Sept 29 (AFP) - Top world news stories for Wednesday at 0900 GMT:
Iraq-hostages-Britain
LONDON: The British government said it was trying to make contact with Islamists holding Briton Ken Bigley hostage in Iraq and to authenticate Internet messages announcing his imminent release.
Iraq-hostages-Italy
ROME: One of the two female Italian aid workers released from captivity in Iraq said they had been well-treated by their hostage takers during their three-week ordeal and she would be willing to return to the country.
Yemen-attacks-US-Cole
SANAA: A Yemeni court sentenced to death two Al-Qaeda militants over the October 2000 bombing of the US Navy destroyer Cole which claimed the lives of 17 US sailors. Another four defendents were given jail sentences ranging from five to 10 years.
Iraq-Britain-US
LONDON: Britain started to plan the Iraq war months ahead of the conflict, even while Prime Minister Tony Blair was denying he was on a course for war, according to a newspaper report quoting a leaked Pentagon document.
Mideast-unrest
GAZA CITY: A Palestinian boy, 13, was killed by Israeli fire when stone-throwing youths clashed with troops near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip and two other Palestinians were killed when Israeli troops fired on their taxi in the West Bank town of Jenin, medics said.
Health-flu-Thailand
BANGKOK: Thailand's premier announced a month-long "war" on bird flu as tests continued to discover if an outbreak within a Thai family threatened to generate a global pandemic.
Oil-price
LONDON: Red-hot oil prices cooled slightly, trading below 50 dollars in New York as fears of disruption to supplies from Nigeria eased after a rebel leader said he would meet the president.
Nigeria-oil-unrest-security
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria: Nigeria's army said it had launched an offensive against a separatist rebel group which has threatened oil installations and workers in the southern Delta region, while the movement's leader said he had been invited to hold talks with President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Russia-US-oil-company-privatisation-LUKoil,lead
MOSCOW: A company affiliated to US oil major ConocoPhillips purchased a 7.6-percent state-held stake in Russia's second largest oil producer, LUKoil, for 1.988 billion dollars in the largest privatisation deal in post-Soviet history, a top government official said.
US-vote
CRAWFORD, Texas: Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry trailed behind US President George W. Bush in the latest polls, raising the stakes for their first debate two days before that face-to-face confrontation.
NKorea-refugees-Canada-China-number
BEIJING: A group of 44 people believed to be North Koreans entered the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, an embassy spokesman said.
Britain-India-Ghana-China-Thailand-health-remedies
LONDON: Traditional plant remedies used in Asia and Africa to treat diabetes, fight cancer or heal wounds have proven scientifically effective, according to newly published research.