Administration officials are newly optimistic that the administration has turned the corner in making its case for continued U.S. involvement in Iraq. "People think things are going better," says a senior adviser to President Bush after assessing recent public-opinion polls. "They are still apprehensive, but they are starting to see that the surge [of U.S. troops into Iraq] has worked. There is more optimism that we can succeed."

The president of the University of California system has announced his resignation and will be leaving his post in June 2008.

AP - Toy-making giant Mattel Inc. issued recalls Tuesday for about 9 million Chinese-made toys that contain magnets children can swallow or which could have lead paint.

AP - Hurricane Flossie was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday but stayed on course to brush the Big Island, where schools were closed and residents were urged to stock up on food and water.

AP - Dozens of uniformed gunmen in 17 official vehicles stormed an Oil Ministry compound in Baghdad and abducted a deputy oil minister and three other officials, a ministry spokesman and police said.