UN pulls arms inspectors out of Iraq
The UN special commission said today it was withdrawing its weapons inspectors from Iraq. The move comes amid reports that the United States is preparing to launch a military strike against Iraq in a bid to force Baghdad to back down from its August 5 decision to freeze all cooperation with UN inspectors.

Dalai Lama meets Clintons, angers China
Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader Dalai Lama engaged almost the entire top American leadership, including President Clinton, in Washington on Tuesday, provoking renewed outrage from China which regards him as a troublesome separatist.

Microsoft, Qualcomm launch wireless joint venture
Microsoft Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. announced a joint venture aimed at expanding the availability of information over wireless devices including telephones, hand-held appliances and computer modems.

  France, Cuba to ease debts of Mitch-ravaged countries
  Israel cabinet to resume debate on Wye River peace agreement
  Albright to stand up for Anwar during APEC week
  Return of Brezhnev
  Russia to double military hardware supply to India
  Dutch group Baan now scrambles to hang on
  Sotheby's says investments push third-quarter loss wider
  OfficeMax Q3 meets scaled-back forecasts
  Miyazawa $30 bn plan could bail out banks
  European car market set for 3-year decline
  NatSteel Electronics buys IT firms
  British economy steps back from the brink
  Commodity Briefing
  Australia introduces wool stockpile freeze bill
  Japanese traders wary about Cargill deal
  US oil industry hopes for Asian recovery by 2000
  USDA hopes for quick Russia aid wrap-up
  Cargill-Continental deal leaves US traders wary