Iraq US tanks rolled into the centre of Fallujah in the largest military onslaught since last year's war, seizing one third of the rubble-strewn Iraqi city in skirmishes with rebels that left several troops dead. Mideast The death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was to be officially announced Wednesday at his Muqataa headquarters in Ramallah, a Palestinian official told AFP. Japan Japan was on alert after a suspected Chinese nuclear submarine entered its territorial waters, prompting Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to voice concern, officials and reports said. US President Bush visits US soldiers wounded in Iraq and calls the offensive in Fallujah a necessary assault against terrorists seeking to derail the path to democracy. Philippines A kidnapped Italian aid worker was recovered unhurt in the southern Philippines, the military said. ICoast Supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo clashed with French troops in a standoff that killed at least seven people, boosting tensions in Ivory Coast despite an upbeat assessment of peace prospects by South African President Thabo Mbeki. Sudan Delegates at peace talks on the bloody conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur made a major breakthrough as the government side bowed to international pressure and struck a deal to end hostilities. US US Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans resign, becoming the first senior officials to quit since President George W. Bush's election victory. Belgium Belgium's far-right Vlaams Blok was branded racist in a supreme court ruling that will force one of Europe's most successful anti-immigrant parties to relaunch itself. Japan Japan launched new talks with North Korea on the fate of Japanese abducted during the Cold War, warning of economic sanctions if the latest round did not yield progress.