Belgium Strikes bring public transport in Belgium to standstill Train and bus services ground to a halt in Belgium on Monday after workers walked out in protest over government austerity measures. There’s anger 01/12/2014
world news Putin says Russia to stop South Stream gas pipeline project The Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced during a visit to Turkey that Moscow is dropping the proposed South Stream gas pipeline project 01/12/2014
Democratic Republic Of Congo International Criminal Court upholds sentence for Congolese war criminal Thomas Lubanga Appeal judges have upheld the conviction of a Congolese war criminal accused of using child soldiers. Fifty three-year-old Thomas Lubangawas 01/12/2014
Sport Ronaldo, Messi and Neuer named in Ballon D'Or shortlist The initial 23-man list for this year’s Ballon d’Or prize was whittled down to three on Monday. To no great surprise last year’s winner Cristiano 01/12/2014
Russia St Petersburg Cossacks get something new for the weekend Many schools and hospitals may struggle to stay open in Vladimir Putin’s Russia, but churches and all things religious are booming, and now the 01/12/2014
France Five dead after heavy storms in south of France At least five people have died after heavy storms in the south of France close to the border with Spain. The latest victim was a 73-year-old man 01/12/2014
World EU looks east as Tusk takes top job The EU’s political centre of gravity has shifted eastwards with the appointment of Donald Tusk as the president of the European Council. Tusk built 01/12/2014
Sport Dortmund go from title contenders to relegation strugglers Welcome to The Corner, our weekly program about the world of football. Let’s start Borussia Dortmund’s crisis which appears to get worse each 01/12/2014
World Le Pen: I admire 'cool head' Putin's resistance to West's new Cold War She has been the leader of the anti-immigration, anti-EU Front Nationale in France since 2011 and has just been unanimously re-elected by her party 01/12/2014
Moldova Tough coalition-building ahead for Moldova's pro-Europeans The election may be over in Moldova but the politicians there have plenty of work to do to form a coalition government. Pro-Russian Socialists 01/12/2014
Moldova Moldova's constant pull, eastward and westward in turn Moldova has historically been pulled between Russia and mainstream Europe. At the weekend, thousands of Moldovans waited at their embassy in 01/12/2014
India Praise for Indian sisters after fightback video goes viral Two Indian sisters have been hailed for their courage after a video that has gone viral on social media showed them fighting back against youths who 01/12/2014
France French employers in red tape protest French small business owners have marched in Paris and Toulouse in a protest against red tape. From tobacconists to construction industry bosses 01/12/2014
Poland First openly gay mayor Robert Biedron elected in Poland The election of Poland’s first openly gay mayor has been applauded in a country known for conservative Catholic values. Robert Biedron, already a 01/12/2014
Nigeria Boko Haram suspected of new attacks on Nigerian cities There are reports of a dual bomb attack on a crowded market in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri. Local media are quoted as saying two 01/12/2014
Syria UN suspends aid to Syrian refugees as money runs out On Monday the UN’s World Food programme announced it was suspending aid to 1.7 million Syrian refugees from lack of funds. It needs just over 51 01/12/2014
Europe News Poland's Tusk takes over EU helm Former Polish prime minister Donald Tusk took over the presidency of the European Council on Monday, succeeding Belgium’s Herman Van Rompuy. The 01/12/2014
explore Educating Riyadh Saudi Arabia is experiencing an educational boom. In 40 years the student population has soared from 7,000 to around one million. Anyone aiming for a 01/12/2014
explore Traveller's diary: Prince Sultan University It’s seven in the evening and the temperature is 35 degrees. Time for a game of football. What in this heat? The playing fields of Prince Sultan 01/12/2014
Culture news Closing ceremony of the 2nd Aram Khachaturian International Festival in Yerevan The Closing Ceremony of the 2nd Aram Khachaturian International Festival is dedicated to the 135th anniversary of Aram Manukian, the founder of the 01/12/2014
South Africa Progress and challenges as World Aids Day is marked It is World Aids Day and in South Africa, said to have the biggest HIV epidemic on the planet, efforts continue to stop its spread with condoms being 01/12/2014
Germany Two-day Lufthansa strike prelude to Christmas transport threat by German unions A Lufthansa pilots’ strike today and tomorrow means the cancellation of at least half of all flights and frayed tempers for travelers. The pilots’ 01/12/2014
Cinema Iranian vampire Western film draws blood on festival circuit It has been billed “the first Iranian vampire Western”. ‘A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’ is the debut feature of British born filmmaker Ana Lily 01/12/2014
Sport Gravity: Kjetil Jansrud enjoys perfect start to season Welcome to this season’s second edition of “Gravity” where we will be looking at Lindsey Vonn’s return to action, Kjetil Jansrud’s great run of form 01/12/2014
New Zealand Dotcom dodges custody but faces uphill struggle He may be broke but at-bay internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom has won a legal battle to stay out of jail on bail. A New Zealand court ruled that the 01/12/2014
no comment Russians take to Moscow streets to protest healthcare reforms Over a thousand Russians marched through central Moscow on Sunday (November 30) to protest against reforms to the healthcare system and to demand 01/12/2014
no comment Egypt: police use water cannon against anti-Mubarak verdict protesters Egyptian police have used water cannon and tear gas against demonstrators in Cairo who had been protesting a court’s ruling to dismiss a case against 01/12/2014
no comment Rio de Janeiro unveils 85-metre-tall floating Christmas 'tree' Rio de Janeiro presented what they are calling the largest ever floating Christmas ‘tree’ on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. The giant structure was 01/12/2014
no comment Thailand: Macaques feast during Lopburi Monkey Festival Thousands of macaques in Thailand’s Lopburi province were treated to a feast on Sunday (November 30). Trays of vegetables, fruits and desserts 01/12/2014
Culture news Top Spanish acts Miguel Bosé and Pablo Alborán launch new album ‘Amo’ is the new album by Miguel Bosé, one of Spain’s most influential artists. The 58-year old Grammy-award winner is the father of two sets of 01/12/2014
