Iraqi Minister Survives: One Iraqi policeman was killed and at least two civilians were wounded in a roadside bomb blast in western Baghdad today (Tuesday). Another roadside bomb exploded as an Iraqi Cabinet minister was driving through an eastern district of the capital. Police say the government official (Suhaila Abed Jaafar, minister of displacement and migration) was unhurt, but three security guards in her convoy were wounded. A series of bomb attacks in Baghdad, Mosul and Karbala killed at least 24 people on Monday, including an American soldier.
Iran Nuclear: Iran says its delegation is leaving Moscow after two days of talks with Russian officials about a proposal to resolve Iran's nuclear standoff with the West. There were no report of progress. The two sides began meeting Monday to discuss a Russian proposal to allow Iran to enrich uranium on Russian soil for use in Iran's nuclear plants. The plan was aimed at easing Western concerns that Iran would use the process to produce bomb making material.
Palestinian Politics: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is today (Tuesday) expected to formally ask Hamas's prime minister-designate to form a new government. Hamas leaders officially presented Ismail Haniyeh as their choice for prime minister during talks with Mr. Abbas in Gaza City Monday. Haniyeh will have five weeks to name his cabinet. Hamas says it wants to build a coalition and it is holding talks with other Palestinian factions.
Philippines-Landslide: Rescuers in the Philippines are slogging through muddy terrain for a fourth straight day, as the likelihood of finding survivors from a massive landslide diminishes. Emergency workers in the village of Guinsaugon on Leyte island are concentrating today (Tuesday) on finding a school buried by Friday's landslide, after sensing equipment picked up sounds at the site. Officials say they are not sure what is causing the noise, but the sounds have raised hope that some people buried under the mud may still be alive.
Iran-Nuclear:Russian and Iranian officials have ended two days of talks in Moscow about a proposal to resolve Iran's nuclear standoff with the West. After today's (Tuesday's) session, the head of the Iranian delegation (Ali Hosseinitash) described the talks as "positive and constructive." Both sides said further discussions will be held in Tehran. But no date was announced.
Annan-Cartoons: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is making an unexpected trip to the Middle East this week in a personal effort to calm Muslims' violent reaction to cartoons that insult the Prophet Muhammad.
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