US US President George W. Bush is to be sworn in for his second term in office, mindful of a legacy shaped by the war on terrorism and Iraq, and focused on spreading democracy as a seedling for peace throughout the world. US US President George W. Bush embarks on his second term in office with world leaders expressing hope that future relations with Washington will be marked by more openness and greater consensus on the international level. Asia Indonesia's military said it had killed 120 separatist rebels over the past two weeks in tsunami-devastated Aceh province, despite pledges by both sides to focus on a massive relief effort rather than fighting. Ukraine Ukraine set Sunday for president-elect Viktor Yushchenko's long-delayed inauguration, after the supreme court cleared the way for the pro-Western reformer to assume power in the ex-Soviet nation following weeks of political turmoil. Afghanistan Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostam narrowly escaped assassination when a suicide bomber blew himself up, injuring at least 21 people including Dostam's brother, officials said. Iraq The apparent deadline for the killing of eight Chinese hostages in Iraq passed with no official news of their fate, but mediators helping to secure their release expressed optimism. Iran Iran issued a new warning that it would respond to any threat by the United States in a escalating war of words over Tehran's nuclear activities which Washington claims is a cover for developing the bomb. Guinea Guinean police were questioning dozens of people and clamped a tight lid on the capital Conakry following a reported assassination attempt against ailing President Lansana Conte. Asia Norway's top peace envoys opened talks with Sri Lanka's political leaders in a bid to jump-start negotiations between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said. Iraq Britain lamented the impact of damaging photographs of British soldiers allegedly abusing Iraqi civilians, as their court martial was temporarily adjourned for legal reasons. Spain The Vatican laid down the law on condoms to Roman Catholic bishops across the world, saying the ultimate aim of forbidding the use of condoms was to discourage fornication. China British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrived in China for a one-day visit, state-run Xinhua news agency reported, amid expectations that a much-debated European arms embargo would top the agenda. Britain The British company P and O canceled a much-delayed luxury cruise on the liner Aurora after repair work on the ship's propulsion system turned out to be insufficient and around 350 of the 1,752 passengers had decided to leave the ship.