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PRAGUE (Reuters) - The United States signed a pact on Tuesday to build part of a U.S. missile defense shield in the Czech Republic, prompting neighboring Russia to warn it will react with military means if the shield is deployed.

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - The Shi'ite Mehdi Army militia is finished as a fighting force in Iraq's oil rich Basra province and upcoming provincial elections should pass without violence, the province's governor said on Tuesday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will hit Tel Aviv, U.S. shipping in the Gulf and American interests around the world if it is attacked over its disputed nuclear activities, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

TOYAKO, Japan (Reuters) - The United States formally apologized to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday for distributing to reporters an "insulting" biography of him that said he was "hated by many".

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Tuesday she had constructive talks with Poland's foreign minister on basing part of a missile defense system in Poland but declined to predict on whether the two sides would reach an agreement.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran started war games on Monday and its president rejected a demand by major powers that it stop enriching uranium as "illegitimate", showing no sign of backing down in a stand-off over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at the Group of Eight wealthy nations in a letter to a newspaper on Tuesday, saying their policies would "accelerate them along the road to a precipice," and reiterated he would not accept demands to halt uranium enrichment.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top U.S. Republican cited on Monday a surge in support among liberals for increased energy exploration as a reason why the Democratic-led Congress may act soon to allow expanded drilling in the United States.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Pakistan is not behind the suicide car-bombing that ripped through the Indian embassy in Kabul, killing 41 people and wounding 139, the country's prime minister said on Tuesday.

POWDER SPRINGS, Georgia (Reuters) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama rejected charges on Tuesday that he has shifted positions on Iraq and other issues as part of a move to the political center now that he is his party's nominee.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian communist parties said on Tuesday they were withdrawing support for the government after four years in protest against a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel closed all but one of its border crossings with the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in response to a mortar attack 24 hours earlier, Israeli officials said.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Five regional powers will hold disarmament talks with North Korea from Thursday, seeking agreement on how to check the account the secretive state gave of its nuclear activities, officials said on Tuesday.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The head of the Catholic Church in Australia was embroiled in a sexual abuse controversy on Tuesday, only days before Pope Benedict arrives in Sydney for a visit that could see abuse victims staging protests.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left on Monday for the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Georgia and perhaps Poland on a trip that illustrates their deepening U.S. ties despite Russia's objections.

SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) - Chinese president Hu Jintao thanked on Tuesday Japanese rescue teams that had searched for survivors of a devastating earthquake in May, soothing ties after a mix-up that saw the Japanese rescue no one.

TOYAKO, Japan (Reuters) - Big emerging economies will come under pressure on Wednesday to respond in kind to an initiative by rich countries to work towards a target of at least halving their global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

PAVSHYNO, Ukraine (Reuters) - "Who paid money to be a prisoner?" reads the graffiti on the wall of an illegal migrant detention camp in Ukraine where hundreds of Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Somalians and Vietnamese are being held.

LONDON (Reuters) - The Church of England's governing body confirmed on Monday it will ordain women bishops but also approved measures to accommodate traditionalist opponents.

MANILA (Reuters) - As inflation soars in the Philippines and gasoline prices climb relentlessly, more and more commuters in the capital are squeezing into suburban trains and public buses, putting an enormous strain on the services.