Washington  - US President George W Bush says his "biggest regret" in office was US intelligence that incorrectly stated Saddam Hussein had weapons of destruction.

"A lot of people put their reputations on the line and said the weapons of mass destruction is a reason to remove Saddam Hussein," Bush said in an interview with ABC News set to air Monday evening.

Los Angeles  - Kung Fu Panda emerged Monday as the leading contender for the Annie Awards, snagging 17 nominations for one of the most prestigious prizes in animated films.

The action-comedy faces stiff competition for best feature from a strong field that includes Disney's Bolt with nine nominations, Disney/Pixar's WallE with eight nominations, and two offerings from Israeli filmmakers: Waltz With Bashir, about an ex-soldier's experience of the Lebanon War; and the strangely named film known as Nine Ninety Nine, a reference to a price in dollars which involves Australian apartment dwellers in the hunt for the meaning of life.

Washington  - As most Americans were beginning to think about hanging their Christmas decorations, the White House first paused to mark another anniversary - the
20th World AIDS Day - with a giant red AIDS ribbon on the presidential residence.

The 8.5-metre-high decoration which appeared Monday on the north portico symbolized the US "resolve to confront" the dreaded scourge that has infected 33 million people worldwide, US President George W Bush said.

But his commitment to fighting the disease is more than just symbolic, and even his critics and political opponents have lauded his administration's work on the issue.

Washington  - Retired four-star General James Jones, 64, nominated Monday to be president-elect Barack Obama's national security adviser, made history in January 2003 with his appointment as NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe and head of the US forces on the continent.

It was the first time a commandant of the Marine Corps held the highest military post in the alliance.

Three years later, Jones, 64, gave up the command and retired in 2007 after 40 years military service, but still advised the Bush administration on security issues in the Middle East.

On Monday, Obama nominated him to serve as his national security advisor once he takes control of the White House on January 20.

Washington  - President-elect Barack Obama announced a national security team on Monday that will be tasked with mapping out a new direction for foreign policy and reshape the way the United States approaches the world.

The new team will focus on ending the conflict in Iraq and will inherit an escalating conflict in Afghanistan, where the outcome remains in doubt. They will also have to plot a strategy to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and deal with a resurgent Russia.

Madrid  - Spanish champions Real Madrid announced on Monday evening that defender Pepe would be out of action until January.

The Portugal defender tore the cuadriceps muscle in his left leg in Saturday's 3-1 defeat away to Getafe, and the club doctors believe that he will be out of action between four and five weeks.

Wesley Sneijder and Miguel Torres both limped out of the Getafe defeat with pulled muscles, and will both be out of action for around ten days.

Real's other injury victims are Gabriel Heinze, Mahamadou Diarra, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Gonzalo Higuain.

However, Arjen Robben and Fabio Cannavaro will probably be able to return next Saturday against Sevilla, after being out for two weeks.