SIMPLE PROCESS: The Taiwan Railway Administration said yesterday that it will try to ease the traffic gridlock during the Lunar New Year by offering advance bookings
By Wang Hsiao-wen
To ease the gridlock on the nation's roads during the Lunar New Year, passengers who like to plan ahead can start to book their trains or flights today, transportation officials said.

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HISTORIC OCCASION: Although Mahmoud Abbas was expected to take over from Yasser Arafat as new president, he had to get a clear mandate for reform
Palestinians held their first presidential election in nine years yesterday, choosing a successor to longtime leader Yasser Arafat in a vote many across the world hoped would usher in a moderate leadership and revitalize the Middle East peace process.

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HURRICANE-STRENGTH: A massive storm lashed the northern parts of Europe, packing wind speeds of more than 121kph and closing airports and some key bridges
At least 10 people were killed and hundreds of thousands were without power when a storm with hurricane-strength winds swept through northern Europe late on Saturday and early yesterday.

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Sudan's vice president and the country's main rebel leader signed a comprehensive peace agreement to end Africa's longest-running conflict yesterday, concluding an eight-year process to stop a civil war that has cost more than 2 million lives since 1983.

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