Russia Human rights groups urge Russia to show restraint With Russian opposition forces planning a protest on Saturday several human rights groups have urged the Russian government to show restraint over 08/12/2011
USA USA: Two killed in another Virginia Tech shooting Two people have been shot dead at Virginia Tech University, the site of one of the worst massacres in US history. A campus police officer was 08/12/2011
world news Brussels talks begin to save the euro European leaders have begun arriving in Brussels for a crucial summit aimed at resolving the eurozone debt crisis. The main item on the agenda will 08/12/2011
the-network Toy safety on The Network Party killjoy? Or justified safety cop? The European Union draws ridicule and criticism for a recent toy-warning that kids under eight should not 08/12/2011
Iran Iran displays captured US drone It is a precious prize for the Islamic Republic. State television has been showing pictures of a US drone Iran says it forced down near the Afghan 08/12/2011
Germany Deutsche Bank on high alert over letter bomb Germany’s Deutsche Bank is on high alert after a letter bomb was sent to its chief. The envelope was intercepted before it reached Josef Ackerman and 08/12/2011
France Japan shines bright at Lyon's festival of lights What is billed as France’s biggest and best festival of lights begins in earnest tonight. “La fete des lumieres” takes place each year in the 08/12/2011
economy Geithner praises Italian debt efforts US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the US and all economies have a very strong interest in efforts being made to strengthen the euro. He 08/12/2011
Russia Remembering the USSR and its fall When the red flag bearing the hammer and sickle was thrown to the ground in a crowd, it was an action rich in symbolism, the flag of a nation which 08/12/2011
Sport Rooney Euro ban reduced UEFA has reduced Wayne Rooney’s ban at next year’s European championships from three to two games following an appeal hearing in Nyon Switzerland 08/12/2011
Sport Champions League: suspicious minds Suspicions of match mixing during Wednesday night’s Champions League have been raised by Spanish media following Lyon’s 7-1 thrashing of Dinamo 08/12/2011
South Africa Tempers fray as time runs out in climate talks Time is running out and tempers are boiling over. Supporters of South African President Jacob Zuma have clashed with environmental activists 08/12/2011
Cinema Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows The new Sherlock Holmes movie is an action-packed thriller – which is no surprise as it is directed by Guy Ritchie, best known for excessively 08/12/2011
le mag The European Book Prize The European Book Prize was founded in 2007 by the Esprit d’Europe association as a way of promoting European values, and contributing to Europeans’ 08/12/2011
Unreported Europe Portuguese youth exodus The queues outside African and South American consulates in Lisbon are getting longer by the day as more Portuguese are hoping to try their luck 08/12/2011
world news Merkel and Sarkozy renew appeal for new EU treaty The European People’s Party is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right and its leaders have gathered in 08/12/2011
economy ECB cuts rate but won't buy more bonds The European Central Bank is pinning its hopes of keeping the euro zone economy out of recession with an interest rate cut and by offering more help 08/12/2011
Belgium NATO-Russia fail to agree on missile defence NATO and Russia have failed to reach an agreement on missile defence after a meeting in Brussels. The two sides have agreed to keep on talking but 08/12/2011
economy Going down: ECB cuts rate to 1.0% The European Central Bank is pinning its hopes of keeping the euro zone economy out of recession with an interest rate cut and a new package of bank 08/12/2011
economy Oil prices to remain around $100 As the World Petroleum Congress ended in Doha, Qatar oil prices were forecast to remain at around $100 a barrel next year. Participants in the 08/12/2011
economy Greek output slumps, jobless near record highs More evidence of the collapse of Greek economy in the latest government data from Athens. In October industrial output and manufacturing 08/12/2011
Syria Syrian oil pipeline reportedly sabotaged An oil pipeline in Syria has been blown up according to a British-based activist group. The claim appears to be backed up by video posted on the 08/12/2011
Russia Russia accuses US of stirring election protests A war of words has erupted between Moscow and Washington with the Russian prime minister accused the White House of encouraging protests against his 08/12/2011
hi-tech Techno-zombies Smartphones rule. People walk and connect, eat and phone, and often even update their Facebook pages while talking with their friends. They are never 08/12/2011
Russia Putin lashes out at Clinton over protests Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has accused the US of encouraging protests against his government after its victory in the recent general 08/12/2011
Netherlands The euro: where it all began It was twenty years ago this week that the goal of a single European currency was born in the otherwise unremarkable Dutch town of Maastricht. It 08/12/2011
brussels bureau Europe's treaty nightmare In order to make sure greater fiscal discipline is set in stone, Germany and France want treaty change. That is what has to happen they argue, even 08/12/2011
Germany 'Explosive' powder sent to Deutsche Bank chief Security has been tightened around Deutsche Bank headquarters in Frankfurt after apparently explosive powder was sent to its chief, Josef Ackerman 08/12/2011
world news Back in the Day: Man kills disease December 9, 1979 The World Health Organisation (WHO) certifies the eradication of smallpox, making it the first disease Man had successfully managed 08/12/2011
