Presidential hopeful Barack Obama is expected finally to name his running mate this week.

The US' Homeland Security Department has made the nation only marginally safer than before the 2001 terror attacks that created it, the agency’s former internal watchdog claims in a new book.

US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is to station a top envoy in Brussels to cooperate with EU officials in the war on terror.

US President George Bush has chosen an appeals court judge to be his new Homeland Security chief, turning to a former federal prosecutor who helped craft the early war on terror strategy.

President George Bush has formally chosen former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik to lead the US Homeland Security Department, charged with safeguarding Americans from future attack.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has informed the White House and department staff that he has resigned, US officials said tonight.

His second term secured, President George Bush is reaching out and asking the 55 million people who voted to oust him from office to get behind the ambitious agenda he’s laid out for the next four years.

The Bush administration left the terror threat level unchanged today, despite warning state and local officials that a videotape message from Osama bin Laden may portend a new terrorist attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin performed a U-turn today – apparently responding to wide public dismay over the bloody school siege – and agreed to the formation of a parliamentary investigative commission.

BAE Systems today moved closer to landing a multi-billion dollar contract to protect commercial aircraft from missile attack.

VITAL information gained from the arrests of a senior al-Qaida terrorist and a militant computer expert highlights the progress Pakistan is making in the fight against terrorism.

Pakistan has captured two high-ranking al-Qaida terrorists, including one with a multi-million dollar US bounty on his head, in a sweep that has netted a number of other terror suspects, officials said today.

PLANS for terror strikes in the US and Britain were uncovered after a senior al-Qaida suspect was seized in Pakistan, security sources revealed yesterday.

UNITED STATES intelligence warnings of al-Qaida threats to attack the New York Stock Exchange, World Bank and International Monetary Fund sent a shiver through global markets yesterday after the US issued a “high” level threat alert and reminded Americans they were a target.

Plans for new terror attacks against Britain and the United States were found on a computer seized during the arrest of a Pakistani al-Qaida suspect wanted for the 1998 twin US embassy bombings in east Africa, it emerged today.

THE US government warned yesterday of possible terrorist attacks against 'iconic' financial institutions in New York City, Washington and Newark.

The US government warned today of possible terrorist attacks against “iconic” financial institutions in New York City, Washington and Newark, New Jersey, saying a confluence of intelligence over the weekend pointed to a car or truck bomb.

US President George Bush praised as ”very constructive” the recommendations in the September 11 report, though his administration has reacted coolly toward a key proposal to establish a Cabinet-level national intelligence director.

OIL prices were close to their recent record highs yesterday as strong demand and renewed fears of further terror attacks in the United States unsettled traders.

OSAMA BIN LADEN was yesterday reported to be directing an al-Qaida effort to launch an attack in the US sometime this year.

Oil prices were close to their recent record highs today as strong demand and renewed fears of further terror attacks in the United States unsettled traders.

The United States is tightening security in the face of a steady stream of intelligence indicating that al-Qaida may seek to mount an attack aimed at disrupting the November elections, the White House says.

The United States was gripped by new fears of a terrorist attack today after warnings that al-Qaida planned to launch an assault in the coming months.

Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong leaves for Washington and London tomorrow amid a growing debate in south east Asia on whether US help is required to protect busy Asian shipping lanes from terrorist attacks.

Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in Indonesia’s capital today as officers re-arrested a militant cleric accused of heading the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network and whisked him away for questioning – on the day of his release from prison.

Israel has defied world condemnation of the assassination of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, vowing to continue targeted attacks on terror group leaders.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar pledged today to find those responsible for the worst terrorist attack in Spanish history as the nation mourned the 198 who died in the string of train bombings.

US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said today that the overnight train bombings in Madrid will only reinforce the international resolve in fighting terrorism.

INDONESIAN cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, due to be released from prison next month, had “intense and deep” involvement planning and executing terror attacks, US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said yesterday.

THE Bush administration lowered the national terror alert level yesterday as Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said an urgent threat had passed.

A bad jobs report today halted Wall Street’s 2004 rally, sending stocks sharply lower as investors cashed in profits from the market’s recent advance.

FOREIGNERS entering US airports and seaports from all but 28 nations began being fingerprinted and photographed yesterday.

A TAPE purportedly featuring the voice of Osama bin Laden is most likely authentic, US officials said yesterday.

Intelligence experts say the tape of Osama bin Laden calling on Muslims to keeping fighting a holy war against the US is genuine.

Foreigners entering US airports and seaports from all but 28 nations will have their fingerprints scanned and photographs taken this week, in a tough new drive to tighten border security.

British Airways was seeking advice from the British government today on whether to operate its afternoon flight to Washington, after cancelling it for two days running because of fears over security.

The United States was seeing in the New Year amid unprecedented security in the face of a heightened terrorist threat.

The US will be seeing in the New Year amid the tightest-yet security, with the nation’s terrorism alert on its second-highest level.

The United States has ordered other governments to obey a new American requirement placing armed sky marshals on some flights to prevent hijackings, as the nation approached the New Year with terror threats high.

LONDON’S Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens urged the British public yesterday to be vigilant to potential terrorist activity over the festive period.

Travellers by air, land and sea are facing a massive security alert throughout the holiday period as the United States steels itself against a possible terrorist attack that US government officials say al-Qaida has signalled could be imminent.

THE dollar fell to a record low versus the euro in New York yesterday, after the US raised its security alert because of what officials called a “substantial increase’ in the potential for terrorism during the holidays.

THE head of the Department of Homeland Security in America yesterday urged people to “just go about your business” despite the decision to raise the national terror-attack warning to its second-highest level.

Wall Street pushed to new 52-week highs today as investors cautiously picked up shares on expectations of stronger growth in 2004. A heightened terror alert limited gains.