| 'The most dangerous place on Earth' Documentary maker Tim Hetherington talks about making Restrepo, his award-winning film chronicling the year-long deployment of a small platoon of US soldiers in a tiny remote outpost in Afghanistan. bbc.co.uk |
French strikes go into second day French unions build pressure on the government with a second day of strikes on transport, while oil refineries are forced to shut. bbc.co.uk |
Barack Obama fights to avert Republican avalanche Mid-term elections: President campaigns to shore up Democrat vote as poll shows 25% of former Obama voters may defectBarack Obama hit the campaign trail again today in a desperate effort to save Democrats facing a Republican avalanche in next month's mid-term elections.An Associated Press poll published today showed a quarter of those surveyed who had backed Obama in the 2008 White House election were considering voting Republican. Obama, addressing a crowd of 10,000 in Boston yesterday, acknowledged the problem. "There is no doubt that this a difficult election. That's because we've been through an incredibly difficult time as a nation," he said.The Democrats, accepting political reality, are cancelling millions in advertising planned for Congressional candidates they no longer believe are capable of winning, and transferring the cash to shore up seats previously regarded as safe Democratic.The Republicans said today they are expanding each day the number of contests they now see as winnable. They are on course to take control of the House and to reduce the Democratic majority in the Senate to a handful, according to polls. At stake on 2 November are 37 of the 100 US Senate seats, all 435 House seats, and 37 of the 50 governorships.The chairman of the Republican Senatorial committee, John Cornyn, predicted they might have to wait until 2012. "We're going to fight for every seat we can possibly get," he told Fox News. "I'm not predicting we're going to get back to the majority. It may be a two-cycle process."Polls suggest that Kentucky, in Republican hands, is one of the most competitive of the Senate races, and a reverse there would make it extremely difficult for the Republicans to take the Senate. But the Democrats have cut spending in the contest, a sign that they believe the Republican candidate, Rand Paul, a Tea Party favourite, is going to win.Obama went to Ohio for what was planned to be one of the biggest rallies of the election so far and his first joint appearance with the First Lady.The White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said last week the two would appear together to generate a bigger crowd and, hopefully, create some campaign energy.With Obama unwilling to trumpet his success in securing health reform and with unemployment hovering around 10%, he has gone negative, playing on fears of the impact of Republican control of Congress, warning of return to Bush-era politics. One of his main campaign messages is that the Republicans are the beneficiaries of anonymous foreign donations, a claim he has so far failed to prove.The White House senior adviser, David Axelrod, appearing today found that among Democrats surveyed only half of those who voted for Obama in 2008 said they will definitely vote on November 2, an ambivalence that contrasts with the enthusiasm of Republicans intent on punishing Obama and the Democratic incumbents.US midterm elections 2010Obama administrationUS politicsUnited StatesDemocratsRepublicansUS CongressEwen MacAskillguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Moon's water is 'useful resource' There are oases of water-rich soil that could sustain astronauts on the Moon, Nasa scientists say. bbc.co.uk |
France approves raise in retirement age from 60 to 62 National Assembly backs pension reform bill 336-233 despite weeks of demonstrations, riots and strikesFrance's parliament has given final approval to a bill to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, a reform that has sparked weeks of strikes and street protests.The National Assembly approved the final text of the bill in a 336-233 vote today, marking its final hurdle in parliament. President Nicolas Sarkozy is not expected to sign it for several weeks.The vote comes as two straight weeks of pension strikes are losing momentum. Unions hope to revive the movement tomorrow with nationwide street demonstrations and strikes expected to cause new delays for air travellers.FranceNicolas Sarkozyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |