German opposition launches bid to topple Merkel
Germany's opposition Social Democrats will on Sunday launch their campaign to unseat Chancellor Angela Merkel next year, throwing their backing behind her former finance minister to challenge her.
08 December 2012
US Navy deploys ships before North Korean launch
The United States has deployed naval ships equipped with ballistic missile defenses and is monitoring North Korea "very closely" ahead of an anticipated rocket launch.
08 December 2012
Ghana's emergence put to test in tight presidential polls
Ghanain voters head to the polls Friday, with two main presidential candidates vying to lead a booming economy in a country seeking to live up to its promise as a beacon of democracy in turbulent West Africa.
08 December 2012
Washington state lights up as marijuana legalized
Pot smokers lit up in Washington state Thursday as recreational marijuana became legal in a historic first for the United States, clouded by the fact that federal law still bans the practice.
Romanian millionaire hopes for upset in Sunday polls
He's under investigation for fraud and on trial for blackmail, but populist millionaire Dan Diaconescu drives a white Rolls Royce and promises to be a reforming figure whose goal is to "uproot the newly rich who have plundered Romania".
07 December 2012
Malaysia to teach lawmakers what is corruption
Malaysia's government will offer training to lawmakers to teach them how to avoid corruption, a key issue ahead of national elections that must be held by the middle of next year.
07 December 2012
Beijing to allow visa-free transit trips
China will allow transit passengers from 45 countries including the US, Canada and all members of the EU to spend up to 72 hours in Beijing without a visa from next month.
07 December 2012
TENGRI LIFE
TENGRI TRAVEL
UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrives in Baghdad: TV UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in Baghdad on Thursday for talks with Iraqi leaders, state television said, after a visit to Kuwait in which he called for a new era in relations between the two countries.
Sun rises over Egypt protesters after palace siege Hundreds of protesters woke up Wednesday in front of the presidential palace, the new focus of protests against President Mohamed Morsi, as an already-polarised Egypt slipped deeper into crisis.
Obama to Republicans: raise taxes on rich or no deal US President Barack Obama warned Republicans Tuesday there would be no deal on averting a potentially disastrous fiscal crisis without them caving in to his demand to raise tax rates on the rich.
05 December 2012
Israel PM heads to Berlin as settlement row grows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due in Berlin on Wednesday for talks likely to focus on the growing crisis over settlement plans that could torpedo the viability of a Palestinian state.
05 December 2012
N. Korea completes installing rocket: report North Korea has completed installing a long-range rocket on its launch pad, ahead of its planned launch this month in defiance of widespread international condemnation.
05 December 2012
No-hoper steals S. Korean presidential debate A far-left candidate polling at around one percent in South Korea's presidential candidate stole the campaign's first TV debate with a scathing attack on conservative front-runner Park Geun-Hye.