Washington  - The US economy shrank in nearly all parts of the country in the first two months of the year, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday in the latest sign of a deepening US recession.

Ten of 12 US regions reported "weaker conditions or declines in economic activity" since the start of 2009, according to the central bank's Beige Book, which is compiled from local business reports around the country.

Washington  - A US senator has proposed establishing a truth commission to investigate former president George W Bush's policies in the war on terrorism that many believe led to abuse.

Senator Patrick Leahy, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday a commission should be established to examine the wiretapping of communications and how policies led to mistreating prisoners.

New York  - The British relief group Oxfam confirmed Wednesday that its license to operate in northern Sudan was revoked by the Sudanese government.

The United Nations reported six to 10 other groups had also lost their right to continue humanitarian work after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir.

Oxfam said it was appealing the decision, hoping for a quick resolution.

Washington  - The United States launched an effort Wednesday to help homeowners pay off their mortgages, hoping to stabilize a housing crisis that lies at the centre of the country's deep recession.

President Barack Obama last month announced a 75-billion-dollar plan to help up to 9 million homeowners refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure.

The Hague  - The International Criminal Court (ICC) and its chief prosecutor went to great lengths on Wednesday to emphasize that Sudan is obligated, under international law, to arrest its President Omar al-Bashir and transfer him to The Hague.

In its official statement after announcing that the international arrest warrant has been issued, the ICC said if Sudan, which so far has defied United Nations resolutions to cooperate with the court, fails to arrest him, it would refer the case back to the UN Security Council.

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet agreed Wednesday on the structure of a 100-billion-euro (125 billion dollars) government fund to aid struggling firms.

Companies hard hit by the global economic downturn will be able to apply for state assistance from the first half of March under the terms of the deal that runs until the end of
2009.