Iraq Three people were killed in a car bomb attack on a police station near the powderkeg city of Kirkuk, as insurgents aimed to make good on threats to escalate violence ahead of Iraq's landmark elections. Poland World leaders began converging on southern Poland for two days of emotional ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the biggest Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, where more than one million people died. Mideast Israel and the Palestinians resumed political contacts and finalised an agreement on the deployment of thousands of Palestinian security forces to curb attacks in flashpoint southern Gaza. US The US Senate was set to confirm Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state after the opposition Democrats blasted her for her role in crafting US policy in Iraq in a failed attempt to defeat her bid for the post. US The US budget deficit is likely to hit a record 427 billion dollars in fiscal 2005, going deeper into the red as a result of a special funding request for Iraq and the war on terrorism, new estimates showed. Switzerland Troubled by the limp dollar and facing calls to do more to curb poverty and climate change, more than 2,000 political and business leaders convened in the Swiss resort of Davos to talk, network and ponder the world's pressing problems. Asia A mournful silence for the dead was observed as people around the Indian Ocean recalled the day one month ago when tsunami waves crashed ashore, taking families, friends and homes. India Tearful relatives collected bodies after at least 257 Hindu devotees, mainly women and children, were crushed or burnt to death during a pilgrimage disaster in western India. China Family members of deposed Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang want his funeral to be held Saturday but are still wrangling with the government over arrangements, a daughter-in-law said. Spain Recovery of tourism infrastructure in areas hit by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean was in focus when the 25th Spanish International Tourism Fair opened.