BEIRUT – Syrian rebels said they shot down an army helicopter yesterday as they battled government forces backed by air power and artillery in the fiercest fighting to hit Damascus since the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad erupted last year.
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CAIRO – Supporters of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood brawled with their opponents in court on Tuesday, delaying rulings that might help define the powers of new Islamist President Mohamed Mursi as he seeks more autonomy from the military.
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IRWIN, Penn. – Republican Mitt Romney shrugged off growing pressure on Tuesday to release more of his tax returns, and his campaign lashed out at President Barack Obama in an effort to turn the campaign debate away from Romney’s business and financial record.
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LONDON – Barclays was in such denial about the scandal over its interest rate manipulation that Bank of England chief Mervyn King said he had to tell it that regulators had lost confidence in Bob Diamond as chief executive days before he resigned.