Centre-left favoured as Italy holds landmark election
Italy on Monday holds a second day of voting in a critical election for the future of the eurozone in which the centre-left Democratic Party is expected to win but fall short of a governing majority.
Egypt vote could be 'road to total chaos': ElBaradei
Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei warned of chaos in the troubled nation if parliamentary polls go ahead in April, as protesters demonstrated in Cairo against Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Regional leaders sign peace deal for eastern DR Congo
Regional African leaders signed a deal to try to bring peace to the war-torn east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with plans to reinforce a UN-led mission to combat rebels after years of unrest.
25 February 2013
Castro picks 'young' new heir to take regime into future
Cuban President Raul Castro won re-election Sunday to what he pledged will be his last term, and finally unveiled a 52-year-old political heir to bring the regime into the future.
25 February 2013
Taiwan ex-president's prison term extended
Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian, jailed for corruption in 2009, has had his prison term extended by 18 months to 20 years due to a further bribery conviction.
24 February 2013
Japan PM wants 'good relationship' with S. Korea
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday he wanted a strong relationship with South Korea, which responded angrily over a rally in Japan against Seoul's control of a set of islands.
23 February 2013
Obama, Japan PM firm on N.Korea, measured on China
US President Barack Obama on Friday pledged with Japan's new leader to take a firm line on a defiant North Korea but the two sides also tried to calm rising tensions between Tokyo and China.
23 February 2013
US executive blasts 'extremist' French government
An outspoken American CEO criticized France's government anew Thursday, but praised French women and wine and said that he himself was named after the iconic crooner Maurice Chevalier.
Obama jabs Republicans over tax cuts for rich
President Barack Obama on Thursday said the only thing keeping Republicans together was a desire to shield the rich from higher taxes, in a new jab over an imminent budget confrontation.
Uncertainty hangs heavy as Italy braces for elections
Italy was poised to hold its most important elections in a generation starting on Sunday, as financial markets warned an unclear outcome could plunge the eurozone's third economy back into crisis.