As Sarkozy seeks new term, French are wary of 'Merkozy' (+video)

Africa Rising: Ethiopia moves to diversify exports

1:17 pm ET - In an effort to move beyond just coffee, Ethiopia now exports leather, vegetables, flowers, and yes, the occasional bottle of wine. 

Honduras prison fire kills more than 300, highlights regional problem (+video)

10:32 am ET - This is the third fatal Honduras prison fire since 2003. The region as a whole lags on fire prevention measures and oversight.

Rick Santorum's new machine-gun ad: Will it work? (+video)

10:52 am ET - Rick Santorum is not going to sit back and wait for Mitt Romney to come after him. He’s going to take some preemptive punches – like with his new machine gun-toting Romney ad.

• The Vote: Is Rick Santorum facing a brewing 'women problem'?

Sean Penn jumps into Falkland Islands fray

1:09 pm ET - Sean Penn lashes out at the deployment of a British prince to the Falklands. The UK is not amused.

Rare visit to remote region highlights China's clampdown on Tibet

11:21 am ET - Conversations with ethnic Tibetans suggest that China's authoritarian policies designed to tamp down disorder are causing unrest and self immolations.

Israel says Bangkok, Delhi, and Tbilisi attacks all linked – to Iran

8:50 am ET - The Israeli ambassador to Thailand said that the bombs used in all three countries had similarities implying a common source. Two suspects were arrested carrying Iranian passports.

No budget? No problem! The strange politics behind a budgetless America.

7:07 pm ET - President Obama has proposed a federal budget. Congress looks sure to ignore it, and Senate Democrats show no desire to pass any budget. It would be the fourth straight budgetless year. 

• Congress poised to scale back unemployment benefits from 99 weeks
• America's big wealth gap: Is it good, bad, or irrelevant?

Did Al Qaeda or Qaddafi downfall prompt Mali's Tuareg revolt?

9:28 am ET - Mali's military has been training to take on Al Qaeda insurgents, but the latest revolt by Mali's nomadic Tuareg people seems inspired by an influx of former Qaddafi fighters and arms.

Will Mitt Romney's aversion to the auto bailout hurt him in Michigan? (+video)

12:41 pm ET - Mitt Romney’s defense of his stance on the auto bailout is difficult to parse. Romney was against the bailout before he was for it, except not the bailout that happened, or something like that.

• The Vote: Can Mitt Romney convince Arizona he is a true conservative?

Why Pentagon, facing 'doomsday' spending cuts, refuses to plan for them

1:15 pm ET - Pentagon brass say they won't even brook the possibility that $487 billion in mandated spending cuts – their 'doomsday' scenario – will actually come to pass. But if Congress doesn't blink, say analysts, the Pentagon will be in dire straits.

Why Ahmadinejad is eager to show off new Iran nuclear facilities

4:24 pm ET - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could boost his sagging political standing at home by wrapping himself in the mantle of the Iran nuclear program, which is popular with Iranians. He is set to unveil new facilities Wednesday.

• Terrorism & Security: Iran accuses Israel of setting up attacks on its own diplomats
• Backchannels: Israel blames Hezbollah and Iran for attacks on diplomats. Is it right? (+video)

Why a Saudi blogger faces a possible death sentence for three tweets

12:40 pm ET - Hamza Kashgari's tweets on the prophet Muhammad's birthday have resulted in charges of blasphemy, apostasy, and atheism – and Saudi Arabia appears to be making an example of his actions.