World
Thailand’s opposition to boycott snap elections
Thailand's main opposition party has decided to boycott snap elections set for February 2, 2014. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told a news conference it...
Lockerbie bombing 25th anniversary marked in US and UK
The UK and the US are holding memorial services to mark the 25th anniversary of the Lockerbie bombing in which 270 people were killed. A...
Turkey corruption scandal: Two ministers’ sons charged
The sons of two ministers have been charged in Turkey in connection with a huge corruption investigation. The head of the state-owned bank and at...
China accuses Japan of military expansion
China is accusing Japan of using its national security as a pretext for military expansion. China’s Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said in a statement...
Barack Obama end of year news conference: NSA spying could be reviewed
President Barack Obama has suggested at his end-of-year news conference there may be a review of surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA) in...
Mexico: President Enrique Pena Nieto signs oil and gas law
Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto has signed a controversial law that allows foreign companies to drill for oil for the first time since the...
Mikhail Khodorkovsky arrives in Berlin
Mikhail Khodorkovsky flew to Berlin on board of a private jet, hours after being pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin and freed from a...
Edward Snowden leaks: Spying targets revealed
New details of people and institutions targeted by the US and UK surveillance have been published by The Guardian, The New York Times and...
Uganda parliament passes anti-gay bill
Uganda's parliament has passed a bill to toughen the punishment for gay acts to include life imprisonment in some cases. The anti-gay bill also makes...
General Michael Carey was drunk during Russia trip
US Air Force Major-General Michael Carey was sacked for conduct "unbecoming of a gentleman" during a business trip to Russia in July, a report...
Mikhail Khodorkovsky released from jail after pardon
Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been released from jail following a pardon from Russian President Vladimir Putin, his lawyers say. Vladimir Putin signed a decree earlier pardoning...
Manila airport shooting: Four people killed by gunmen
Four people, including a mayor, have been shot dead by gunmen at Manila airport in the Philippines, officials have said. Ukol Talumpa, mayor of the...
Kate Middleton and Prince William to visit New Zealand and Australia next April
Prince William and Kate Middleton are to visit New Zealand and Australia next April, Kensington Palace has said. It is thought likely their baby son,...
Marist poll: “Whatever” rated most annoying word of 2013
"Whatever" was rated the most annoying word of 2013 by 38% of respondents of a recent survey. A number of 1,173 Americans have been surveyed...
Man on fire in St Peter’s Square
A man set himself on fire in St Peter's Square in Vatican City, church officials have said. The 51-year-old poured petrol over his body before...
Cuba relaxes conditions on buying foreign-made cars
Cuba has decided to ease restrictions on people buying foreign-made new and used cars, according to state media. Cubans will no longer need government permits...
Vladimir Putin to pardon Mikhail Khodorkovsky
President Vladimir Putin has announced he will soon pardon jailed former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The Russian president said he had received a request from Mikhail...
South Sudan rebels seize Bor town after coup attempt
Rebels in South Sudan have taken over the key town of Bor, the military has said, as fighting continues after Sunday's reported coup attempt. "Our...
Viktor Yanukovych criticizes Western politicians intervening in Ukraine crisis
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has said he strongly opposes Western politicians intervening in the crisis in his country. Asked about their recent visits to the...
Egypt: Hosni Mubarak’s sons and ex-PM Ahmed Shafiq cleared of corruption charges
Hosni Mubarak’s sons, Gamal and Alaa, and his last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, have been acquitted of charges of embezzlement by an Egyptian court. Ahmed...
World stock markets rise after Fed stimulus trim announcement
Global stock markets rallied after the US Federal Reserve's commitment to keep interest rates low offset its decision to taper its stimulus programme. Germany's Dax...
Thamsanqa Jantjie: Nelson Mandela’s memorial interpreter admitted to psychiatric hospital
Thamsanqa Jantjie, the sign interpreter at Nelson Mandela's memorial who is accused of making up gestures, has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, local...
Dennis Rodman in third North Korea visit
Dennis Rodman is heading to North Korea for a five-day visit, where he will train the national basketball team. The former basketball player has previously...
Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounces corruption inquiry as “dirty operation”
Turkey’s PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced a corruption inquiry as a "dirty operation" against his government. Some 52 people - including three sons of...
Rob Ford filmed dancing in Toronto City Council
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been filmed dancing in the City Council to songs including Bob Marley's One Love. He refused to resign in November...
Prev