US President Barack Obama unveiled new sanctions on Iran's central bank Monday, tightening an economic choke hold with speculation rampant over a possible Israeli strike on Tehran's nuclear program.

The United States closed its embassy in Damascus on Monday and vowed "greater action" aimed at ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as it weighed a dwindling set of diplomatic options after a stinging setback at the United Nations.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday he did not think Israel had made a decision on whether to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear installations, a threat that has rattled the region.

A protest against embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh outside a luxury hotel in New York got heated Sunday when demonstrators saw him leave the building, with one charging toward him and another throwing a shoe.

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich looked to a “Super Tuesday” vote bonanza in March to rescue his faltering campaign after a second consecutive thumping from rival Mitt Romney.

A major political party in Mexico has chosen a female presidential candidate for the first time, as the ruling party bet that a charismatic former congresswoman will help it erode the lead held by its powerful rival.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday that he deserved to be re-elected because the U.S. economy is adding jobs and recovering, in stark contrast to the bleak monthly unemployment hikes he inherited in 2009.

Finland's conservative pro-European Sauli Niinisto won Finland's presidential election on Sunday, easily defeating Green liberal challenger Pekka Haavisto as had been widely expected.

Syrian forces Monday pounded powder keg Homs with rockets and mortars and shelled another protest hub, activists said, as outrage grew over a Russia-China veto of a U.N. resolution to stop the violence.

The main Palestinian political rivals on Monday took a major step toward healing their bitter rift, agreeing that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would head an interim unity government to prepare for general elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.