Quartet urges settlement freeze The international Quartet of Mid-East peace mediators urges Israel to freeze settlement activity in occupied territories. Rio Tinto China deal ahead of trial Rio Tinto signs a deal with China to develop a huge iron ore project in Guinea, days before four of its executives go on trial in Shanghai. Swiss probe deportee's death Switzerland halts special flights to deport asylum seekers after a Nigerian man on hunger strike died at Zurich airport. Papal letter on Irish sex abuse Pope Benedict writes a letter to the Catholics of Ireland on how to deal with the sexual abuse of children by priests. Taliban arrests halt UN contacts A former UN envoy to Afghanistan says Pakistan's arrest of Taliban leaders halted a channel of secret UN contact.