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Government and politics

Cayman Islands premier says he will not step down
The leader of the Cayman Islands government announced Thursday he will not heed calls to resign, insisting his arrest this week on suspicion of ...
EU scores hat-trick with Greek, bank deals, Nobel
Finally, it has been a good week for Europe. After months of bitter debate, European Union countries finally reached two crucial agreements Thursday: ...
European court condemns CIA in landmark ruling
A European court issued a landmark ruling Thursday that condemned the CIA's "extraordinary renditions" programs and bolstered those who say they were ...
IMF's Lagarde praises Euro deal on bank oversight
The head of the International Monetary Fund on Thursday praised a deal inked by European Union governments to create a single supervisor for their ...
Greeks earning ?42,000 to be taxed at top rate
Greeks earning more than €42,000 ($55,000) per year will now be taxed at a new top rate of 42 percent, under a major new tax reform bill submitted to ...
Europe shrugs at Berlusconi's political ambitions
Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi's political ambitions got a huge yawn on Thursday from both the bond markets and his fellow European ...
Israeli FM charged with breach of trust
Israel's powerful foreign minister was charged Thursday with breach of trust for actions that allegedly compromised a criminal investigation into his ...
Confusion rises over Nelson Mandela's location
South Africa's presidency declined to directly address reports Thursday that anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was being treated at a different ...
Europe takes step toward more stable banks
The European Union has taken its big first step toward keeping busted banks from costing taxpayers billions and dragging down government finances.
Witnesses: 3 killed, others raped by Guinea army
A military crackdown on protesters in a remote Guinean town this week left three people dead and dozens more wounded, while at least three women were ...
Pentagon warns of higher bomb threat in drawdown
American and coalition forces in Afghanistan will be more vulnerable to deadly improvised explosive devices as the military draws down troops next ...
Russia positions itself for fall of Syrian regime
Syria's most powerful ally and protector, Russia, began positioning itself Thursday for the fall of President Bashar Assad, saying for the first time ...
Hamas stages first West Bank march since 2007
The Islamic militant group Hamas staged on Thursday its first public demonstration in the West Bank since 2007, illustrating its improving ties with ...
French former spy chief cleared of 2 counts
A Paris appeals court has rejected two of three charges against the former head of France's domestic intelligence agency over allegedly illegal ...
Lawyer: Killed Kremlin critic worked for UK spies
Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian agent-turned-Kremlin critic, was a "registered and paid" agent working for Britain's foreign intelligence ...
Afghan suicide bomber kills US soldier, 2 Afghans
A Taliban suicide car bomber killed one American soldier and two Afghan civilians Thursday near a U.S. military base shortly after the visiting U.S.
Market enthusiasm over Fed stimulus fades
Upbeat U.S. economic figures failed to restore strength to stock markets Thursday as investors monitored the progress of budget discussions in the U.S
Italy summons India ambassador over Marines
Italy has summoned India's ambassador to insist that India's Supreme Court issue a decision soon concerning two Italian marines detained since ...
Glance: A look at the EU's key decisions in 2012
In a whirlwind of decision-making, ministers from the European Union's 27 countries agreed Thursday on the foundation of a fully-fledged banking union ...
A look at integration ideas EU leaders are mulling
European Union leaders, seeking to avoid a repeat of the crisis that has dogged the 27-country bloc for the past three years, are debating plans for ...
Ukraine parliament speaker elected amid brawls
Ukraine's newly elected parliament on Thursday approved two presidential allies for the posts of prime minister and parliament speaker, but the vote ...
Britain pays Libyan $3.5 million over rendition
A former Libyan dissident and his family have accepted 2.2 million pounds ($3.5 million) from the British government to settle a claim that the U.K.
Protesters slam Turkish coup plot trial
Turkish police on Thursday used pepper spray and water cannons to push back hundreds of protesters trying to enter a courthouse where prosecutors were ...
South Africa deputy president in race to lead ANC
South Africa's soft-spoken Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will compete next week against President Jacob Zuma to lead the country's ruling party, ...