Cairo - US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welsh on Tuesday urged the Arab countries that have no diplomatic ties with Israel to establish relations with it.

"We would like to see some action taken by Arab countries, which do not have relations with Israel, to establish ties with it," he said, in remarks after his meeting with Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa. "We would also like to see Israel do the same thing and get closer to Arab states, as peoples on both sides are willing to live in peace."

Washington - President George W Bush said Tuesday the United States must remain committed to providing assistance to developing countries despite economic turmoil at home.

Bush gave the keynote address at the White House's Summit on International Development in Washington, touting his administration's achievements while reminding the gathering that combating poverty abroad is vital to US national security interests.

New York - The world is well prepared to beat back any major influenza pandemic with 148 countries having made contingency plans to deal with the disease, the United Nations and the World Bank said Tuesday.

"Considering that pandemic preparedness was largely unaddressed by the world's nations three years ago, the widespread awareness and action seen today is a major achievement," said David Nabarro, the UN system influenza coordinator.

New York - The world's largest construction equipment manufacturer, Caterpillar Inc, saw profits fall in the third quarter on higher raw material and energy costs and the effects of a weaker globa

Ramallah - The world financial crisis is not expected to leave much of an impact on the emerging Palestinian economy, officials, business executives and economists agree.

They said during a luncheon to discuss the world economic crisis that due to the small size of the emerging Palestinian economy, the world financial crisis is not expected to leave any permanent or even short term scar on it.

La Paz - Following a months-long political struggle, leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday obtained the necessary majority in Congress to call a referendum on a controversial proposal for a new constitution.