1. President Bush says he doesn't expect the violence in Iraq to abate anytime soon. He says he expects heavy fighting to continue for the next few months with more American and Iraqi casualties.

2. The head of the UN nuclear agency says he agrees with CIA estimates that Iran is 3-8 years from being able to make nuclear weapons. The agency says the best way to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear arms is for the US and other powers to hold talks with the nation.

3. Scientists are taking a break in their efforts to lure a pair of injured whales back to the Pacific. The mother whale and her calf were last spotted swimming about 70 miles from the ocean. They both have injuries that scientists say were likely caused by boats.

4. A Maryland woman is fighting to get her monkey back. She kept this little guy as a pet and treated him like a baby until state officials confiscated him. A new state law forbids anyone from importing, selling, breeding or having such animals.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. abate: verb
If something bad or undesirable abates, it becomes much less strong or severe. (FORMAL)

2. confiscate: verb
If you confiscate something from someone, you take it away from them, usually as a punishment.