2014-12-26

Ukraine

Visa and MasterCard quit Crimea over US sanctions

Visa and MasterCard said they can no longer support their payment cards being used in Crimea. The move by the world's biggest payment card companies follows the latest round of US sanctions imposed

26/12/2014

Egypt

Egypt bans 'Exodus' film because of 'historical inaccuracies'

Egypt has banned the Hollywood film “Exodus: Gods and Kings” because of what it describes as “historical inaccuracies.” The country’s cultural

26/12/2014

Ivory Coast

Simone Gbagbo goes on trial in Ivory Coast

The former first lady of Ivory Coast has gone on trial for her alleged role in post-election violence five years ago. Simone Gbagbo, the wife of ex-

26/12/2014

Russia

Russia's new military doctrine names NATO build-up as main threat

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a revised military doctrine that names NATO’s military build-up near Russia’s border as its main

26/12/2014

Georgia

Georgian MPs exchange blows in Boxing Day parliament brawl

Politicians came to blows in the Georgian parliament on Boxing day over how they should decide the make-up of Georgian delegations in international

26/12/2014

Turkey

Schoolboy arrested for 'insulting' Turkish president released

A Turkish teenager who was arrested at his school on Wednesday for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been released from police

26/12/2014

France

New Easyjet strike called in France over New Year

Several French Easyjet flights failed to take off over Christmas - and now there's a threat of further strike action over New Year.

26/12/2014

Italy

More than 1,000 migrants rescued off Italian coast on Christmas Day

At least 1,250 refugees and migrants were rescued by the Italian navy in four different operations on Christmas Day. They were taken onto the Navy

26/12/2014

Syria

Syria: 'civilians killed' in government raids near Aleppo

Dozens of civilians have been killed and wounded in government air raids near the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, according to unconfirmed reports.

26/12/2014

Ukraine

'Security concerns' halt trains between Ukraine and Crimea

Trains between Ukraine and Crimea are being suspended because of unspecified security concerns. Ukraine’s state rail company Ukrzaliznytsia said

26/12/2014

Spain

Trains run on time despite 23-hour Spanish rail strike

Spanish rail travel has been running mostly on schedule. That’s despite a 23-hour rail strike called by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT)

26/12/2014

Belgium

Iran recovers its 3,000 year-old stolen relics after 3 decades

Iran has recovered a collection of artifacts including many relics over 3,000 years old. The treasure was stolen by a French woman in the sixties and

26/12/2014

Iraq

Bonus: Interview with Jeffrey Bates, Chief of Communications for UNICEF Iraq

26/12/2014

United Kingdom

UK shoppers flock to stores for Boxing Day sales

Thousands of shoppers in the UK have been queuing outside stores hoping for a bargain on Boxing Day. December 26 is one of the busiest days for

26/12/2014

Russia

Russian shoppers improvise as crisis hits holiday period

A Moscow shopping mall is as crowded as any other at this time of year, but many people are taking some drastic belt-tightening measures in the face

26/12/2014

Iraq

The days drag for Syrian children in Erbil refugee camp

Many Syrian and Iraqi children have lived their whole lives in crisis, surrounded by war. Without schools to go to, how can these youngsters can go o

26/12/2014

Greece

Greece: Soup kitchens feed thousands this Christmas

With unemployment running at around 25% and no let-up in the ongoing economic crisis gripping Greece, thousands of Athenians have been forced to

26/12/2014

France

France: Angouleme council takes down anti-homeless cages around benches after outcry

The local council in the French city of Angouleme has backtracked on a decision to cage public benches to stop homeless people using them. The fences

26/12/2014

Indonesia

Indonesia remembers victims in Aceh, area worst hit by 2004 tsunami

Memorial services have been held around the Indian Ocean to remember the victims on the 10th anniversary of the 2004 Asian tsunami.

26/12/2014

Ukraine

Ukraine crisis: Peace talks cancelled in Minsk

Peace talks due to take place in Minsk on Friday between the Kyiv government and pro-Russian rebels have been cancelled. It’s been reported that

26/12/2014

India

Asian tsunami survivors return to disaster scene on 10th anniversary

All around the Indian Ocean, other survivors and relatives of the tsunami victims have been returning to the scene of the disaster to mark the tenth anniversary.

26/12/2014

No Comment

Moscow: I am dreaming of a white Christmas!

26/12/2014

Libya

Libyan soldiers killed in militant attacks

One of Libya’s largest oil facilities was hit on Thursday by a rocket as armed factions, allied to competing governments, fight for control of the

26/12/2014

Indonesia

Tsunami-hit countries remember the dead 10 years on

Memorial services are taking place to remember thousands of people who were killed in the Indian Ocean tsunami. Hit by a 10-metre wave, Indonesia’s

26/12/2014

Sweden

Arson attack at Swedish mosque leaves five injured

Swedish police are treating a fire at a mosque in the town of Eskilstuna as arson. Five people were reportedly injured in the attack, which happened

26/12/2014

USA

XBox and Playstation gamers face connectivity problems amid hacking claims

Gamers have been facing connectivity issues with Xbox Live and Playstation online services. Microsoft and Sony – the companies behind the consoles –

26/12/2014

Turkey

Turkey and Iraq to boost military cooperation against ISIL

Turkey and Iraq have vowed to expand military cooperation against fighters from the group that calls itself the Islamic State. It came as Iraqi

26/12/2014