Since disclosing an alleged Iranian assassination plot on Tuesday, the Obama administration has offered tough rhetoric when it comes to holding Tehran accountable. Officials have also announced a handful of new sanctions. On Capitol Hill, they’re not impressed. Indeed, some of the most heated language on Iran has been coming from lawmakers. And while the toughest response has been from Republicans, Democrats also have been expressing growing impatience with the administration’s policy of trying to engage Iran through a series of carrots and sticks. Read full article > >

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Congress losing patience with Iran policy

RICHMOND — After hours of emotional debate, the Virginia Board of Health overwhelmingly approved far-reaching regulations for abortion clinics Thursday that some operators say could shut down many of the state’s 22 facilities. The very specific regulations , some of the toughest in the nation, include mandates on the size of exam rooms, the width of hallways and the number of parking spaces, as well as requirements for inspections, medical procedures and record-keeping. Read full article > >

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Va. Board of Health approves stricter rules for abortion clinics

Mike Flanagan was the best student of people, the toughest pitch-hurt competitor, the most unselfish teammate and the best world-leery wit of any Oriole of his time. Nobody was like him — at all. A few years ago, the O’s honored former manager Earl Weaver with a plaque that’s on the wall, waist-high, in their dugout. “Oh, life size,” Flanagan quipped. When he was a kid pitcher who allowed too many steals, Flanny threw a sideline session as Weaver watched. Suddenly Earl began running, yelling, “I just stole second on you.” Read full article > >

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Mike Flanagan brought unique perspective to the top of the mound

Arsene Wenger needs the full backing of Arsenal fans during his toughest period with the club, former chairman David Dein tells BBC Sport.

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Fans must back Wenger, says Dein

LONDON — Facing a public backlash against police restraint during four nights of rioting , Prime Minister David Cameron offered his toughest line yet on the violence, saying Wednesday that officers were authorized to use rubber bullets and water cannons in what he described as a “fightback” to retake English streets. His comments came as Britain, a nation of laws and a leading critic of crackdowns by totalitarian governments overseas, engaged in a heated debate over the methods it should use to combat lawlessness at home. As reinforcements were rushed to bolster police forces overwhelmed on Tuesday in Manchester and Birmingham, officials also warned that frustrated citizens were grouping together and sliding into vigilantism. Read full article > >

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London riots: Cameron vows ‘fightback’ amid public debate over police response

Women’s shelters in Afghanistan, long under fire from conservatives in the country, now face their toughest battle yet for survival. A government proposal now being considered would bar non-governmental organizations from running private safe houses and bring the 14 women’s shelters opened over the last decade under the direct control and supervision of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. read more

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Karzai Threatens to Close Afghan Women’s Shelters

Some of the toughest anti-smoking measures to be adopted in a major city is approved by local councillors in New York.

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Even Times Square out of bounds for smokers now

Now that the world knows, Nicole Kidman says keeping quiet about her new daughter Faith Margaret was one of the toughest things she’s ever had to do.

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Why Nicole Kidman kept Faith a secret

Jerry Brown promised to lead California out of one of the toughest budget crises of its history.

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In California, Governor Brown Redux

Spain sees the introduction of strict new anti-smoking rules that are among the toughest in Europe.

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Spanish smoking ban takes effect

A law in Spain that goes into effect Sunday bans smoking in indoor bars and restaurants, and gives the nation some of the toughest smoking restrictions in western Europe.

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Spain bans smoking at bars, eateries

Ministers must do more to show how reforms to the NHS will be pushed through without hitting patient care in what may be “the toughest year” in its 62-year history, a leading body warned.

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2011 ‘could be NHS toughest year’

Archive footage shows how the United Kingdom experienced the run up to Christmas in 1947, one of the toughest of the post-War ‘Austerity’ years.

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Britain’s original ‘Austerity’ Christmas

Irish lawmakers approved Tuesday the first leg of their toughest budget in years, one that seeks to cut $8 billion (€6 billion) in spending and is expected to hurt everyone from the country’s political elite to the poorest welfare recipients. To…

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Austere Irish Budget Passes First Vote

It’s not pretty watching a lion of Congress beg for mercy: New York Rep. Charles Rangel asked for “a drop of fairness and mercy” before the House ethics committee on Thursday as it considered censuring him-the toughest possible punishment short of…

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Rangel Begs for Mercy