Kazbek Gekkiyev, Russian TV journalist, shot dead in North Caucasus

Russian television journalist Kazbek Gekkiyev has been shot dead in the North Caucasus

Russian television journalist Kazbek Gekkiyev has been shot dead in the North Caucasus. Kazbek Gekkiyev, 26, was a newsreader on state-controlled local television in the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. Attacks on journalists have become relatively common in Russia. The North Caucasus is the country’s most volatile region, where security forces are battling an Islamist insurgency. On… Continue reading Kazbek Gekkiyev, Russian TV journalist, shot dead in North Caucasus

Kate Middleton pregnant: Duchess of Cambridge leaves hospital after three nights

Kate Middleton emerged from the King Edward VII Hospital looking relaxed, carrying a bouquet of yellow flowers and giving a brief smile to the waiting press with Prince William

Pregnant Kate Middleton smiled this morning as she left hospital after four days of treatment for severe morning sickness. The Duchess of Cambridge told reporters outside King Edward VII Hospital in London: “I’m feeling much better, thank you!” Kate Middleton, 30, was discharged from the King Edward VII Hospital following three nights under observation and… Continue reading Kate Middleton pregnant: Duchess of Cambridge leaves hospital after three nights

Branislav Milinkovic, Serbian ambassador to NATO, commits suicide in Brussels car park

Branislav Milinkovic, Serbian ambassador to NATO, has died after jumping from a multi-storey car park in Brussels airport

Branislav Milinkovic, Serbian ambassador to NATO, has died after jumping from a multi-storey car park in Brussels airport. The Serbian government confirmed that Branislav Milinkovic, 52, had died on Tuesday, but did not give details. It paid tribute to his work. Emergency services were called to the scene, but were not able to revive him,… Continue reading Branislav Milinkovic, Serbian ambassador to NATO, commits suicide in Brussels car park

Mel Greig and Michael Christian prank call to pregnant Kate Middleton’s hospital

Mel Greig and Michael Christian pretended to be the Queen and Prince Charles to obtain intimate medical information about pregnant Kate Middleton

King Edward VII hospital, which is treating Kate Middleton, has released private details about her condition to two prank callers from Australian radio station 2Day FM. The King Edward VII Hospital in central London has launched an investigation into the extraordinary stunt by Mel Greig and Michael Christian – and St James’s Palace is understood… Continue reading Mel Greig and Michael Christian prank call to pregnant Kate Middleton’s hospital

Kate Middleton pregnant: Hoax call to King Edward VII Hospital made by Australian 2Day FM

Australian 2Day FM presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian impersonated the Queen and Prince Charles and found themselves talking to pregnant Kate Middleton's private nurse

A hoax call from Australian radio station 2Day FM presenters, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles, has been made to King Edward VII hospital where Kate Middleton is being treated for morning sickness. King Edward VII hospital in London said a nurse had discussed the Duchess of Cambridge’s condition with… Continue reading Kate Middleton pregnant: Hoax call to King Edward VII Hospital made by Australian 2Day FM

Kate Middleton pregnant: Pippa and Harry favorite to become godparents

Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry played a key role when Kate and William walked down the aisle and now they are favorite to become godparents to royal couple’s child

Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry played a key role when Kate and William walked down the aisle and now they are favorite to become godparents to royal couple’s child. It is no secret the siblings are two of the most important people in the young couple’s life and if the royal tradition of appointing the… Continue reading Kate Middleton pregnant: Pippa and Harry favorite to become godparents

What if Kate Middleton is expecting twins? Which of the children will end up on the throne?

Some experts are predicting that Kate Middleton and Prince William will end up with twins

Some experts are predicting that Kate Middleton and Prince William will end up with twins – and if they do, there could be more than just the usual parenting headaches ahead for the royal couple. No mother of a future monarch has given birth to twins in Britain since the 15th century – so nobody… Continue reading What if Kate Middleton is expecting twins? Which of the children will end up on the throne?

Volgo Balt 199 cargo ship sinks off Turkish Black Sea coast

A rescue operation is under way after Volgo Balt 199 cargo ship sank in the Black Sea near the Turkish city of Istanbul

A rescue operation is under way after Volgo Balt 199 cargo ship sank in the Black Sea near the Turkish city of Istanbul. Twelve crew members were on board the Volgo Balt 199 – reportedly 11 Ukrainian nationals, and one Russian. Turkish media report that three people have been rescued and one person has died… Continue reading Volgo Balt 199 cargo ship sinks off Turkish Black Sea coast

Kate Middleton pregnant: William and Kate’s first child will be monarch weather it’s a boy or a girl

Prince William and Kate Middleton's first child will accede to the throne, even if she is a girl

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first child will accede to the throne – even if she is a girl. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s child will not be subject to the centuries-old law of primogeniture, which puts male heirs ahead of women, after a groundbreaking deal by David Cameron. British Prime Minister David Cameron… Continue reading Kate Middleton pregnant: William and Kate’s first child will be monarch weather it’s a boy or a girl

Kate Middleton pregnant: Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William are having their first baby

Kate Middleton was taken to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with acute morning sickness this afternoon

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby, St James’s Palace announced today. Kate Middleton, 30, was taken to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with acute morning sickness this afternoon. In a statement on the couple’s website, Prince William and Kate… Continue reading Kate Middleton pregnant: Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William are having their first baby

Pope Benedict’s Twitter account @pontifex unveiled by Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI wanted to reach out to everyone with tweets translated into eight languages

Pope Benedict XVI is to begin sending Twitter messages using the handle @pontifex as his personal account, the Vatican has announced. A spokesman said Pope Benedict XVI wanted to “reach out to everyone” with tweets translated into eight languages. The first tweet from his account, whose name means both pontiff and builder of bridges, is… Continue reading Pope Benedict’s Twitter account @pontifex unveiled by Vatican

Borut Pahor wins Slovenia’s presidential election

Borut Pahor, former Slovenian prime minister, has won an emphatic victory in the country's presidential run-off election

Borut Pahor, former Slovenian prime minister, has won an emphatic victory in the country’s presidential run-off election. With almost all votes counted, Borut Pahor polled 67% to incumbent President Danilo Turk’s 33% in a poll following days of protests over the economy and alleged government corruption. On Friday a number of people were injured as… Continue reading Borut Pahor wins Slovenia’s presidential election

Pier Luigi Bersani and Matteo Renzi in Italian centre-left Democratic Party poll

The final round of the contest for the leadership of the centre-left Democratic Party pitches veteran party leader Pier Luigi Bersani against Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi

Italians have been voting in the final round of the contest for the leadership of the centre-left Democratic Party. The run-off vote pitches veteran party leader Pier Luigi Bersani against Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi. With the party leading opinion polls, the winner has a good chance of becoming Italy’s next PM in elections scheduled for… Continue reading Pier Luigi Bersani and Matteo Renzi in Italian centre-left Democratic Party poll

Slovenia votes in presidential run-off poll following days of protests against government corruption

Slovenian vote pits incumbent Danilo Turk against former PM Borut Pahor, who is favored to win by opinion polls

Slovenians are voting today in a presidential run-off following days of protests over budget cuts and alleged government corruption. The vote pits incumbent Danilo Turk against former PM Borut Pahor, who is favored to win by opinion polls. On Friday, a number of people were injured as protesters clashed with police in the capital Ljubljana.… Continue reading Slovenia votes in presidential run-off poll following days of protests against government corruption

Brussels Christmas Tree 2012: thousands sign petition against abstract light installation replacing traditional Christmas tree

Thousands of people have signed a petition against Brussels’ abstract light installation replacing the traditional Christmas tree in the city centre

Thousands of people have signed a petition against Brussels’ abstract light installation replacing the traditional Christmas tree in the city centre. More than 11,000 signatures have been gathered in the online petition and a Facebook page attacking the new feature has been launched. Critics accuse officials of opting for the installation for fear of offending… Continue reading Brussels Christmas Tree 2012: thousands sign petition against abstract light installation replacing traditional Christmas tree

Finnish girl accused of music piracy

The father of a 9-year-old girl accused of illegally downloading music in Finland has paid a 300 euros fine to a Finnish anti-piracy group

The father of a 9-year-old girl accused of illegally downloading music in Finland has paid a 300 euros ($390) fine to a Finnish anti-piracy group. He had refused to pay the original settlement of 600 euros and sign a non-disclosure agreement. A police warrant was then issued to confiscate the laptop of the girl, who… Continue reading Finnish girl accused of music piracy

Eurozone unemployment rate hits new record high in October, while consumer price rises slowed sharply

Eurozone unemployment rate hit a new record high in October

Eurozone unemployment rate hit a new record high in October, while consumer price rises slowed sharply. The jobless rate in the recessionary euro area rose to 11.7%. Inflation fell from 2.5% to 2.2% in November. The data came as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi warned the euro would not emerge from its crisis until… Continue reading Eurozone unemployment rate hits new record high in October, while consumer price rises slowed sharply

Ramush Haradinaj, Kosovo’s former prime minister, cleared of war crimes by UN tribunal

A UN tribunal has cleared Kosovo's former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj of war crimes from the 1998-99 conflict

A UN tribunal has cleared Kosovo’s former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj of war crimes from the 1998-99 conflict, after a retrial in The Hague. Ramush Haradinaj, a rebel commander during the war, was accused of overseeing a campaign of torture and murder against Serbs and suspected collaborators. But four years after the last acquittal the… Continue reading Ramush Haradinaj, Kosovo’s former prime minister, cleared of war crimes by UN tribunal

Julian Assange has a chronic lung infection, Ecuador’s ambassador in UK warns

Julian Assange, who is living at the Ecuadorean embassy in London, has a chronic lung infection which could get worse at any moment

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is living at the Ecuadorean embassy in London, has a chronic lung infection “which could get worse at any moment”, Ana Alban, Ecuador’s ambassador to the UK, has warned. Ana Alban said Julian Assange, who is fighting UK efforts to send him to Sweden, was suffering from living “in a… Continue reading Julian Assange has a chronic lung infection, Ecuador’s ambassador in UK warns

DSK charges in Carlton affair delayed

A French court has delayed a ruling on whether Dominique Strauss-Kahn will stand trial on pimping charges

A French court has delayed a ruling on whether Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former International Monetary Fund chief, will stand trial on pimping charges. Prosecutors said the appeals court in French town of Douai said the decision would be made on 19 December. The charges relate to sex parties held in a luxury hotel in the northern French… Continue reading DSK charges in Carlton affair delayed

Eurozone deal on Greece bailout

Eurozone finance ministers and the IMF have agreed on a deal on emergency bailout for debt-laden Greece

Eurozone finance ministers and the IMF have agreed on a deal on emergency bailout for debt-laden Greece. They have agreed to cut debts by 40 billion euros ($51 billion) and have paved the way for releasing the next tranche of bailout loans – some 44 billion euros. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras welcomed the deal,… Continue reading Eurozone deal on Greece bailout

France backs Palestinian non-member status at UN

France has confirmed its intentions to vote for Palestinian non-member status at the United Nations later this week

France has confirmed its intentions to vote for Palestinian non-member status at the United Nations later this week. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France had long backed Palestinian ambitions for statehood and would vote yes “out of a concern for coherency”. The Palestinians are asking the UN General Assembly to upgrade their status from permanent… Continue reading France backs Palestinian non-member status at UN

EU Parliament sprayed with milk by farmers protesting at falling dairy prices

Angry farmers protesting at falling dairy prices in the EU have sprayed fresh milk at the European Parliament and riot police in Brussels

Angry farmers protesting at falling dairy prices in the EU have sprayed fresh milk at the European Parliament and riot police in Brussels. Thousands of dairy farmers, accompanied by hundreds of tractors, descended on the Belgian capital on Monday for two days of demonstrations. Disruption has continued, with EU officials hindered from reaching their offices… Continue reading EU Parliament sprayed with milk by farmers protesting at falling dairy prices

Titisee-Neustadt fire kills at least 14 at a workshop for disabled people

At least 14 people have died in a major fire at a workshop for disabled people in Titisee-Neustadt, south-western Germany, reports say. Firefighters are still trying to rescue people and extinguish the blaze at the centre run by the Caritas charity in Titisee-Neustadt, in the Black Forest. The workshop employs about 120 disabled people, German… Continue reading Titisee-Neustadt fire kills at least 14 at a workshop for disabled people

Catalan separatists win majority in Spain’s regional election

Voters in Spanish region of Catalonia have given a majority to parties seeking Catalan independence

Voters in Spanish region of Catalonia have given a majority to parties seeking Catalan independence. However, Catalan President Artur Mas, who called the early election and pushed for independence, lost seats. His centre-right CiU remains the largest bloc, winning 50 seats out of 135, down from 62 last time. The left-wing separatist ERC won 21… Continue reading Catalan separatists win majority in Spain’s regional election