US President George W. Bush was to be sworn in for his second term in office, mindful of a legacy shaped by the war on terrorism and Iraq. Asia The death toll from last month's Indian Ocean tsunami disaster rose towards a quarter of a million while floods hampered relief efforts in worst-hit Indonesia's Aceh province. Iraq At least 20 people were killed when insurgents went on a bloody seven-car bomb rampage in Iraq, targeting the Australian embassy in Baghdad and Iraqi security forces, with elections just 11 days away. Iraq Mediators helping China win the release of eight of its nationals taken hostage in Iraq were optimistic they would be freed as the deadline for their execution neared. Mideast Israel resumed contacts with the Palestinians but also gave the green light to a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip if new leader Mahmud Abbas fails to end attacks by militants. Ukraine Ukraine's supreme court throws out a final appeal over Viktor Yushchenko's election as president, clearing the way for the pro-Western reformer to assume power in the ex-Soviet nation after weeks of political turmoil. US A Senate panel cleared the nomination of Condoleezza Rice as US secretary of state after marathon confirmation hearings that highlighted deep partisan differences over Iraq and the war on terror. US A US federal judge has exempted Saudi Arabia, along with several of its leaders and financial institutions, from prosecution over the September 11 attacks, in a ruling welcomed by the kingdom's ambassador to Washington. Health Thailand confirmed its first outbreaks this year of the H5N1 strain of bird flu that can be deadly to humans, prompting authorities to declare a high alert throughout the country. Guinea Shots were fired at a convoy carrying Guinea President Lansana Conte in what security officials said was an attempt on the life of the ailing west African head of state. US A newly discovered cousin to the SARS virus may be the cause of several childhood illnesses, such as Kawasaki disease, which can damage the heart, said a new study. China Taiwanese ally Grenada signed a communique to establish diplomatic ties with China, state media reported. Grenada was among 26 countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan as opposed to China.