CAIRO – Rival Islamist groups sought more gains in the second round of Egypt’s parliamentary election yesterday, with liberals also fighting for a voice in an army-led transition that began with the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
– – – –
BEIRUT – Syrian troops swept into the city of Hama to break a three-day strike by opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, killing at least 10 people but running into resistance from armed insurgents who destroyed two armoured vehicles, activists said.
– – – –
VIENNA – Iran could soon begin sensitive atomic activities in an underground facility deep inside a mountain, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday, a move that would up the ante in a stand-off with big powers demanding Tehran curb such work.
– – – –
BAGHDAD – Nearly nine years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq ousted Saddam Hussein, American troops are pulling out and leaving behind a country still battling insurgents, political uncertainty and sectarian divisions.
– – – –
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats yesterday considered dropping their proposed surtax on millionaires in a bid to reach a deal with Republicans to extend a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans set to expire at year’s end.
– – – –
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s re-election hopes in 2012 could be getting brighter as the bruising Republican nomination fight intensifies and the struggling U.S. economy shows signs of hope.
– – – –
JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday approved steps to crack down on violent ultra-nationalist Jewish settlers after a rampage at a West Bank military base and torching of a mosque’s facade stirred public outrage.
– – – –
BERLIN/FRANKFURT – Germany’s chancellor and central banker urged Europe to stick to stricter budget discipline and forget about one-shot solutions after financial markets judged that another EU summit had failed to resolve the euro zone’s debt crisis.
