US military: 2 soldiers die in Iraq in accident (AP)

AP - The U.S. military says two American soldiers have died in a vehicle accident in Iraq.

U.S. weighing China Internet censorship case: USTR (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States is studying whether it can legally challenge Chinese Internet restrictions that hurt Google and other U.S. companies operating in China, but direct talks with Beijing might yield faster results, the top U.S. trade official said on Tuesday.

Mandatory insurance proposed for UK dogs (AP)

AP - A chip for Spot? In a country where guns are tightly controlled and even carrying a kitchen knife can bring prison time, some thugs use dogs to menace their victims. Now the British government is proposing that dog owners be forced to get microchips and take out insurance for their pets.

Shots ring out near site of Christian-Muslim massacres (AP)

AP - Automatic weapons fire punctuated by screams erupted after dark Tuesday in a Nigerian city located near villages where massacres just two days ago left more than 200 people dead.

Israel, Syria pursue nuclear-powered Mideast (AP)

AP - Is the Middle East about to go officially nuclear?

Biden condemns new Israeli settlement plan (AP)

AP - Vice President Joe Biden condemned an Israeli plan to build hundreds of homes in disputed east Jerusalem on Tuesday, casting a cloud over a high-profile visit that had been aimed at repairing ties with the Jewish state and kickstarting Mideast peace talks.

AP Interview: Silva says Iran sanctions dangerous (AP)

AP - Brazil's president warned Tuesday that U.S.-proposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program could lead to war, and said he will make his own efforts to head off further conflicts — an example he said shows his country's growing global prominence.

Iran calls political opponents enemies of Islam (AP)

AP - A traditional Islamic concept about protecting the faith and its followers has become a judicial weapon for Iran's rulers: charging opponents as so-called enemies of God with the threat of possible death sentences.

China, India give qualified nod to climate deal (AP)

AP - China and India have given their qualified approval to the Copenhagen climate accord calling for voluntary limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

Lebanon's rival groups resume national dialogue (AP)

AP - Lebanon's political factions held a new round of national talks Tuesday, but Hezbollah made clear beforehand that its own arsenal was not up for discussion.

Suicide attack kills 2 NATO troops in Afghanistan (AP)

AP - NATO says a suicide attack on its forces in eastern Afghanistan has left two of its service members dead.

Pope's brother: I slapped pupils in the face (AP)

AP - The pope's brother says in a newspaper interview that he slapped pupils across the face after he took over a renowned German boys' choir in the 1960s. He also says he was aware of allegations of physical abuse at an elementary school linked to the choir, but did nothing about it.

Israel OKs 1,600 new homes in east Jerusalem (AP)

AP - Israel approved the construction of 1,600 new homes for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem on Tuesday — a move that immediately clouded a visit by Vice President Joe Biden aimed at repairing strained ties and kickstarting Mideast peace talks.

5 Somalis die as Islamists fight government (AP)

AP - Fighting between Islamist insurgents and Somali government forces killed five people in the capital on Tuesday, residents said.

NKorea has medium-range missile division: report (AP)

AP - North Korea has recently created an army division in charge of newly developed intermediate-range missiles capable of striking U.S. forces in Japan and Guam, a South Korean news agency said Tuesday.