United States President George Bush said on Wednesday he had no regrets about the unpopular war in Iraq despite the "high cost in lives and treasure" and declared that the US was on track for victory. With less than 11 months left in office and his approval ratings near the lows of his presidency, Bush is trying to shore up support for the Iraq campaign.

Israel decided on Wednesday to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon despite United Nations diplomacy to end the four-week-old war. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security cabinet ordered the move to send troops further into Lebanon, possibly as far as the Litani River, up to 20km from the border, to strike at Hezbollah.

Hamstrung by the collapse of his Republican majority in Congress, President George Bush faced the humbling task on Thursday of reaching across party lines to Democrats swept to power by voter anger over his Iraq policy. Bush's fence-mending with Democratic leaders follow word that they have won enough seats to take control of the United States Senate.

US President Barack Obama will host the Dalai Lama at the White House on Thursday despite China's warning that the meeting could damage strained ties.

"We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years," Obama said during a somber televised appearance in the White House briefing room.

Dirty Harry himself nearly hijacked Mitt Romney's presidential nomination with a rambling diatribe against Barack Obama - addressed to an empty chair.

US President Barack Obama painted himself as a champion of the middle class during his State of the Union, demanding higher taxes for millionaires.

President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had "lost legitimacy" for failing to lead a democratic transition.