French President Nicolas Sarkozy spends the day with his family and his challenger Francois Hollande visits a market a day before the crucial second round.

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French ponder Sunday poll choice

Discerning the intentions of Iran’s leaders on the crucial steps to building a nuclear bomb is the most covert aspect of one of the world’s most difficult intelligence collection targets.

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Iran Intelligence Crisis Showed Difficulty of Assessing Nuclear Data

A controversial law sharply curtailing collective-bargaining rights for Ohio’s public employees is sinking in the polls, raising Democratic hopes that the measure’s defeat could boost their prospects in the crucial swing state in 2012. The law’s diminishing poll numbers have coincided with a decline in the approval ratings of Republican Gov. John R. Kasich, the measure’s most visible proponent. The drop is coming as the law’s union-led opponents have waged an energetic campaign against a measure that they say represents an overreach by the state’s Republican political leaders. Read full article > >

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Ohio ballot measure raises Democrats’ hopes for 2012

Rick Perry’s rapid lead over previous Republican front-runner Mitt Romney was predictable. But it is not a good sign for Republicans hoping to reclaim the White House and further highlights the crucial battle within GOP circles: Who is the godliest of us all? That’s the mirror-mirror question for Republicans. Forget charisma, charm, intelligence, knowledge and that nuisance, “foreign policy experience.” The race of the moment concerns which candidate is the truest believer. This was always a tough hurdle for Romney, whose Mormonism is reflexively distrusted by Southern evangelicals. Even so, in the absence of a better candidate, Romney had a fighting chance to win his party’s support. Then came Perry. Read full article > >

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Rick Perry, the Republicans’ Messiah?

URBANDALE, Iowa — In Washington, it’s all about the economy. But not here. As the Republican presidential candidates gear up for Saturday’s critical straw poll in Ames , they are aggressively targeting a network of pastors, parents who home-school their children, evangelicals and other conservatives who care as much about stopping gay marriage as they do about the debt ceiling. Whoever gains traction with this crucial constituency in Iowa could not only win the straw poll but could galvanize religious conservatives throughout the country who remain a powerful force in Republican politics. On Thursday night, GOP contenders squared off at a debate in Ames, hoping to more sharply define their candidacies. Read full article > >

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Ahead of Iowa straw poll, Republican contenders court former Mike Huckabee backers

A conference on Tuesday is being held to shape a vision of a post-Qaddafi era. On the battlefield, rebels were facing resistance in the crucial town of Surt.

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Rebels Stalled as Diplomats Meet on Libya in London

A business coalition asked the organization to oppose the interruption of the flow of the crucial minerals because of industrial policies or political disputes.

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Rare Earths Stand Is Asked of G-20

Graeme McDowell ensures Europe regain the Ryder Cup by winning the crucial last singles match at Celtic Manor.

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McDowell key man in Ryder Cup win

No matter how furious both countries get, they need each other.

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The U.S. and Pakistan: An alliance too crucial to fail

Shares in games company Nintendo sink on news that its new console will not be on sale during the crucial Christmas season.

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Nintendo hit by Christmas delay

A weakened Tropical Depression Five will likely reach the northern Gulf Coast late Wednesday or early Thursday and will stall the crucial work of permanently sealing BP’s ruptured oil well.

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Work on relief well resumes