Afghanistan A US air strike in eastern Afghanistan last week killed 17 civilians, including women and children, a governor said, as the search continued for the missing comrades of a rescued US soldier.Iraq Iraqi and US troops combed suspected insurgent hideouts in west Baghdad after Egypt's ambassador designate became the first foreign head of mission kidnapped in the 15-month-old hostage crisis. US A US space projectile crashed head-on into a comet hurtling through the solar system in an unprecedented feat of technology that scientists hope will reveal the secrets of the Universe. Scotland US President George W. Bush threw cold water on prospects of a Kyoto-style deal on fighting global warming by the world's most powerful leaders, despite reports they were near an accord. Libya The African Union summit opened with representation of the world's poorest continent on a revamped UN Security Council and its relations with the G8 group of the world's richest nations topping the agenda. Singapore Prime Minister Tony Blair launched an intense round of last-minute lobbying to try to win the 2012 Olympics for London, but pointedly refused to predict success for what he called a "very strong" bid. Mideast An agreement for 750 Egyptian frontier guards to be deployed on the border into the Gaza Strip after Israel's pullout from the territory will be signed within a fortnight, a senior Israeli official said. Philippines Philippine shares plunged to six-month lows after the Supreme Court froze a key tax reform initiative of President Gloria Arroyo as she fought for political survival amid allegations of vote-rigging. Malaysia The bird flu virus remains as dangerous as ever and nations must do more to prepare for a pandemic among humans, United Nations agencies said at a conference on the deadly disease. Burundi Burundians were voting in the second of a series of elections, with former Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) rebels tipped to win the first parliamentary poll since 1993 after sweeping last month's local elections. Albania The two dominant figures in Albanian politics, Prime Minister Fatos Nano, leader of the Socialists and former president Sali Berisha, head of the Democrats, both claimed victory in parliamentary elections seen as a crucial test for the EU future of the Balkan country.