BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Car bombs on crowded streets killed more than 50 people in Sunni Arab areas of Iraq on Tuesday, a sudden spasm of violence in regions which had been comparatively quiet while battles raged in the Shi’ite south.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Ukraine told Russia on Tuesday it would press on with attempts to join NATO despite the former imperial master’s staunch opposition to the plan, but also assured Moscow this would pose no threat to its security.

ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi, who has won a third term as prime minister in Italy’s parliamentary election, will hold talks with outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, a Kremlin spokesman said on Tuesday.