BEIRUT — Fears of an as-yet-undefined Middle Eastern war are darkening the horizons of a Middle East that only a year ago was celebrating the fall of dictators, the ascent of people power and the promise of a new era of democracy. Read full article > >

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Threats of war cloud hopes for Middle East

This post has been updated. Just over a year ago, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) sat outside a Tucson Safeway meeting with constituents. A hail of bullets ended the meeting, killing six people and greviously injuring Giffords. Read full article > >

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Gabrielle Giffords finishes ‘Congress On Your Corner’ meeting

The parliament elected in Egypt’s first legislative vote after Hosni Mubarak’s ouster nearly a year ago held its inaugural session on Monday, with Islamists dominating the 498-seat chamber that will oversee the drafting of a new constitution.

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First Post-Mubarak Parliament Holds Session

British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged Iran on Monday to “come to its senses” by resuming negotiations that were suspended a year ago on its nuclear program.

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Iran Urged to Negotiate as Europe Agrees on New Sanctions

Tunisians unveil a statue in honour of the man whose act of self-immolation a year ago unleashed the Arab Spring.

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Tunisia unveils Bouazizi statue

One year ago, FotoEvidence launched its first call for documentary projects. The second begins today. But despite its early success, the Web site’s financial sustainability could prove be a challenge.

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Lens Blog: Social Documentary Web Site Enters Its Second Year

As high street names such as Marks and Spencer and Next close stores in Newport, what does it mean for a city which only a year ago was in the global sporting spotlight?

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City centre fears at shop exodus

A year ago this month, Michelle A. Rhee resigned as D.C. schools chancellor, ending a tenure as contentious and turbulent as that of any urban school leader in memory. “The best way to keep the reforms going is for this reformer to step aside,” she declared . What footprints remain from Rhee’s 3 1 / 2 years in Washington? An examination of her legacy, with a year’s perspective, reveals a mixed picture of hits, misses, long-term effects and continuing question marks for the 45,000-student system. Read full article > >

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Michelle Rhee’s D.C. schools legacy is in sharper focus one year later

Grimsvotn volcano is larger than Eyjafjallajokull eruption that upended global travel and trade one year ago, but scientists say it is unlikely to have the same widespread effect. Read full article > >

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Icelandic volcano spews ash, smoke and steam

Positives and negatives in the economy are reminiscent of those from a year ago, when the recovery sputtered.

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Economic Scene: Flirting With a Repeat of a Stunted Recovery

A Corus steel plant on Teesside, which was mothballed a year ago, is sold to a Thai company securing at least 700 jobs.

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Steel plant sale secures 700 jobs

It seems the U.S. government is still awarding no-bid contracts. The U.S. Agency for International Development recently gave a $266 million contract for an electricity project in southern Afghanistan, despite saying a year ago that it would open the…

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U.S. Still Awards No-Bid Contracts

Mortgage lending fell 5% in November compared with the previous month and was down 10% on a year ago, lenders say.

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Mortgage freeze felt in November

Collections were up in the third quarter compared to a year ago, but still lagged behind 2008.

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Economix: States Find a Rebound in Tax Receipts

UK property sales were down 11% in October from a year ago, according to figures from HM Revenue & Customs.

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UK property sales ‘down by 11%’