The presidential politics calendar turned to 2020 nearly a year ago. This week, the actual date catches up. What we?re watching as the preseason closes and election year opens:

Hong Kong police on Monday accused activists in the long-running pro-democracy movement of inciting minors to commit crimes.

A Sri Lankan Court on Monday granted bail to a Swiss Embassy employee who was detained pending charges that she made statements to create disaffection toward the government and fabricated evidence.

Australia’s Jewish community has slammed an Israeli government decision to promote to the post of health minister a legislator who is suspected of aiding an alleged sexual abuser wanted in Australia.

An Iranian-backed militia said Monday that the death toll from U.S. military strikes in Iraq and Syria against its fighters has risen to 25, vowing to exact revenge for the 'aggression of evil American ravens.'

As Russian President Vladimir Putin marks two decades in power , he boasts about his achievements but remains coy about his political future ? a reticence that fuels wild speculation about his intentions.

The start of a fourth week of French transport strikes saw some modest improvements Monday for beleaguered commuters in Paris, with fewer Metro lines closed.

Labor unions’ outsized power and plentiful funds are driving the strikes crippling France to protest the government?s planned revamping of the retirement system. Unions represent less than 10% of salaried workers but have a cozy, if paradoxical, relationship with officialdom that empowers them to block change.

A Sri Lankan court granted bail Monday to a former Cabinet minister who was arrested for participating in a news conference about abductions of critics under the government of the current president’s brother.

A German public broadcaster has pulled a satirical ditty sung by a children’s choir about a grandmother’s environmentally questionable habits and apologized after the song drew a wave of criticism.