world news Turkmenistan vote slammed as sham Turkmens elected a new parliament on Sunday in a snap ballot described by the government as a step towards democracy. But few foreign observers or 14/12/2008
world news Bush makes final Iraq visit US president George W Bush has made an unannounced visit to Baghdad just weeks before he hands over the presidency to Barack Obama. Bush held 14/12/2008
world news Merkel's summit brings together German elite German leader Angela Merkel has faced a lot of criticism at home for what is seen as her low-key response to the financial crisis. This weekend she 14/12/2008
world news Russian opposition grows as recession bites There were more signs of resistance to Russia’s government in separate opposition demonstrations in Moscow and St Petersburg on Sunday. The 14/12/2008
world news Hamas cancels ceasefire with Israel It appears the Palestinians of Gaza and Israel are set on collision course again. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group which has controlled Gaza 14/12/2008
world news Tough cop stabbed by far-rightist in Bavaria A Bavarian police chief known for his hardline stance against the far right has been seriously wounded in a stabbing at his home. It is suspected 14/12/2008
world news Sukhinova heats up Siberia, is Miss World 2008 Chalk up another rising star from the new Russian firmament, Kseniya Sukhinova, the 58th Miss World. The 21 year-old sizzler from Siberia who says 14/12/2008
world news British PM pledges to help Pakistan fight terrorism Gordon Brown has pledged to help Pakistan fight terrorism with a seven-million euro package on a visit to Islamabad. The British prime minister has 14/12/2008
world news US northeast hunkers down and waits for relief Snowed in in the suburbs, and just about the whole of America’s northeast, where more than a million homes are without power and facing a long wait 14/12/2008
world news Raul visits Venezuela on first foreign trip Cuban leader Raul Castro has held talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez in Caracas on his first foreign trip. He officially took over 14/12/2008
world news Tension remains high in Greece The streets are quiet again in the Greek capital Athens after another night of violence. The scuffles between small groups of youths and police 14/12/2008
world news Castro makes first official foreign trip Cuban President Raul Castro has arrived in Venezuela on his first overseas trip as leader. The symbolism was not lost on his host President Hugo 14/12/2008
world news Future of Fortis bank uncertain Belgium’s government is to appeal a court decision to freeze a buy out by BNP Paribas of the stricken Belgian-Dutch bank Fortis. Hit by the global 14/12/2008
world news Thousands of German credit card details stolen More than 10,000 bank customers in Germany have had their credit card details stolen. The information was apparently taken from the Landesbank 14/12/2008
world news Another night of violence in Athens Petrol bombs and stones have been hurled at police in Athens in fresh disturbances in the Greek capital. Officers responded by firing tear 14/12/2008
