In Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has issued a new challenge to President Bush — a televised debate. On Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said he would like to debate Bush about “world affairs” and the ways to solve them. He also defended Iran’s right to nuclear energy.

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: “Peaceful nuclear energy is the right of the Iranian nation. The Iranian nation has chosen that based upon international regulations, it wants to use it and no one can stop it.”

Ahmadinejad’s comments come ahead of the UN’s deadline Thursday for Iran to suspend nuclear enrichment. The Security Council has threatened sanctions if Tehran fails to comply.