Politics

Candle-lit vigil for victims of Pakistan school massacre

A candle-lit vigil was held in Islamabad after 148 people, including 132 children, were massacred by the Taliban at a school in Peshawar. Students at the vigil spoke of the need to defy the militants and return to school.

Dec 19, 2014

EU leader wants 'tough, responsible' Russia strategy

As they arrived for an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, European leaders took a tough line on the troubles faced by the Russian economy, saying EU sanctions on Moscow were justified given its role in the Ukraine conflict.

Dec 19, 2014

Former Israeli president Peres calls for Palestinian state

Former Israeli President and Nobel laureate Shimon Peres visited French President Francois Hollande Thursday, saying "to have a democratic and Jewish state, we need a Palestinian state as well."

Dec 19, 2014

UN appeals for $8.4 bn to grapple fallout of Syria war

The UN appealed Thursday for $8.4 billion to help provide emergency aid and longer-term help to nearly 18 million people in Syria and across the region next year hit by the drawn-out conflict.

Dec 19, 2014

Disorder as Kenyan MPs debate controversial terror law

Disorder broke out in the Kenyan parliament Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial tough new security law that cracks down on terror suspects and curtails journalists' rights.

Dec 19, 2014

First Etihad superjumbo flight in December

The first flight of Etihad Airways' long-awaited Airbus A380 superjumbo will take place later in December, the Abu Dhabi carrier said Thursday, also announcing its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner route.

Dec 19, 2014

UN running out of funds to house displaced Gaza families

The UN warned Thursday it was running out of funds to house families in Gaza, as it doubled its estimate of the number of homes damaged or destroyed in this summer's war with Israel.

Dec 19, 2014

Posters for 'The Interview' removed after film release cancelled

Workers removed a giant poster in Hollywood for the film "The Interview". Sony Pictures on Wednesday cancelled the release of the comedy about North Korea that triggered chilling threats from hackers.

Dec 19, 2014

Serbs cut ribbon on Chinese-built bridge over Danube

The Chinese and Serbian prime ministers inaugurated Thursday a brand new, multi-million-euro bridge over the Danube, described as the first major Chinese-built infrastructure project in Europe.

Dec 19, 2014

Protest against proposed 'wall of shame' in Calais

Several hundred protesters gathered at the troubled French port Calais to oppose the construction of a 'wall of shame' aimed at stopping migrants from stowing away.

Dec 19, 2014

Roma families near Paris face expulsion before Christmas

Just days before Christmas, forty Roma families living in a camp near Paris face the threat of expulsion. Local authorities gave the families 48 hours to leave the camp on 4 December, leaving them anxiously awaiting their fate.

Dec 19, 2014

Ikea opens its doors in South Korea

Global furniture juggernaut IKEA opens its first South Korean store.

Dec 18, 2014

Putin promises economic recovery, digs in on Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin tries to quell fears of economic collapse and vows rapid recovery from the worst financial crisis of his rule but stresses that his position on Ukraine has not shifted.

Dec 18, 2014