Hi, everyone, I'm Asieh Namdar at the CNN.com newsroom in Atlanta. Here's a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

First to one of the deadliest attacks on US troops in Afghanistan in recent years. Nine Americans were killed in heavy clashes at a remote US base near the border with Pakistan. NATO says Taliban militants fired machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars from homes and mosques, triggering a major and bloody battle. The American deaths are the latest in a deadly wave of weekend violence that left at least 30 people dead across Afghanistan.

The prospect of peace between Israel and the Palestinians is on the table in Paris today at a summit of 40 Mediterranean countries. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says his country and the Palestinians have never been as close to reaching a deal. Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas says both sides are serious and want to achieve peace. Mr Olmert also says Israel hopes to begin direct talks with Syria soon.

President Bush says he prayed for the family of former White House press secretary Tony Snow in church today. President Bush calls Snow "a good friend who loved to laugh, loved his country and loved his family".

"We had some bad news this weekend. Our good friend Tony Snow passed away. Tony uh, you know, worked with us and made a lot of friends in the White House, uh, and Laura and I are, you know, we, we are really saddened by his, his death. "

Snow died of colon cancer yesterday. He was 53.

California failed IndyMac Bank reopens tomorrow under government supervision and a slightly different name: IndyMac Federal Bank. Depositors have been getting, by this weekend, all checks, debit cards and cash from automated tellers. Other services such as online banking will resume when the bank reopens.

And the Brangelina twins have arrived. Actress Angelina Jolie has given birth to twins, a boy and a girl in France. Their names are Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline. Doctors say the babies mom and proud papa are all doing fine.

And those are the headlines this hour. For more on these stories and other news of the day, CNN is your source online, on TV, or when you are on the go.