* Turnout up amid tight Israel race Voting in Israel’s general election has been higher than the record low turnout of 2006, despite poor weather and fears of voter apathy.

* Ahmadinejad says talks with US possible Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday the world was entering a “new era of dialogue”.

* Sarkozy pays first visit to Iraq French President Nicolas Sarkozy has visited Baghdad for the first time, in a bid to rebuild ties and drum up business for French companies.

* Arabs split between vote and boycott Umm el-Fahm restaurant owner Atef Laham said on Tuesday he would be casting his vote for “an Arab party” for the first time in his life.

* Obama warning on Pakistan ‘haven’ US President Barack Obama has said his administration will not allow “safe havens” for militants in Pakistan’s tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

* Bullion sales hit record in rush to safety Investors are buying record amounts of gold bars and coins, shunning risky assets for the relative safety of bullion amid renewed fears about the health of the global financial system.

* Arabs fear rise of Israeli rightist bloc Arabs are following the Israeli elections with concern, fearing a rise in power of the Israeli Right.

* German court to begin hearing on EU treaty Germany’s highest court will today (10 February) begin a hearing on whether the EU’s Lisbon treaty undermines the country’s own constitution.

* Pope to meet with umbrella group of US Jewry The furor between world Jewry and the Catholic Church appears to be on the mend .

* EU mulls extraordinary summit on financial crisis The Czech EU presidency is expected to call EU leaders for an informal meeting at the end of this month.