TEHRAN – An Iranian nuclear scientist was blown up in his car by a motorbike hitman yesterday, prompting Tehran to blame Israeli and U.S. agents but insist the killing would not derail a nuclear programme that has raised fears of war and threatened world oil supplies.
– – – –
BEIRUT – An Algerian has quit the Arab League team sent to check Syria’s compliance with an Arab peace plan, and a second monitor said he might leave because the mission was failing to end the killing of civilians protesting against the president’s rule.
– – – –
ABUJA – The threat of disruption to Nigerian oil output may force President Goodluck Jonathan’s government to negotiate with unions as an indefinite, nationwide strike and protests over fuel subsidy cuts enters its fourth day today.
– – – –
COLUMBIA – Republican presidential contenders brought buckets of cash and sharp rhetoric to South Carolina yesterday for an intense 10-day battle that may determine whether anyone can stop front-runner Mitt Romney’s march to the party’s nomination.
– – – –
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama vowed yesterday to help bring jobs home from overseas and promised new tax proposals to reward companies that invest in America as he launched an election-year effort to show he is tackling high unemployment.
– – – –
BUDAPEST – Hungary must convince the International Monetary Fund today it is willing to change its ways in return for aid to remain solvent, a day after the European Union flagged the threat of legal action over hard-line reforms.
– – – –
LONDON – A backlash against rising inequality – evident from the Occupy movement to the Arab Spring – risks derailing the advance of globalisation and represents a threat to economies worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum.
– – – –
WASHINGTON – The U.S. resumption of drone strikes against militant targets in Pakistan does not signal an improvement in deeply frayed relations between Washington and Islamabad, U.S. officials and experts said yesterday.
