MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's Foreign Minister says Moscow and Washington have made "considerable" progress toward reaching agreement on a new strategic arms treaty. During a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (SEHR'-gay LAHV'-rahf) also said the U.S. and Russian positions on Iran's nuclear program "coincide."

JERUSALEM (AP) — An internal memo being circulated among members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' political party says any hopes in the Obama administration "have evaporated." The document accuses the U.S. of failing to set a clear agenda for new Mideast peace talks and backing off demands that Israel freeze settlement construction.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's effort to remake the nation's health care system is about to take a major step yet toward becoming reality. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to approve a 10-year, $829-billion plan today. It would require nearly all Americans to purchase insurance and usher in a host of other changes.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Human rights groups are saying U.N. peacekeepers are not doing enough to protect civilians in eastern Congo. A coalition of 84 groups released a report today saying more than 1,000 civilians have been killed and nearly 900,000 displaced since January. It says many of the killings were carried out by Rwandan Hutu militiamen, but Congolese government soldiers also have targeted civilians.

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Opening arguments are scheduled today in the trial of a Texas border town's mayor. Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada is charged with abuse of official capacity, misapplication of fiduciary property and theft after a $26,000 check for a city vendor was deposited into his personal account.