Iraq A car bomb exploded near a police patrol in central Baghdad, a day after a wave of similar attacks left at least 62 dead and scores wounded nationwide. Japan An outraged Japan said that China needed to learn better manners after it stood up Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as relations between the Asian powers worsened over memories of World War II. Iran Iran's foreign minister demanded that Britain, France and Germany come up with "positive" proposals during crisis talks on the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. Germany German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats will campaign for an expected general election without their current coalition partners the Greens, he told a German newspaper. OECD The United States needs to tighten monetary and fiscal policies to curb rising inflationary pressures as the economy's brisk growth is seen slowing in the second half of the year, the OECD warned. Iran Iran's reformist President Mohammad Khatami called on the armed forces, police and hardline militias to keep out of the presidential election next month. US US President George W. Bush and Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai signed a "strategic partnership" enabling long-term US involvement in Afghanistan's security as well as reconstruction. Libya A key regional summit of the five-nation Arab Maghreb Union has been postponed indefinitely, Mauritania's foreign minister said. Uganda A senior Norwegian diplomat has joined efforts to re-start stalled peace talks to end the brutal 17-year war between the Ugandan government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army. India India's defence minister said that weekend cinema blasts in New Delhi that killed one person and injured 49 appeared to be the "handiwork of terrorists" as police moved away from initial theories the bombs were planted by angry Sikhs. AFPEntertainment Michael Jackson is looking to some fellow stars to come to his defense as his lawyers wrap up their case, with US TV celebrity Jay Leno scheduled to take the stand.