28 February: Iran, Syria, to join US at regional summit to contemplate new strategies for securing Iraq, ending sectarian conflict... Globe and Mail reports "the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor yesterday named a Sudanese government minister and a militia commander as the first suspects he wants tried for crimes against humanity in Darfur"; move is tribunal's first attempt to prosecute a government minister...

23 February: US soldier sentenced to 100 years in prison for role in brutal rape, multiple homicide in Iraq conflict zone; deal reached with prosecutors may allow him to leave prison as soon as 10 years from now...

19 February: Bomb attack on train near Delhi, India, kills at least 66 people; descriptions from the scene include severe charring of carriages, victims; worries widespread that attack could provoke collapse of ongoing peace negotiations between nuclear states India, Pakistan...

11 February: AP reports "Iran's nuclear program is not a threat to Israel and the country is prepared to settle all outstanding issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency within three weeks, its top nuclear negotiator said Sunday"...

10 February: US Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) officially announces bid to become next US president, before estimated crowd of over 10,000 cheering supporters...

5 February: One day after proposing record Pentagon budget, Pres. Bush calls for Congress to refrain from excessive spending; new Bush budget includes 10.5% increase in military spending, is expected to request $245 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan alone, deep cuts to social programs, including eliminating funding for health insurance for underprivileged children; annual deficit currently estimated at $750 billion...

4 February: 3 top fmr US military officers have warned against striking Iran, saying move would be "disastrous" for security in the region and for the safety of US forces operating in Iraq; 2 generals, 1 vice admiral have called for US to start diplomatic negotiations now to prevent further escalation of tensions over Tehran nuclear program... US urges UN security council to pressure Burmese military junta to free pro-democracy activist, move toward free elections; move would be first enforceable UN action against Rangoon junta...

3 February: As fighting rages between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah, Reuters reports US considering increasing assistance to Fatah leader Abbas, with 10,000 additional troops, including Jordan-based militia considered loyal to Fatah; current support is directed to some 4,000 members of Abbas' presidential guard... Despite saying global environment report is vital, will be considered, Bush admin. has rejected calls to cap emissions of carbon dioxide; Congressional leaders have indicated they will continue to push for legislation that takes action to stop the emission of greenhouse gases and reduce the threat of global warming... All Italian soccer events have been indefinitely suspended after rioting fans killed a police officer in the wake of a turbulent match between Palermo and Catania; Italian football commissioner said "The football tournaments will remain suspended until we solve the violence in our football"...

1 February: Luzius Wildhaber, fmr chief judge of European human rights court, says he may have been poisoned by Russian operatives during visit to Moscow, only days before Litvinenko fell ill in London radiation poisoning; Wildhaber collapsed after return from Moscow, was diagnosed with "severe blood poisoning", near death, has been harshly criticized by Kremlin as anti-Russian for hearing human rights complaints brought by Chechens; a fellow lawyer who dined with Wildhaber in Vladimir, Russia, on the day he apparently contracted his illness, also fell ill, described sleeping 18 to 20 hours per day upon return from Russia; spokesman for European court says there is no evidence as yet to suggest the case of septicemia was suspicious... Virgin brand opens new private stem-cell bank; customers can store umbilical cord blood and stem cells in deep freeze, awaiting possible advances in stem cell science to treat debilitating or terminal diseases...