As international aid rushes to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines, groups say rescue and relief efforts are being slowed by roadblocks caused by massive amounts of debris. Three days after Typhoon Haiyan came ashore, authorities are still struggling to even gauge the extent of the devastation.

Daniel Schearf has more.

Supplies of emergency food, water, and sanitation are being flown in by helicopter to the storm-damaged central Philippines, three days after a record super typhoon.
 
Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, slammed into eastern Leyte and Samar islands on Friday, obliterating everything in its path and cutting off supplies of power and water, as well as crucial road links.
 
U.S. military C-130 planes, filled with relief supplies and Marines, began arriving in Tacloban, the devastated capital of Leyte, on Monday.  

In Asia, Japan and Singapore were sending medical and rescue teams. China said it is pledging humanitarian aid.

Daniel Schearf,SEOUL.

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The United Nations and Iran have agreed to cooperate on resolving outstanding issues regarding the country's nuclear program.

Talks Monday between the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano and Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi yielded a pan that will allow wider U.N. inspections.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday during a visit to Abu Dhabi that critics, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, must recognize that world leaders have not yet reached any agreement in their talks with Iran.

He said the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany were united on the plan they presented to Iranian negotiators Saturday in Geneva, but that Iran could not accept it at that time.

Syria's main opposition coalition says it will take part in peace talks with the government if certain conditions are met, including allowing aid workers to visit besieged areas.

The Syrian National Coalition announced its decision in a statement Monday after two days of talks in Istanbul.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry praised the announcement, saying the group's participation would be a "big step forward."

The group wants the government to guarantee the establishment of humanitarian corridors, the release of detainees and for the peace negotiations to result in a political transition in Syria.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to sign a peace agreement Monday with M23 rebels, a week after the group announced it would stop fighting to pursue its goals through political means.

The signing is taking place in neighboring Uganda, which has hosted peace talks between Congo and M23. The agreement is expected to detail the process for demobilizing rebel fighters, some of which are likely to be integrated into the Congolese army.

Pakistani education officials have banned Malala Yousafzai's book from private schools across the country, claiming it does not show enough respect for Islam and has turned the teenage activist into what they called a "tool of the West."

Malala attracted global attention last year when the Taliban shot her for criticizing the group's interpretation of Islam, which limits girls' access to education.

Her profile has risen steadily since then, and she released a memoir I Am Malala last month.

The UN's top court has ruled that the area around an ancient temple on the Thai - Cambodian border belongs to Cambodia.

The International Court of Justice ruled Monday that Cambodia has sovereignty over the whole territory surrounding the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Hindu temple.

The prime ministers of both Cambodia and Thailand have vowed to comply with the verdict.

Asia-Pacific stock markets closed mostly higher today.

From VOA News center,I'm David Deforest.More news on the internet at geilien.cn