FROM ROBBIE GIBB, PROGRAMME PRODUCER
Hello,
With just two weeks to go before the Iraqi elections the violence continues unabated. Today there were five car bombs, claiming at least 26 lives, in Baghdad alone.
There are also serious concerns that the publication of photos of some British troops abusing prisoners at Camp Bread Basket may put their colleagues, who will have a key role providing security for the forthcoming ballot, at greater risk.
We'll be asking the Iraqi ambassador to London, Dr Salah Al-Shaikhly if the elections can really go ahead as planned and, if they do, whether this will do anything to reduce the bloodshed.
Gavin Esler is in Washington for tomorrow's Presidential inauguration and Newsnight's Economics Editor, Stephanie Flanders, will be examining what America and the world can expect from George W Bush's second term.
We'll be talking to President Clinton's Labour Secretary, Robert Reich, and leading Republican strategist Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, asking if George Bush will implement a radical domestic agenda and if he can improve America's international reputation.
One of the few glimmers of hope that came from the Indian Ocean tsunami was an anticipation that the shared horrors might bring a greater understanding between the two sides in Sri Lanka's long running civil war.
This weekend a Norwegian delegation is holding talks with both the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government to try to facilitate a lasting peace in the east and the north of the country where the guerrillas have been fighting for 20 years to set up a separate state. We have a report from David Lomax.
And is learning grammar a waste of time? We interview Professor Richard Andrew from York University who is the author of a new government funded report that claims that grammar should be dropped as a separate subject in schools as it doesn't help children to learn to read and write.
Join us at 10.30pm.
Robbie Gibb
If you have a story for Newsnight, please send us an email via our website:
bbc.co.uk/newsnight 
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