English

Robert Hackwill

Venezuela

Venezuelans vote as polls predict return of the right after 16 years out of office

Venezuela may be on the verge of turning away from Socialism and electing a majority conservative government for the first time in 16 years. Voting

Italy

No respite for aid workers as refugees continue to flood into Europe

An indication of just how desperate some people are to get to Europe is that it is now December, when a sea crossing in an open boat is extremely

France

Turnout slightly up in early stages on French regional elections

Voter turnout was slightly up on five years ago in early voting in the French regional elections on Sunday. The trend strengthened as the day wore

World News

Hollande makes flying visit to French aircraft carrier hitting Syria

French President Francois Hollande has made a flying visit to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, on station in the eastern Mediterranean. It is

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Switzerland

Swiss government says will impose immigrant quotas if no EU deal reached

Switzerland, not part of the EU but part of its free-trade and Schengen zones, has long been at the spearpoint of European-wide hesitation about the

World News

EU's interior ministers grapple with PNR data and border controls

The thorny but now pressing issue of airlines’ Passenger Name Records concentrated minds at the latest meeting of EU Interior ministers. More

India

Chennai struggles with worst rain in a century as lakes close to bursting

More rain is forecast to be on the way but India’s fourth-largest city Chennai is already partially underwater. The situation is currently a disaster

Germany

German parliament gives green light to air missions in Syria

The German parliament has voted to support the coalition conducting airstrikes against ISIL in Syria. Gaining support meant some serious

World News

A la Bonne Biere reopens after Paris nightmare with back to business promise

The first of the cafes in Paris to reopen after being struck in the November 13 attacks, A la Bonne Biere, has seen regulars and new clients alike in

Cinema

A marriage made in music; the extraordinary tale of Afghan rapper Sonita Alizadeh

Afghan rapper Sonita Alizadeh, 19, was 10 years old when her parents first tried to sell her into marriage. In 2014, she uploaded a music video

France

Brandalism crashes the COP21 summit and lampoons greenwashing businesses

One group making headlines at the Paris Climate summit is British activists Brandalism, who have coined a new word to describe their subversive

France

Paris climate summit begins as leaders arrive for 12-day talks marathon

Paris is again at the centre stage of world news this week and next as the COP21 Climate Summit begins with the arrival of world leaders. All Monday

France

China gets daily reminders of the pressing need for a cleaner environment

Sunrise in Beijing, just like many other sunrises, was hidden behind a wall of smog. This is why the climate change summit is so vital, as the cost

Ukraine

Still no power in Crimea as protesters block repairs to pylons

Crimeans continue to suffer from a lack of power as work to restore electricity supplies is hampered by protesters and a lack of political will to

World News

World Bank looks for backers for $16B plan for Africa to adapt to climate change

The World Bank has announced it is calling for some 15 billion euros to pay for a “plan”

USA

Obama makes link between First Thanksgiving and America's refugee origins

Obama's address reminds Americans their ancestors made it to the 1621 First Thanksgiving harvest festival thanks to Native Americans' aid to refugees from persecution

France

Hollande adds Italy to his coalition before heading to Moscow

Holland heads to Moscow with his coalition package after adding Italy to his list of anti-ISIL partners, but will the package please Vladimir Putin?

Russia

No violation, no warning, a premediatated provocation growls Moscow

In Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the Turkish government for being a supporter of ISIL terrorism, and of having imposed a programme

Turkey

Russian co-pilot says his plane downed "without warning" by Turks

Claims and counter-claims fly between Ankara and Moscow over downed SU-24 on Turkish-Syrian border

Russia

Protesters pelt Turkish embassy in Moscow, call it the "Islamic State Embassy"

Itar-Tass reported some 900 people turned up outside the Turkish embassy on Wednesday to pelt it with eggs, tomatoes and stones in protests. The

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