WASHINGTON – The Democratic Party chief said yesterday he was feeling more optimistic that Democrats would retain control of the U.S. Congress with just days left before the Nov. 2 election.
– – – –
GYEONGJU – Excited talk of currency wars has given way to an uneasy truce, but what has so far been a phoney war could yet break out into outright hostilities.
– – – –
PARIS – His ratings are in tatters and most of France loathes his pension reform, but President Nicolas Sarkozy hopes to turn the page swiftly with a cabinet reshuffle and some image-boosting initiatives as G20 president.
– – – –
BAGHDAD – A Sunni-backed, cross-sectarian alliance which won the most votes in Iraq’s March election said on Sunday it rejected the government’s auction of gas field contracts, adding a new element of uncertainty to the deals. – – – –
KABUL – Afghan President Hamid Karzai said yesterday he was committed to disbanding private security companies, but signalled he may consider exceptions for some development projects after Washington asked for more discussions.
– – – –
LANZHOU, China – Chinese police yesterday broke up protests against Japan in the northwestern city of Lanzhou over a territorial dispute that has stoked tensions between Asia’s two biggest economies.
– – – –
MOGADISHU – Somali pirates seized control of the German-owned merchant vessel Beluga Fortune in the Indian Ocean yesterday, the second hijacking in the region in as many days, a regional maritime official said.
GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba – Canadian captive Omar Khadr strolled across the sun-baked yard in one of the communal camps at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. detention center in Cuba, clearly aware that journalists were staring at him through the fence. – – – –
JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Palestinians on Sunday not to take unilateral steps towards statehood, saying Israel was working closely with Washington on ways to restart peace talks.
– – – –
WASHINGTON – The wife of a U.S. aid contractor jailed in Cuba has written to President Raul Castro expressing her husband’s regret for his work there and told Reuters the White House has done little to gain his release.
