Iraq Supporters of Iraq's most wanted man, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, executed an Egyptian and two Iraqi drivers on a street in broad daylight, according to videos shown on a website. Iraq A suicide car bomb exploded at a checkpoint leading to Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's party offices in Baghdad, injuring 10 people, police and medical sources said. Iraq Eight Chinese hostages freed in Iraq were preparing to return home to their families after being handed to Chinese authorities at a mosque in the western city of Ramadi. Mideast Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was confident that the armed factions would soon call a formal ceasefire as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon acknowledged a respite in rocket attacks from Gaza. Mideast Syrian President Bashar al-Assad headed for Moscow, saying he was seeking a new path for peace in the Middle East rather than high-tech arms against arch rival Israel. US The northeastern United States was digging out from a blizzard, ranked among the five worst in the past century, that was linked to at least 18 deaths in eight states. US Foreign Secretary Jack Straw began a visit to Washington amid reported tensions over a US hardline on Iran's nuclear program and British support for lifting the European arms embargo on China. Ukraine Fresh from his inauguration as president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko was due to head for Moscow. Asia Japan's largest military deployment since World War II sailed to Indonesia to help tsunami victims as Tokyo seeks a larger security and political role on a wary world stage. Indonesia A strong earthquake shook Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing one person, severely injuring four others and prompting thousands to flee for fear of a repeat of last month's tsunami disaster. India Asian giants India and China opened a first round of "strategic dialogue", officials said, as their regional and international influence surges despite a nagging border dispute. Kenya Terrified villagers in Kenya's central Rift Valley continued to flee their homes, fearing new violence after at least 15 people were killed in weekend tribal clashes over water rights.