Iraq Islamic militants executed British hostage Kenneth Bigley, it was announced, bringing a tragic end to a three-week ordeal, while US planes bombed a suspected hideout of an Islamic militant blamed for beheading several hostages. Mideast At least 30 people were killed and 120 wounded when car bombs exploded at resorts packed with Israeli holidaymakers on the Red Sea coast of Egypt's Sinai desert in attacks claimed by a group saying it belongs to Al-Qaeda. India At least 54 people have died and more than a million have fled their homes as torrential rains lashed parts of India and Bangladesh. Nobel Kenyan ecologist Wangari Maathai, whose campaign to save Africa's forests began with nine trees in her yard nearly three decades ago, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Russia Yukos won a stay of execution when a Russian official said its main production unit may have three months to scrape up cash to cover a crushing tax bill that could otherwise bury the wounded oil giant. France French police were investigating a possible terrorist connection after 10 people were slightly injured in a pre-dawn bomb blast outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris. Afghanistan Rockets rained on Afghan cities and military posts and a huge truck bomb was seized as the war-weary nation prepared for Saturday's historic presidential elections under the threat of further militant attacks. Australia Australians go to the polls Saturday with conservative Prime Minister John Howard expected to retain office for a fourth straight term as voters shrug off concerns about the country's role in the war in Iraq.