After Speech Obama And Republicans Face Budget Battle -- Yahoo News/Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama and Republicans are headed for a fight over deficit reduction and spending cuts despite a conciliatory State of the Union speech that set the tone for a looming budget debate.
Obama, with an eye on his 2012 re-election bid, used his Tuesday speech to further a move to the political center that he was forced to make after Republicans routed Democrats in congressional elections in November.
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MIDDLE EAST
Citing options, Iran rejects uranium deal, diplomat says. EU lawmakers seek to extend Iran sanctions.
Iraq: Maliki's new partners decry court ruling that would boost his powers. Critics accuse Iraq's Maliki of a power grab.
Calm returns to Lebanon after 2 days of protests. Tens of thousands protest in Lebanon as Hezbollah ally asked to form gov't.
MI6 'drew up plan to crush Hamas'.
ASIA
13 dead in Lahore blast, 3 dead in Karachi.
Kyrgyzstan president accuses US fuel supplier of trying to corrupt her son.
Hackers hijack North Korea's YouTube, Twitter.
S.Korea proposes North military talks Feb. 11 - media.
AFRICA
After day of protests, Egypt bans demonstrations. Heavy police deployment in Cairo after protests. Rage in Egypt: Images from anti-Mubarak protests.
Tunisia protests turn violent. Tunisia issues intl warrant for ousted president.
UN envoy proposes pirate courts in Somali enclaves. UN calls for Somali pirate chief hunt.
Gaddafi fears foreign meddling in Tunisia turmoil.
Fighting resumes in Darfur. Darfur rebels in heavy clashes with Sudan army. Darfur rebels and Sudan army in second clash in week.
Results of Sudan referendum set for early February.
Rwandan rebel leader to face war crimes charges.
Human rights group: Violence and rape in Ivory Coast used to intimidate Ouattara supporters. Gbagbo forces accused over killings, rapes in I. Coast. African states at odds on Ivory Coast crisis. Ivory Coast leader orders seizure of regional bank.
EUROPE
Criticism, finger-pointing after Russia airport attack. After Moscow attack, Russians question Putin's war on terror.
Russian parliament approves arms pact with U.S.
UK economy suffers 0.5% contraction. Bank of England chief Mervyn King: standard of living to plunge at fastest rate since 1920s.
Hitler's last bodyguard gives up on fan mail.
AMERICAS
U.S.: Gun raids show cartels at work in Arizona.
Colombia still deals with high crime rates despite security gains.
Mexican government: La Familia cartel in retreat. Mexican federal police kill mayor's bodyguard.
U.S. Senate leaders eye option of state bankruptcy.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Guantanamo inmate Ahmed Ghailani jailed for US embassy bombings. Gitmo detainee gets life sentence in embassy plot.
Egypt: Al Qaeda is growing in Gaza.
Accused Christmas Day bomber Abdulmutallab to face Oct. 4 terrorism trial.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Financial crisis was avoidable, inquiry finds.
A year later, Microsoft picture looks very different.
IMF chides US for fiscal folly.
WikiLeaks seeks more media partners.
U.S. financial crisis panel urges prosecutions of industry figures.