Iraq Iraq claimed it had netted an aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who was plotting election day attacks as Al-Qaeda's Iraq supremo continued his war on the vote with a deadly car bombing in Baghdad. Mideast The top US Middle East envoy will travel to the region this week for talks with all parties on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, officials here said amid growing hopes for a ceasefire. UN UN Secretary General Kofi Annan vowed that the world body would fight vigorously against anti-Semitism and all forms of racism, in remarks observing the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi death camps. Russia Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko vowed to take historic ties with Russia in a new direction, but on a symbolic first trip to Moscow since taking office he assured President Vladimir Putin that Moscow would nonetheless remain an "eternal" partner. Iran Iran ruled out direct talks with Washington as Israel urged the world to take action against the Islamic republic's nuclear programme, warning it could destablise the Middle East. US US President George W. Bush will hold a working dinner with his French counterpart Jacques Chirac on February 21 during a visit to Brussels, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. US US President George W. Bush telephoned anti-abortion activists who held a rally here to condemn the Supreme Court ruling 32 years ago which made abortion legal. Asia A controversial Japanese military aid mission arrived in Indonesia's disaster-hit Aceh even as civilian groups were taking charge of relief efforts, while a new earthquake sparked a tsunami panic. Thailand Bangkok warned that bird flu could kill up to two million Thais as it announced an emergency plan to combat the disease, while Vietnam also ordered hospitals to prepare for a larger epidemic after recording its ninth bird flu death this year at the weekend. Europe A cold snap gripped much of western Europe with temperatures dipping below zero and snow and ice affecting traffic in many areas.