Steve Holland
latest news & developments
Michelle Obama steps up to bat for Barack
First lady Michelle Obama has urged American voters to give her husband four more years to fix the struggling US economy.
Little-known Ryan takes centre stage at Republican convention
Paul Ryan will take his turn in the spotlight for the biggest speech of his political career at the Republican National Convention.
Romney stumbles on election message
Mitt Romney leads the Republican presidential race with his Florida win but drew criticism with remarks suggesting indifference to America’s poor.
US lawmakers still divided as debt deadline looms
The US failed to achieve a budget breakthrough on Sunday and instead worked on rival plans in an impasse that heightened prospects for a debt fault.
Obama charts course for US exit from Afghanistan
US President Barack Obama announced a plan on Wednesday to start withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan in a first step towards ending the long war.
Newt Gingrich’s campaign team resigns en masse
Key members of Republican Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign team resigned on Thursday in a devastating blow to his 2012 election hopes.
US support for UN’s Libya move opens new chapter
The Obama administration strongly backed a United Nations vote on Thursday for a no-fly zone and other help for Libyan rebels.
US pushing for air strikes, no-fly zone in Libya
The US, in a sharp shift in tone, wants the United Nations to authorise not just a no-fly zone to aid Libyan rebels but also air strikes.
Obama backs spending freeze, calls for unity
US President Barack Obama proposed a five-year freeze on some government spending and warned of painful cuts ahead on Tuesday.
Can Republicans win by opposing Obama?
Can Republicans ride all the way to election day in November by opposing most of President Barack Obama’s major policies?