Iraq At least 26 people were killed as bombers penetrated Baghdad's fortress-like Green Zone and US aircraft pounded the insurgency den of Fallujah, as talks to avert war in that city appeared to unravel. US US President George W. Bush's administration announced a record 2004 budget deficit of 413 billion dollars, firing up a pre-election battle over the economy. US President George W. Bush's campaign accused his Democratic rival John Kerry of "attacking" the vice president's openly gay daughter by identifying her as a lesbian during their last presidential debate. Mideast Thousands of Israeli settlers and their supporters held dozens of simultaneous protests across the country against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to uproot the 8,000 Jewish residents of Gaza. US-Afghanistan The US military is investigating 28 soldiers over the deaths in 2002 of two detainees in American custody in Afghanistan, the US Army said. Oil-price NEW YORK: World oil prices raced to record highs as news of a decline in heating oil inventories rattled traders in the runup to the northern hemisphere winter. Afghanistan The first results in Afghanistan's historic presidential election put President Hamid Karzai in the lead as counting finally got underway after delays over fraud charges and boycott threats. US-Pakistan The United States reminded Pakistan's leader General Pervez Musharraf of his pledge to embrace democracy, but declined to criticize the adoption of a law by parliament prolonging his dual role as president and army chief. Cameroon Cameroon President Paul Biya has been re-elected for a fifth term in office with more than three quarters of votes cast, according to results from nearly all polling stations, the minister for territorial adminstration said. UN-Sudan-Kenya The UN Security Council is considering holding a formal meeting next month in Nairobi, a rare gathering outside the UN headquarters here aimed at pushing forward the peace process in Sudan, British ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said. Chile Augusto Pinochet is in no shape to stand trial for the killings of opponents to his military regime, said a doctor who examined the 88-year-old former dictator on a judge's orders.