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Robert Hackwill

World News

Philip VI's call for national unity heard loud and clear by Basques & Catalans

The King of Spain’s Christmas speech’s strong appeals to beware of nationalist sentiment led to its leaders being quick off the mark to comment. The

World News

Ukraine retaliates to end free trade with Russia with own embargo

Following Russia’s ban on Ukrainian free trade in an escalation of Moscow’s squeezing of the barely-functioning economy, the Ukrainian parliament has

Afghanistan

Sangin retaken as Afghan, US and UK forces push Taliban back

The theatre of heavy fighting with the Taliban in the last few days with Afghan government, US and UK troops in Helmand province, Sangin district is

World News

Unseasonal weather in Europe and elsewhere creates air pollution spikes

Air pollution is reaching record levels in many countries, particularly in China. At least 10 cities and one province are on “red alert”. Beijing

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Belgium

Belgian police arrest ninth Paris suspect in Brussels

Belgian police have arrested a ninth suspect on their soil suspected of being involved in the November attacks in Paris. The man, named as Abdoullah

Economy

European retailers strike early with sales after autumn disappoints

High street heaven for shoppers as stores offer clothing bargains after warm autumn, but fears about terror take the fun out of bargain-hunting in France

Syria

Amnesty International accuses Russia of Syrian war crimes

Amnesty International is accusing Russia of war crimes for its attacks in Syria. The NGO says airstrikes have cost hundreds of civilian lives and

World

Spain faces new era of political dialogue to avoid deadlock

The PP won the Spanish election, but appears unable to form a majority government. For the first time since the restoration of democracy, no-one can. Could a "loser's coalition" take over, or will we

Poland

Poland raids NATO counterintelligence office in Warsaw to oust director

In an unprecedented move a NATO member, Poland, has conducted a raid in the small hours of Friday morning against the temporary offices of a

Turkey

Syria's Kurds claim successes against ISIL, but no end to terror in Raqqa

This, and places like it in northern Syria, is where Europe’s refugee crisis began. With the rise of ISIL, the flow of people escaping their

World

Mould-breaking election in Spain indicates four into two won't go

From being a two-party contest for the last 40 years Spain has four leading contenders going into Sunday's general election, with two newcomers threatening the Conservatives and Socialists' chances of

Turkey

Turkey and Israel to restore full diplomatic relations

A secret meeting in Zurich on Wednesday has led to a preliminary agreement between Turkey and Israel ending a long dispute. Cordial relations turned

Brazil

WhatsApp returns to Brazil after brief suspension

Popular phone and tablet programme WhatsApp has been restored in Brazil after being banned for 12 hours. The ban, for 48 hours, was imposed because

USA

US justice catches up with Martin Shkreli to charge entrepreneur with fraud

It appears karma may have caught up with US entrepreneur Martin Shkreli, who has been arrested on fraud charges. In 2015 he became the internet’s

Russia

Putin's annual address offers snapshot of Russian world view

The television address gave a snapshot of Putin and Russia’s view of the world, a sort of parallel universe where corrupted public figures are

Turkey

Death toll mounts as Ankara continues its PKK clampdown in Kurdish towns

The Turkish authorities claim 24 people described as “terrorists” have been killed in a big clean-up operation ongoing in a part of Diyabakir and two

World News

Russians and Americans report "common ground" over Syria

The Russians and Americans have met in Moscow to discuss Syria, and it seems they have agreed on common ground from where they can move forward

World News

Iran slams Turkey's role in anti-ISIL alliance as hypocrisy

The Saudi’s diplomatic recipe for an Islamic response to ISIL has been welcomed by some and condemned by some. The US says the 34-nation military

World News

Call South Sudan's leaders to account on child soldiers says report

The army base at Pibor in Southern Sudan is new, within a stone’s throw of the school whose classrooms its soldiers occupied for several years until

Pakistan

Peshawar prepares for sad memories of Army School massacre

The first anniversary is approaching of the terrible army school massacre in Peshawar. Last year nine heavily-armed Islamic extremists scaled the

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