San Francisco  - A report released Monday said that cyber security would pose a major threat to the United States during the next administration and urged president-elect Barack Obama to appoint a cyber-security czar.

The report, Securing Cyberspace for the 44th Presidency, was issued by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Wellington - New Zealand's newly elected conservative government pledged Tuesday to cut income taxes in each of the next three years to spur workers into raising productivity and revive the lagging economy.

A single-minded concentration on economic growth was the main feature of the National Party's policy programme, outlined at the official opening of the new Parliament following last month's general election.

The programme was set out in a speech prepared by Prime Minister John Key but read, according to tradition, by Governor-General Anand Satyanand, the representative of Queen Elizabeth, who is New Zealand's head of state.

Washington  - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and pending successor Hillary Clinton will meet over dinner Monday evening, the State Department said.

A State Department official confirmed the plans but did not provide details. President-elect Barack Obama named Clinton on December 1 to serve as his secretary of state.

If approved by the Senate, Clinton would become the third woman to hold the post, succeeding Rice and Madeleine Albright, who served in the position during Bill Clinton's second term.

Athens  - Ashes, black fumes, twisted debris and broken glass were scattered Tuesday throughout much of what once resembled Athens after the capital and dozens of other Greek cities were crippled by arson and looting for a fourth straight day.

Described as the country's worst riots in decades, tear gas and thick, black smoke engulfed central Athens for hours as students bent on arson set fire to cars, banks, shops and several government buildings.

The offices of state airline Olympic Airways, the Foreign Ministry across from Parliament, a luxury department store and Greeces main law school were torched, burning out of control as frantic firefighters attempted to extinguish the flames.

Washington  - US President George W Bush and Congress are nearing a deal to approve a 15-billion-dollar bail-out plan for the troubled automotive industry, the White House said Monday.

"Indications are that the legislation is moving more towards what the president could support," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, adding "it's very likely" the two sides will arrive at a proposal by late Monday.

Athens  - The Greek capital was ablaze and gripped by chaos late Monday and dozens of other cities were crippled for a third straight day by arson and looting in the worst riots in decades, triggered by the fatal police shooting of a teenager.

Thick black smoke, flames and tear gas engulfed central Athens as students set fire to several buildings including the offices of state airline Olympic Airways, the Foreign Ministry across from Parliament, a luxury department store, Greeces main law school and two bank headquarters.

As dusk fell on Athens, hooded youths could be seen setting fire to the city's massive Christmas tree and festive village and were reportedly making their way toward heavily guarded Parliament buildings.