* Rebuilding Iraq’s economy, brick by brick Improved security means the U.S. may bring in experts from other Middle Eastern countries to train Iraqi workers.

* Russia says no Iran sanctions for START deal Russia will not agree to tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program in exchange for a new nuclear arms cuts deal with Washington.

* China demands Turkish retraction China has demanded that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan retract his accusation that Beijing practised genocide against ethnic Uighurs.

* Arab source: 2 IDF ships crossed Suez Canal Two IDF battleships crossed the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea on Tuesday.

* Euro parliament elects new leader The European Parliament has elected former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek as the chamber’s president.

* Syria to EU: Israel obstacle to peace Israel poses an obstacle to peace in light of its continued blockade on Gaza.

* Int’l project seeks to inscribe Bible in 100 languages Thousands of people from around the world are taking part in an interfaith effort to hand-inscribe 100 Bibles in their native languages and display them at a Jerusalem museum.

* Promoting Holy Land Tourism in the USA The Ministry of Tourism has embarked on a campaign to further promote North American tourism to Israel.

* NATO air defense drills begin in the Baltic NATO states will start in the Baltic states on Tuesday a series of air defense exercises involving Czech fighter jets.

* Kaddoumi: Mahmoud Abbas Helped Kill Arafat Farouk al-Kaddoumi, a senior Palestine Liberation Organization leader, claims that Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas was directly involved in the murder of former PA chairman and terrorist leader Yasser Arafat.