America is embarking on a revamped training program for Iraq’s 80,000 police force in a bid to strengthen local security forces battling the rampant insurgency, the American military said yesterday. The program will assign up to 3,000 American and international personnel to individual Iraqi police units throughout the country to bolster police skills, equipment, and practices.

— Associated Press

SOUTH ASIA

PAKISTAN SAYS FOREIGN TERRORISTS KILLED IN AIRSTRIKE

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistani provincial authorities said yesterday that four or five foreign terrorists were killed in the purported American missile strike that has strained relations with this Muslim country, an ally in President Bush’s war on terror. Prime Minister Aziz, on the eve of a trip to Washington, said that despite the importance of ties with America, attacks inside Pakistan “cannot be condoned.” Eighteen residents, including women and children, were also killed in the strike, the provincial government said yesterday.

— Associated Press

EAST ASIA

NORTH KOREA’S KIM REPORTED TO BE IN BEIJING FOR TALKS WITH CHINESE

BEIJING — North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly arrived yesterday in Beijing for talks with President Hu on resuming stalled negotiations aimed at ending the North’s nuclear development.

— Associated Press

WESTERN EUROPE

BRITISH GOVERNMENT LEGALIZES BROTHELS

LONDON — Prostitutes will be allowed to work together in mini-brothels under plans published by the British government yesterday. At present, only a single prostitute working from home or a room escapes prosecution provided she does not solicit for business. The government aims to change the legal definition to allow three individuals to work together, thereby decriminalizing small brothels. Ministers said the aim was to make prostitutes safer from attack.

— The Daily Telegraph

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN FIRM IMPLICATED IN OIL FOR FOOD

SYDNEY — Australia’s monopoly wheat exporter may have profited from kickbacks it allegedly paid Saddam Hussein’s regime, a government inquiry heard yesterday.

AWB, formerly known as the Australian Wheat Board, made illegal payments to Saddam’s government under the U.N. oil-for-food program. Leading AWB executives have been accused of paying about $220 million for non-existent trucking services to a Jordanian company, Alia, with the money going directly to the Iraqi dictator. AWB has denied the claims.

— The Daily Telegraph