THE HAMAS-LED Palestinian government was inaugurated on Wednesday, but not all those elected to the new parliament are able to take up their seats. For some, the best they can do is have a life-sized photograph of themselves propped up in their place.

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s leaders promised an enhanced fight against Kurdish militants Thursday after a week of the worst street clashes in decades, but said the fight would not mean backtracking on democratic reforms that are critical to Turkey’s bid to join the European Union.

CAIRO (AFP) — A third person has died from bird flu in Egypt, the hardest-hit non-Asian country in the world, as health officials struggled Thursday to enforce preventive measures.