1. Gunmen kidnapped up to 150 scientists and teachers from a Baghdad higher education office today, the largest mass abduction since the war began. At least 3 people were later released unharmed.

2. Iran's president says his country's nuclear fuel program is almost complete. Speaking at a conference in Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also said Iran would talk with the United States if it behaves correctly.

3. A California man whose violent arrest was captured on tape is now speaking out about the videotape beating. He says he got at the hands of Los Angeles police. "But they started giving me blows left and right" William Cardenas has been wanted on charges of receiving stolen property. The arrest is under investigation.

4. Excitement is growing in Rome where Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are rumored to be married this weekend. The actor flew into the Italian capital Monday on a private jet that carried 10 people. The paparazzi and excited fans have already staked out their spots outside the couple's hotel.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. at the hands of : PHR
If someone experiences a particular kind of treatment, especially unpleasant treatment, at the hands of a person or organization, they receive it from them.

2. be rumoured to be: V-PASSIVE
If something is rumoured to be the case, people are suggesting that it is the case, but they do not know for certain.

3. paparazzi : N-COUNT
The paparazzi are photographers who follow famous people around, hoping to take interesting or shocking photographs of them that they can sell to a newspaper.

4. stake out : PHR
If you stake out a position that you are stating or a claim that you are making, you are defending the boundaries or limits of the position or claim.