Austerity carnival mocks Italy's elections
Carnival workers in central Italy dusted off their Silvio Berlusconi masks and put the finishing touches to an anti-austerity float.
Australia to go to the polls on September 14: PM
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday broke with tradition and announced the nation would go to the polls on September 14, saying she wanted to give "shape and order" to the year.
Philips returns to profit, sells entertainment business
Electronics giant Philips on Tuesday reported 2012 net profits of 231 million euros (311 million dollars), after losses of 1.29 billion euros in 2011, and announced the sale of its entertainment business to focus further on health products.
Clinton says can't predict her future, as 2016 looms
With only days left until she steps down as America's top diplomat, Hillary Clinton left the door open Sunday to a possible future run in the 2016 presidential elections.
Age counts as ex-Communist, aristocrat eye Czech presidency
Milos Zeman, a bold veteran of the Czech left, takes on eccentric Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg on Friday and Saturday in the tight round-two battle of the republic's first direct presidential election.
Berlusconi closing in with month to go to Italy vote
Former premier Silvio Berlusconi's zealous campaigning is closing the gap between the centre-right and left a month before the Italian general elections.
Bulgaria to hold referendum on new nuclear plant
Polls indicate that Bulgarians will on Sunday vote "yes" to a second nuclear power plant in a referendum, in a closely watched contest between the government and the opposition ahead of elections in July.
Netanyahu wins but weakened by centrist newcomer
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to remain in power despite the poor showing by his Likud-Beitenu list, which will push him into an alliance with the centrist Yesh Atid, the surprise winner of Tuesday's vote.
Czech 'Prince' goes punk in presidential bid
Wearing badges depicting him as punk rocker, blue-blooded Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg is proving a serious contender in his country's first direct presidential election.
Israelis vote in elections seen swinging to the right
Polls opened on Tuesday in Israel's general election, which is expected to return Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power at the head of a government of hardline right-wing and religious parties.
Merkel to huddle with party after bitter loss in state poll
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be forced to size up her election year strategy Monday after a bitter defeat to the centre-left opposition in a cliffhanger state poll.
Palestinians brace for new rightwing Israeli govt
The Palestinians are bracing for a new right-wing government that Israel's election is expected to produce, hoping that international and domestic moves will strengthen their position.
German poll kicks off do-or-die year for Merkel alliance
German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces her first test at the polls in a general election year Sunday with a state vote that could prove even more decisive for her flailing coalition partners.
Czechs vote to replace eurosceptic president Klaus
Austerity-weary Czechs vote Friday and Saturday in the country's first-ever direct presidential election.
Czechs to vote in first direct presidential election
Czechs vote Friday and Saturday in their country's first direct presidential election, with recession, austerity and graft weighing heavily on the nation as it turns the page on a decade under ardent eurosceptic Vaclav Klaus.
Venezuela assembly meets amid Chavez health crisis
Venezuela's National Assembly meets Saturday to elect its leadership in a session that also is expected to thrash out the country's political future as President Hugo Chavez battles cancer in Cuba.
Vatican backs Monti, the anti-Berlusconi
The Vatican has thrown its weight behind outgoing prime minister Mario Monti, ditching the scandal-hit Silvio Berlusconi in favour of a practising Catholic they hope may lead Italy after February's general election.
Netanyahu launches re-election bid centred on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday put Iran at the top of on his re-election campaign, pledging that halting Tehran's nuclear programme would be his first priority as premier.
Surge in Pakistan violence raises fears for elections
A surge of violence in northwest Pakistan culminating in the assassination of a senior provincial minister has raised fears of a renewed Taliban campaign that could threaten national elections.
Italy election campaign kicks off as Monti quits
Italy's election campaign kicked off in earnest on Saturday after Prime Minister Mario Monti's resignation opened the way for a contest dominated by a raging debate over austerity in the recession-hit country.
