AFP - Democratic White House candidate Barack Obama was in Iraq on a fact-finding tour on Monday, days after confirming plans to withdraw US troops from Iraq in 16 months if he takes office next year.

AFP - Two people were killed Monday in explosions aboard two public buses in a major Chinese city that were deliberately set off, police said, in an incident likely to heighten Olympic security concerns.

Reuters - Pope Benedict met four Australian victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy on Monday at a private Mass, an unscheduled meeting that underlined his weekend public apology and condemnation of sexual abuse in the Church.

Reuters - Sputtering talks on ending North Korea's nuclear plans will gain a higher profile this week with an unprecedented meeting of ministers, but lingering questions on the North's ambitions threaten to drag the process down.

Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran on Monday that it faced more sanctions if it defied a two-week deadline to agree to curb its nuclear program.

Reuters - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama flew into Iraq on Monday, thrusting U.S. strategy in the country and troop levels to the centre-stage of the November election race.

AP - Padraig Harrington enjoys few moments more than the walk down 18th fairway of a century-old links course, especially with a four-shot lead in the British Open and the engraver putting the final touches on the oldest trophy in golf.

AP - Batman has sent Spidey packing as king of Hollywood's box-office superheroes.

AP - Half of Beijing's drivers left their cars at home and took public transportation instead on Monday, the first workday under new restrictions meant to clear this city's notoriously polluted skies before next month's Olympics.

AP - Hundreds of thousands of tractor-trailer and bus drivers in the United States carry commercial driver's licenses despite also qualifying for full federal disability payments, and some of those drivers have suffered seizures, heart attacks or unconscious spells, according to a new U.S. safety study obtained by The Associated Press.