Banking scandal fugitive Rakesh Saxena arrives in Thailand after extradition from Canada

Extradited banking fugitive arrives in Thailand

Former French President Jacques Chirac ordered to stand trial in alleged corruption scandal

France’s Jacques Chirac ordered to stand trial

PARIS — A French judge ordered former President Jacques Chirac to stand trial on embezzlement charges predating his presidency — a case that could mark the first time a former leader of modern France is forced to defend himself in court.

Birmingham, Ala., mayor convicted of taking bribes for $7M in bond work, removed from office

Birmingham, Ala., mayor convicted of taking bribes

Debt-plagued Birmingham mayor convicted of taking bribes for bond work, removed from office

Birmingham mayor convicted in bribery scheme

With Nevada economy in shambles, Senate Leader Harry Reid faces stiff 2010 challenge

Senate Leader Harry Reid faces tough re-election

New court filing directly ties congressman Don Young to Alaska corruption probe

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Documents filed in federal court directly link U.S. Rep. Don Young to a wide-ranging investigation of corruption in Alaska for the first time.

Investment banker convicted of bribing Birmingham mayor testifies mayor was in ‘dire straits’

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — An investment banker who pleaded guilty to bribing Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford testified Thursday he hoped to get lucrative bond work when he began giving money to Langford, who was in “very dire” financial straits.

Prosecutor recommends conviction and fine for former French prime minister in slander trial

PARIS — A French prosecutor recommended Tuesday that former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin be convicted for his alleged role in a smear campaign against President Nicolas Sarkozy, arguing he should have put an end to rumors swirling about his rival.

Ala. mayor accused of accepting Rolex, other bribes for steering millions to crony’s business

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mayor Larry Langford, who could be tossed out of office and go to prison if convicted of federal bribery charges, recently offered some advice to a new Birmingham City Council member.

Speaker of Irish parliament to resign rather than face no-confidence vote in expenses scandal

DUBLIN — The embattled speaker of Ireland’s parliament says he will resign rather than face a no-confidence vote demanded by opposition leaders over his lavish spending on staff and travel.

Named by unpopular governor, NY’s junior senator must tread election bid carefully

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. David Paterson keeps sinking in the public’s opinion, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is stuck in the vortex: She has to avoid getting sucked down by the governor’s historic low ratings without appearing ungrateful to the man who picked her to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Greek Socialists trounce governing conservatives on wave of anger over scandals, economy

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s Socialist leader George Papandreou trounced the governing conservatives in a landslide election victory after a campaign focused on dramatically different visions of how to dig the country out of its worst economic crisis in years.

Greek Socialists claim election victory after voters angered by scandals oust conservatives

ATHENS, Greece — Greek voters angered by repeated scandals and a faltering economy ousted Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in an early election Sunday, returning the Socialists to power after five years of conservative governance, initial results indicated.

Senate’s No. 2 Republican offers no support of Ensign as ethics committee investigates affair

WASHINGTON — The No. 2 Senate Republican is keeping his distance from the scandal surrounding his embattled GOP colleague from Nevada, John Ensign.

Senate GOP leader offers no support for Ensign amid new allegations about cover-up affair

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Ensign of Nevada was only beginning to emerge from a self-imposed political exile over fallout from his extramarital affair with a campaign aide. Now, tawdry new details about the case are raising fresh questions whether Ensign can be re-elected in 2012 — or even face criminal charges over his behavior.

Peruvian ex-President Fujimori sentenced for bribes, wiretaps to 6 years, fined $9 million

LIMA, Peru — A court imposed a six-year prison sentence Wednesday on disgraced ex-President Alberto Fujimori, who already faced the prospect of spending the rest of his life in a cell after three previous convictions. He also was fined $9 million for authorizing wiretaps and bribes.

Official: Prosecutors ask court to drop corruption case against Chirac, others

PARIS — The Paris prosecutor’s office has asked a court to drop a case against former President Jacques Chirac and others accused in an alleged corruption scandal dating back to his 1977-1995 tenure as Paris mayor, a judicial official said Tuesday.

University of Illinois president at center of admissions scandal submits letter of resignation

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — University of Illinois President B. Joseph White resigned Wednesday following reports that the school admitted politically connected applicants over more qualified ones at its Urbana-Champaign campus.

French ex-prime minister Villepin on trial over alleged smear campaign targeting Sarkozy

PARIS — Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin lashed out at French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday at the start of a slander trial involving alleged dirty tricks by top politicians and businessmen.

Colombia’s president says he favors eliminating scandal-plagued domestic spy agency

BOGOTA — President Alvaro Uribe says he is in favor of eliminating Colombia’s scandal-plagued domestic intelligence agency and transferring its functions to the police.

Yugoslav war crimes tribunal authorizes early release of former Bosnian Serb President Plavsic

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal announced Tuesday it has approved the early release from prison of former Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic after she served two-thirds of her 11-year sentence for persecution.

Guatemala arrests 9, including 5 police, in killing of lawyer who accused president

GUATEMALA CITY — Authorities in Guatemala arrested nine suspects Friday, including five police officers, in the killing of a prominent lawyer who accused President Alvaro Colom of involvement in his death in a posthumously released video.

Guatemala arrests 7, including 5 police, in killing of lawyer who accused president

GUATEMALA CITY — Authorities in Guatemala arrested seven suspects Friday, including five police officers, in the killing of a prominent lawyer who accused President Alvaro Colom of involvement in his death in a posthumously released video.

Ohio Democrat tries to convince conservative district of his moderate work on health care

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — It has been a challenging month for all Democratic lawmakers returning from a congressional recess, and especially for one Ohioan who has been tangling with a conservative, New Jersey-sized district that turned Democratic only after scandal felled a six-term Republican.

Former Pa. state senator, convicted on fraud charges, headed to federal prison Monday

PHILADELPHIA — A former Pennsylvania state senator convicted on fraud charges is scheduled to report to federal prison in Kentucky on Monday.

Japanese opposition leader Hatoyama, a political blue blood, had long wait in wings

TOKYO — Though politics is in his blood, Japan’s opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama has had a long wait in the wings.