FRANCE: High Court Strikes Down 75% Tax Rate; Hollande Gov't to Re-Write Law to Address Concerns [World Politics News]

PAKISTAN: Bilawal Bhutto Zardiri, Son of Slain PM, Makes First Political Speech [World Politics News]

RUSSIA: Putin Signs Retaliatory Ban on U.S. Adoptions of Russian Children [World Politics News]

BELGIUM: Flemish Separatist Party Leader Criticizes King's Christmas Speech [World Politics News]

INDIA: President's Son Apologizes For Calling Protesters "Dented, Painted Women" [World Politics News]

SOUTH AFRICA: Pres. Zuma Takes Heat for Saying Having a Pet Dog is "White" [World Politics News]

JAPAN: Former Prime Minister Aso Named Finance Minister [World Politics News]

UK: Coalition May Use "Nuclear Option" to Force Through Gay Marriage Bill [World Politics News]

CANADA: Liberal Leadership Candidate Trudeau Attends Islamic Conference [World Politics News]

CHINA: Puppet Parties Praise "Multi-Party" System in China

ALGERIA: PM Benkirane's Government Critiqued for Fuel Hikes, Slow Reforms [World Politics News]

JAPAN: New PM Considers Canceling Event Commemorating Island Dispute with S. Korea [World Politics News]

IRELAND: Gov't Amends Abortion Law After Death of Indian Dentist [World Politics News]

EGYPT: Opposition Contests Constitution Referendum Results [World Politics News]

EGYPT: Muslim Brotherhood-Written Constitution Passes [World Politics News]

JAMAICA: Controversial Former PM Spencer Now Produces Reality TV Shows [World Politics News]

INDIA: Violent Protests Erupt as Protesters Call for Tougher Sex Crimes Legislation [World Politics News]

SOUTH SUDAN: Russian Foreign Ministry Demands Investigation After UN Chopper Kills 4 Russians [World Politics News]

RUSSIA: MPs Back Bill to Ban US Adoptions of Russian Children [World Politics News]

SOUTH KOREA: Daughter of Former Dictatorial Leader Elected President [World Politics News]

SOUTH KOREA: Election Signals Softer Line Towards North Korea [World Politics News]

JAPAN: Liberal Democratic Party Sweeps Back into Power; Vows Tough Line With China Over Disputed Islands [World Politics News]

JAPAN: Noda, Abe Make Final Pleas on Eve of Election [World Politics News]

GHANA: Incumbent John Mahama Declared Winner of Presidential Election [World Politics News]

ITALY: PM Monti Plans to Resign After Berlusconi's Party Removes Support; Stocks Fall [World Politics News]

EU: UK PM Cameron's Calls for Repatriation of EU Powers Shot Down By France's Hollande [World Politics News]

JAPAN: Gov't Issues Protest After Chinese Plane Enters Disputed Island's Airspace [World Politics News]

EGYPT: Opposition Urges "No" Vote on Referendum on Constitution [World Politics News]

AUSTRALIA: New Polls Shows Labor Party Losing Support Ahead of 2013 Elections [World Politics News]

BAHRAIN: Crown Prince Calls for Dialogue With Opposition, Condemns Unrest [World Politics News]

ROMANIA: Populist Running Strong Third in Polls for Sunday's Election [World Politics News]

ROMANIA: Cabinet Gains in Polls After Austerity Rollback Promise [World Politics News]

EGYPT: Opposition Rejects Negotiations with Mursi Over New Powers  [World Politics News]

CHINA: Philippines, India, Vietnam Refuse to Stamp New Chinese Passport With Map Asserting Territorial Claims [World Politics News]

N. IRELAND: Restrictions on Union Flag at Belfast City Hall Spark Riot [World Politics News]

EGYPT: Pres. Morsi Flees Mob Protesting at Presidential Palace [World Politics News]

JAPAN: Newly Formed Restoration Party Calls for Defense Spending Hikes, Tax Cuts, to Spur Economy

ROMANIA: Dec. 9 Elections to Determine Future of Shale Gas Extraction

UK: Anti-Europe Party Comes in Strong Second in By-Elections, Signaling New Strength

KUWAIT: Opposition Forces Boycotting Election Claim Low Voter Turnout Saturday as Victory

JAPAN: Gov't Providing $5 Million to USA to Aid in Clean-up of Tsunami Debris [World Politics News]

USA: April 9 Special Election to Fill Seat Vacated by Congressman Suffering from Mental, Physical Illnesses

ISRAEL: Olmert Will Play "Some" Role in Upcoming Elections

IRAN: Pres. Ahmadinejad Opposes Parliamentary Changes to Election Rules

EGYPT: Assembly Keeps Sharia as Source of Law in New Constitution

FRANCE: Right-Leaning UMP Party In Crisis After Disputed Leadership Vote

AUSTRALIA: MP Calls on Labor Member to Resign Committee Chair After "Sexist" Comments in Tweet

JAPAN: Shiga Prefecture's Governor Launches New Political Party - 19 Days Before Election

ISRAEL: Defense Minister Barak Makes Surprise Retirement Announcement

EGYPT: Thousands Protest "Temporary" Powers Assumed by Morsi; Burn Muslim Brotherhood Offices

SPAIN: Prime Minister and King of Spain Ask Former Colonies for Financial Aid

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

INDIA: Cash-Strapped UK Gov't to Cut Foreign Development Aid To India (VIDEO)

JAPAN: Noda Dissolves Diet, Elections Set for Next Month

USA: 15 States Petition for "Secession" on White House Website After Obama Victory

JAMAICA: Legislators Unanimously Pass Two Bills Allowing First Casinos

Jamaican Parliament

UK: BBC Director Resigns After News Show Falsely Accuses Conservative of Sexually Abusing Boy in 1970s

UK: Welfare Reforms Not Endangered by Loss of Civil Servants, Says Duncan Smith

UK: Labour Party to Urge Chancellor to Close Tax Loopholes to Avoid Jan. Fuel Price Hike

TUNISIA: Radical Imam Suspected of Inciting Sept. 14 Tunis Attack on U.S. Embassy Arrested

CHINA: Outgoing Pres. Warns of Corruption Danger at Communist Party Congress

JAPAN: Chinese Gov't Lodges Protest Over Dalai Lama Visit

ECUADOR: Pres. Correa Plans Financial Services Tax Hikes to Increase Poverty Program Funding

RUSSIA: Putin Fires Defense Minister over $100 Million Corruption Scandal

UK: Unnamed Conservative Politician Accused of Sexual Abuse of Children in BBC Program

ARGENTINA: Voting Age Lowered to 16 in Bid to Gain Votes for Pres. Fernandez

JAPAN: Upper House Passes Censure Motion Against PM Noda as Budget Standoff Escalates

INDIA: Gov't Pressure Results in Monetary Body to Cut Interest Rates

CHINA: Puppet Political Party Calls for "Ethnic Unity", Stability 

JAPAN: PM Claims Gov't Will "Stall" Without New Debt Bond Bill

MEXICO: Some Upset by Late Azerbaijan Leader's Statue

SOUTH AFRICA: Opposition Party Calls for Impeachment of President Zuma

CHINA: New Laws Crack Down on "Illegal" Geographical Surveys, Citing National Security

SOUTH AFRICA: Elected Officials Can View Corruption Probe Only After "Secrecy Oath"

RUSSIA: Opposition Elects New Leader in Online Vote

SCOTLAND: Ministers Abandon Plans for Minimum Alcohol Pricing

IRELAND: Labor Party Leader, Minister of Trade Gilmore: We Can't Afford to Hand Over Our Economic Destiny To EU

EUROPE: EU Wins Peace Prize Amid Violent Anti-Austerity Protests, Uncertain Future

ISRAEL: Netanyahu Announces New Elections for Early 2013; To Seek "Renewed Mandate"

SPAIN: Parliament Nixes Catalonia Independence Referendum

UK: Clegg Says Liberal Dems Won't Accept New Cuts Without Tax Hikes on the Rich 

JAPAN: New Justice Minister Accepted Contributions from Chinese Firms

TURKEY: "Worst Case Scenarios" Being Played Out With Turkey-Syria Border Clashes

VENEZUELA: Chavez Re-election Signals Accelerated Socialist Revolution

GEORGIA: Western-Leaning Pres. Saakashvili Admits Defeat in Parliamentary Elections

AFGHANISTAN: Top Chinese Security Official Makes Surprise Visit to Kabul

IRELAND: Record Number of Marriages Reported; Sharp Rise in Recent Years

CHINA: Official Agencies Apply Chinese Names to Islands Disputed with Japan

SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal King's "Extravagant" Spending Causes Concerns

UK: Conservatives to Introduce Plans to Repatriate Powers from Brussels

LIBYA: Gov't Acts to Ban Radical Militias After Massive Demonstrations

PAKISTAN: Gov't Minister Offers $100k Bounty for Death of Filmmaker Who Offended Muslims

EUROPE: Common Interests, Failure of EU, May Lead to Eastern European Common Market

SPAIN: Influential Conservative Regional President Resigns Suddenly

POLAND: Gov't to Slash Regulations on 50 Professions to Help Spur Growth

JAPAN: Cabinet Backtracks on Plans to Ban Nuclear Energy by 2040

CHINA: Vice President Xi Warns Japan Over "Purchase" of Disputed Islands

CANADA: New Quebec Premier Swears In New National Assembly Members - Minus Canadian Flag

SPAIN: Rare Political Comments from King Juan Carlos Urge Calm In Face of Growing Austerity Anger

CHINA: General Urges Military to "Prepare for Combat" With Japan Over Disputed Islands

NORTHERN IRELAND: Queen's Historic Meeting with Former IRA Commander McGuiness Stirs Emotions

UK: Health Minister Says National Health Service Has Enough Beds to Cope with Rising Elderly Population

PHILIPPINES: China Angered by Philippine Re-Naming of Disputed Island; South China Sea Now Called "West Philippine Sea"

SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape Students Intimidated by Gasoline Bombs Over Paved Road Protest

MAURITANIA: Gov't Imposes Mosque Oversight to Counter Extremism

IRELAND: "Dragon's Den" Entrepreneur Calls on Gov''t to Make it Easier to Create Start-ups

CHINA: In Dispute with Japan Over Islands, China Hints at Economic Consequences

BRAZIL: Pres. Rousseff Set to Announce Energy Price Cuts of Up to 17% to Spur Growth

JAPAN: Controversial Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto Set to Form Political Party; Wants Decisions Made in Osaka, Not Tokyo

BAHRAIN: Military Breaks Up Protest Supporting 13 Arrested in Arab Spring Protests

CHINA: Chinese Netizens Go On Rampage Against Safety Official Smiling, Wearing $21k Sunglasses, at Scene of Horrific Crash

CANADA: Foreign Minister Announces Breaking Diplomatic Ties With Iran

PHILIPPINES: Pres. Aquino Heads to Russia for APEC Summit, Bilateral Discussions

TURKEY: Egyptian Ruling Party Members to Visit Turkey to Learn From Economic Boomlet

USA: Woodward Book Reveals Debt Deal Collapse and Incompetence in Early Days of Obama Administration

GREECE: Police Unions Rioting Over Austerity Cuts

CHINA: Sec. of State Clinton Accused of "Meddling" In Pacific by Chinese Media

KENYA: Legal Experts Warn "Sensational" Court Cases Could Derail 2013 Elections

SINGAPORE: Politician Who Lost Presidential Election Open to Rematch in 2017

DENMARK: Prime Minister Declares "My Husband Isn't Gay"

DENMARK: Anti-Immigrant Party Leader to Step Down After 17 Years

ITALY: Electoral "Pigsty Law" Could Lead to Political Instability

RUSSIA: "Rocky Start" to World Trade Organization Membership

GERMANY: Top CDU Official Says EU Should Place Hezbollah Group on Terror List

YEMEN: Transportation Minister Survives Assassination Attempt

ECUADOR: Foreign Minister Gains Support from "Left Wing Parties" to Protect Assange in  Embassy

ETHIOPIA: "Missing" Prime Minister Dead at 57

UK: All Three Party Leaders Head Off on Post-Olympics Vacations

RUSSIA: Two-year Sentence for Anti-Putin Protesters Condemned by Opposition Politicians

RUSSIA: 75% in Poll Say Russian Orthodox Church Should Butt Out of Politics

JAPAN: Parliament Votes to Double Consumption Tax; Opposition Calls for New Elections

INDIA: Popular TV Guru Arrested by Government in Anti-Corruption Campaign

UK: London Mayor Boris Johnson Considers Return to Parliament, Chastises Cameron

ISRAEL: War With Iran Would Cause "500 Deaths" Says Civil Defense Minister

ETHIOPIA: Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's Whereabouts Remain a Mystery

MYANMAR: Political Moderate Named As One of Country's Two Vice Presidents

AUSTRALIA: 2025 Export Targets "Impossible" Says Opposition

JAPAN: New Party Promises to Shutter All Nuke Plants Within Decade if Elected

URUGUAY: President Urges State-Regulated Marijuana Sales to Combat Cocaine Trade

SOUTH AMERICA: Record Crop Harvest May Alleviate Prices Amid US Drought

HONG KONG: Government Criticized Over Plastic Pellet Spill on Beaches

ITALY: Berlusconi Plotting Political Comeback?

ROMANIA: Romanian Court Delays Ruling on Presidential Impeachment Referendum Results

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Palestinians To Seek UN Non-State Observer Status

VIETNAM: Fishery Association Says China Flooding Sea with Fishing Boats to Assert Claims

MALAWI: New President A Rare "One-Woman Revolution;" Lifts Media Censorship; Sells Presidential Jet; Reforms Laws

PAKISTAN: Supreme Court Rejects Immunity Law for Prime Minister

KENYA: First Openly Gay Man Seeks Election to Kenya's New Senate

JAPAN: Defense Report Warns of Chinese Military's Growing Role in Setting Foreign Policy

VENEZUELA: Venezuelan Business Leaders Fail to Prevent Entry Into Troubled MERCUSUR Free Trade Area

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Government Arrests 457 Illegal Workers in Nationwide Crackdown

IRELAND: Referendum Still Planned on Future of Irish Parliament's Upper House

TAIWAN: Pres. Ma Seeks to Fast-track Free Trade Deals with EU, Singapore, New Zealand 

AUSTRALIA: South Australia Opposition Leader Under Fire After Admitting Considering Senate Candidacy

UK: Cross-Party Group Says Cameron's Transparency Drive "Not Enough"

EGYPT: PM-Designate Kandil Appoints Muslim Brotherhood Members, Bureaucrats, to Cabinet

UAE: Ministry of Labor Warns Businesses Against Violating Reduced Ramadan Work Hour Law

JAPAN: Anti-Nuke Independent Gains in Gubernatorial Race in Conservative Bastion

GREECE: Finance Minister Warns Cash Reserves Drying Up

HONG KONG: Tens of Thousands Protest New "Patriotic" Communist Curriculum in HK Schools

INDIA: Anti-Corruption Campaigner Starts Hunger Strike, Will Not Meet PM

TURKEY: PM Erdogan Says Turkey, USA to Work to "Speed Up Political Transition" in Syria

IRAN: Ahmadinejad Mocks Romney Visit to Israel

UK: Cameron Sees No End To Austerity Measures

GERMANY: Ban on Circumcisions by German Court Provokes Outrage, Unites Jews, Muslims

TURKEY: National Assembly Bans Hookah Pipes for Those Under 18

GREECE: PM Samaras Seeks Renegotiation of Bailout, More Time to Pay

LIBYA: Citizens Vote in First Free Elections in 60 Years Amid Uncertainty

ROMANIA: Leftist Government Suspends President Alleging "Expanding Powers" of Presidency

RUSSIA: PM Medvedev Brushes Off Japanese Anger Over Visit to Disputed Islands

USA: Rangel Victory Questioned As Voting Irregularities Alleged, Lead Narrows

LIBYA: Voters Go to Polls Saturday Amid Violence Fears

MEXICO: Election Recount Begins Amid Charges of Vote-Buying

MEXICO: "Old Guard" PRI Returns to Power After 12-Years In the Wilderness

SRI LANKA: Main Opposition News Website Shut Down by Government

PAKISTAN: Lawmakers Elect Former Minister Ashraf as PM

EGYPT: Thousands Rally in Tahir Square Amid Election Chaos

FRANCE: Pres. Hollande Suggests $193 billion EU Growth Package

FRANCE: Socialists Sweep Parliamentary Election to Solidify Hollande Victory

GREECE: All Parties Vow to Renegotiate Bailout Terms After Sunday Elections

GREECE: Election is "Euro vs. Drachma" Says New Democracy Party Leader

EGYPT: HIGH COURT ORDERS PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED, ELECTION INVALIDATED; NEW ELECTIONS TO BE HELD

CANADA: Bob Rae, Presumptive Frontrunner for Liberal Party Leader, Opts Out of Race

CAMBODIA: US Calls for Fair Elections in 2013; Release of Protesters

VENEZUELA: Opposition Candidate Henrique Capriles Excites Crowds

UK: Cameron to Testify Before Media Ethics Panel

ZIMBABWE: Mugabe Urges South Africa to Block Human Rights Probe

UK: Taxpayers Shouldn't Back Spanish, Greek Bank Deposits, Says Osborne

SPAIN: PM Rejects Aid; Calls for EU Fiscal Union

FRANCE: Hollande Gov't Lowers Retirement Age to 60, Reversing Sarkozy Austerity Plan

RUSSIA: Putin & Chinese Leader Hu Pledge Closer Ties, Support for Syria Peace Plan

SPAIN: PM Says Spain "Shut Out" of Bond Markets, Asks for EU Assistance

MEXICO: Leftist Gaining Ground In Presidential Race, Says Polling

LESOTHO: PM Falls Short of Outright Victory in Election

SPAIN: Former PM Says Nation is Living Through "Total Emergency"; Markets Slide

UK: Conservative Pol Says Coalition with UKIP "Preferable" to Current Lib Dem Partners

GREECE: IMF Head Legarde Labels Greeks "Tax Dodgers; Greek Pols Outraged

IRELAND: Nation Prepare to Vote on Continued Austerity Measures

RUSSIA: Politicians, Generals, Engage in "Odd" Nuclear Weapons Rhetoric

ISRAEL: Race Riots in Tel Aviv Highlight Tensions over Immigration Policies

INDIA: Nitin Gadkari Wins Second Term of Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party

ALGERIA: Islamist Parties Boycott New Government; Allege Election Fraud

EGYPT: Lines Longer In Second Day of Voting

US: Gov. Walker Has Momentum, Money in Wisconsin Recall Effort

GREECE: 46-hour Window to Plan for Euro Exit and Return to Drachma

EGYPT: Large Number Undecided in May 23/24 Presidential Vote

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Pres. Medina Declares Victory in Disputed Election

CANADA: Quebec Law Cracks Down On Protesters

SPAIN: Banking Crisis Hits Spain, Major Bank Sinks on Stock Market

UK: Gov't Taking Urgent Precautions to Cope with Greek Exit from Euro

CHINA: Bejing Protests Japan's Hosting of Separatist Uygur Meeting

CHINA: Gov't Eases Rhetoric With Philippines, but Not Demands, Over Disputed Islands

GREECE: Exit from the Euro Looms as Banks Crumble, Crisis Escalates

UK: Cameron Considers Additional £25bn of welfare cuts

JAPAN: Ohi Local Assembly Votes to Re-Start Nuclear Reactor

GREECE: Judge Panagiotis Pikramenos to Head Caretaker Gov't Until June 17 Election

ISRAEL: Jerusalem Mayor Says Divided City "Worse Than No Deal" With Palestinians

GREECE: Syriza Party Leader Says EU, Merkel "Playing Poker" With Europeans' Lives

PHILIPPINES: Foreign Secretary Says Nation Seeks End to Territorial Standoff with China

GERMANY: Hollande and Merkel Discuss Different Approaches to Euro Crisis in Berlin

GREECE: Pols Urged By EU Leaders to Form Government

GREECE: Running out of Money Within Weeks, Says Deputy PM

PHILIPPINES: CHINESE NAVY TURNS AWAY PHILIPPINE FISHING BOATS NEAR DISPUTED ISLAND; PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD SHIPS ALSO TURNED BACK

CHINA:  "Ready for Escalation" In Standoff With Philippines Over Island Dispute

IRELAND: 31 May EU Treaty Referendum To Go Ahead as Planned; Calls For Added Growth Measures

CHINA: Philippines Making "Serious Mistakes" Over Disputed Island, Say Chinese Officials

GREECE: Left-wing Party Leader Calls Austerity "Barbarous;" Calls for Reversal of Cuts

ISRAEL: Likud and Kadima Parties Form Broad Coalition Gov't, Avoiding Early Elections

GREECE: New Democracy Party Cannot Form Coalition, Leader Says; New Elections Likely

MEXICO: Presidential Candidates Trade Barbs in TV Debate, Outsider Scores Points

FRANCE: France rejects Sarkozy and EU-Imposed Austerity to Elect Hollande, Second Socialist President in History

GERMANY: Pirate Party Becomes a Force in German Politics

GREECE: Dissident Conservative Shaking Up Greek Election Campaign

CANADA: Quebec Gov't Maked Deal With Students to End Rioting

UK: PM Cameron Punished in Local Elections for Economic Woes

UK: Boris Johnson Wins Second Term as London's Mayor

JAPAN: PM Noda Hopes to Double Sales Tax to 10 Percent to Deal with Debt Crisis

GREECE: Rise of the Far Right Worries Mainstream Parties

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Arab League Condemn's Iranian President's Visit to Disputed UAE Island, Asserts UAE Sovereignty

UK: PM Cameron Faces Increased Pressure to Investigate Culture Minister Over Murdoch Ties

NORTH KOREA: Threats to Reduce Enemies in the South to "Ashes" Met with Criticism

INDIA: Sexual Harassment Bill to Help Domestic Help "One-Sided"; Tabled for More Study

CANADA: Parliamentary Motion on When Life Begins Re-Opens Abortion Debate

JAPAN: Stiff Opposition to Pacific-Wide Trade Deal as Thousands Demonstrate in Tokyo

AUSTRALIA: Opposition Leader Abbott Calls for More Employer-Sponsored Overseas Workers

BRAZIL: US Defense Sec. Panetta Visits to Discuss Military Hardware Sales, Cooperation

NORTH KOREA: Analysts Say Missiles On Parade in N. Korea Were Fake

UK: Culture Minister Faces Calls to Resign After "Illegal" Leaks to Murdoch Newspapers

INDIA: S&P Warns of Downgrade, Would Take India to "Junk" Status

JAPAN: Gov't Funding $7 Billion in Projects in SE Asia Starting in 2013

INDIA: National Commission For Women Chair Embraces the Word "Sexy"

FRANCE: Hollande Defeats Sarkozy in First Round of Voting; Both Move to Second Round