U.S. to push for more NATO help in Afghanistan

Having just upped the ante in Afghanistan by 17,000 troops, the United States will look for greater commitments from its NATO partners this week, but isn’t expecting much of a response. “I think the likelihood of getting the allies to commit significant numbers of additional troops is not very great,’ U.S.

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Israel demands release of missing soldier

Israel on Wednesday demanded the release of an Israeli soldier seized by militants more than two years ago as a condition of lifting its economic blockade on Gaza, a government spokesman said. Gaza’s Hamas leadership rejected the decision by Israel’s Security Cabinet to link the release of Gilad Shalit to the lifting of the blockade.

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Venezuelans to vote on term limits for elected officials

Venezuelans will decide Sunday whether to change the constitution to allow President Hugo Chavez and other elected officials to run for office indefinitely. The National Assembly approved the referendum last month. Venezuelans narrowly rejected a similar measure in December 2007.

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Exit polls: Kadima leads Israeli vote, big gains for Likud

Israel’s two largest parties each claimed a mandate early Wednesday after exit polls showed a surprise first-place finish by the ruling Kadima party and dramatic gains by its conservative rivals. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s failure to assemble a ruling coalition for Kadima last year triggered Tuesday’s elections. But she told supporters after the vote that the narrow edge Kadima appears to have held over the conservative Likud shows her party is “the common denominator of Israeli society.” Livni called on Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu “to respect the choice of Israel’s citizens …

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Brain scan may reveal risk for Alzheimer’s disease

Key structural changes have been identified in the brain images of some patients with mild cognitive impairment which could help determine who’s at greatest risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Francisco Velasco Delgado was detained by military officials early Monday and flown to Mexico City, where he was placed under 45 days of house arrest, according to the media reports

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Sources: Iraq, Afghanistan withdrawals delayed

Decisions about withdrawing troops from Iraq and sending more troops to Afghanistan have been delayed until the Pentagon provides President Barack Obama with more detail about the risks and implications of the issues confronting him, according to two senior Pentagon officials. Both officials, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, have a direct understanding of the discussion regarding troop withdrawals

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