Middle East: Syrian representatives are threatening to pull out of peace talks with the rebel opposition as both sides refuse to meet face to face. >A car bomb outside the police headquarters in central Cairo this morning killed four people …

Kick the Can: Federal workers are returning today after President Obama signed a resolution to re-open the government and raise the debt ceiling. Republicans got almost nothing out of a nuclear standoff. After 16 days of a government shutdown and …

Blocked Shot: Day 12. President Obama this morning rejected a House Republican offer to raise the debt ceiling and end the shutdown Thursday. Republican leaders were described as angry as they left a closed-door meeting. House members are heading home …