AP - Presidential hopefuls urged their partisans to brave the cold and rally fellow Iowans to the caucuses Thursday, a massive test of organization that held the key to victory in the first contests of the 2008 election season. Capturing the urgency—and biting chill—in the air, Barack Obama implored his people,"Walk quick, talk fast."

AP - Pakistan's U.S.-allied president must resign before next month's elections or the country could risk slipping into civil war, opposition leaders and a leading independent research institute said Thursday.

Reuters - Israel accused Egypt on Thursday of undercutting Israeli-Palestinian peace prospects by letting about 2,200 Palestinian pilgrims return to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip without Israeli screening.

Reuters - Oil held near its lifetime high of$100 a barrel on Thursday, fuelled by expectations of another fall in U.S. fuel stocks and a struggling U.S. dollar.

AP - Presidential hopefuls urged their partisans to brave the cold and rally fellow Iowans to the caucuses Thursday, a massive test of organization that held the key to victory in the first contests of the 2008 election season. Capturing the urgency—and biting chill—in the air, Barack Obama implored his people,"Walk quick, talk fast."

AFP - Kenyan police used tear gas and water cannon Thursday to disperse protestors marching on Nairobi city centre to attend a banned rally organised by defeated presidential challenger Raila Odinga.