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Army ultimatum to resolve political crisis expires at 14:30 GMT with leaks projecting draft constitution to be scrapped. Egypt is bracing for a showdown between the military and President Mohammed Morsi, who has rejected an army ultimatum to end a political crisis with his opponents, vowing to stay in office. The ultimatum expires at 4:30pm (14:30 GMT) on Wednesday but the army said on its Facebook page that it had set no times for issuing statements or speeches. The political wing of the ruling Muslim Brotherhood refused an invitation to meet the armed forces commander on Wednesday, hours before deadline....

FRANKFURT — The sovereign debt crisis would seem to create worry enough for European banks, but there is another gathering threat that has not garnered as much notice: the trillions of dollars in short-term borrowing that institutions around the world must repay or roll over in the next two years. The European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund have all recently warned of a looming crunch, especially in Europe, where banks have enough trouble raising money as it is. Their concern is that banks hungry for refinancing will compete with governments — which also must...

WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama was Thursday due to receive initial findings into the botched bombing of a US plane, amid reports that US agencies failed to share key information about the would-be bomber. According to The Washington Post, the report details how agencies failed to divulge or highlight intelligence gathered about the young Nigerian who allegedly tried to blow up the Northwest plane in mid-air on Christmas Day. "The right information did not get to the right people -- there's no question about that," a senior intelligence official told the US daily. "If all known information had been...

GUATEMALA CITY — He calls himself the Antichrist, wears the number 666 tattooed on his arm and claims a following of 2 million people. And Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is coming to Guatemala whether it wants him or not.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2006 – An investigation of alleged improprieties conducted by U.S. military information operations activities in Iraq is nearly complete for presentation to the Multinational Force Iraq commander, a senior Defense Department spokesman told reporters here today. Navy Rear Adm. Scott R. Van Buskirk, a member of Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr.'s staff, is in charge of the review that began in early December. Casey, the commanding general of Multinational Force Iraq, is now in Washington along with other military commanders for senior-level meetings with Pentagon officials. "My understanding of it is that Admiral Van Buskirk is...

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - In 1997, two figures clad in black slipped through the northern Wisconsin pines and let hundreds of minks out of their cages. Nearly eight years later, a man identified by authorities as one of those figures, Peter Daniel Young, is about to be brought to Wisconsin for trial on federal charges in a case that could open a window on the radical animal-rights movement, which federal authorities regard as a growing terrorist threat. While his alleged accomplice was captured six years ago, Young was on the run for more than seven years before a San Jose,...

While officials savor the APEC meeting as a confirmation of their nation's status, those opposed to globalization make plans to protest. SANTIAGO, Chile — A 29-year-old math teacher who goes by the name Patricio says that as soon as President Bush arrives in this South American capital Friday, the fighting will begin. "We'll knock down some barriers, set some fires, paint some graffiti," said the anti-globalization activist who declined to provide his real name. "We are going to go where the police don't want us to go." Bush is traveling here for the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum,...

PLO meets as Arafat awaits results From Lamia Radi in Ramallah October 31, 2004 FORMER Palestinian premier Mahmud Abbas urged Palestinian forces to unite overnight, pledging loyalty to Yasser Arafat, as he moved to the political centre stage with the strongman sick in hospital. Mr Abbas spoke after chairing the first Palestine Liberation Organisation executive meeting without Mr Arafat, amid speculation that the Palestinian leadership could fall into chaos should the veteran leader never return. "We call on all our people and factions to unite and work together in responsible fashion to protect our destiny and homeland," said Mr Abbas,...

A bill that for the first time would require the state to negotiate for the best price on textbooks -- inspired by a Mercury News investigation -- now sits on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk awaiting his signature or veto. In an odd alliance, Senate Republicans have joined with state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, a Democrat, to try to derail the measure. They say the bill would require hiring expensive, highly skilled negotiators to haggle prices with publishers. But educators and taxpayers groups, urging the governor to sign, say the expense would be negligible compared with the potential millions...