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 UNICEF, the United Nation’s agency for children, says it has been a devastating year” for millions of children caught up in worldwide 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! The Russian capital experiences its first heavy snowfall of the season just days away from New Year’s celebrations, disrupting flights and creating 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
