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Vatican

McDonald's in the Vatican - why the cardinals are seeing red

McDonald's cooks up controversy with a food outlet in a building belonging to the Catholic Church in Rome - within sight of St Peter's Square.

Japan

Inada visit to military shrine "deplorable" says South Korea

Japan's defence minister visits controversial military shrine hours after historic Pearl Harbour ceremony.

Afghanistan

Asylum request in US by first female Afghan fighter pilot causes stir

Niloofar Rahmani was supposed to return to Kabul over the weekend after a much-publicised stint of 15 months' training with the US Air Force

Israel

Israeli parliament leader denies 'Taliban' attitude to female dress code

Israel's Parliamentary Speaker has said the Knesset has not gone, in his words, "Iran-Taliban" following row over the length of womens' skirts.

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Philippines

Philippines' Duterte boasts he personally killed crime suspects

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines is under scrutiny again after claiming he had personally killed crime suspects when he was a city mayor, to set an example to…

France

Outrage at Le Pen call for free school ban for migrant children in France

The French Front National leader's call for an end to free education for the children of illegal immigrants has been roundly condemned in France.

World News

Trump slams China on Twitter

US President-Elect Donald Trump has blasted Beijing’s monetary policy and its activities in the South China Sea in a Twitter outburst that will do nothing to mend fences after his controversial phone

USA

Wisconsin to recount presidential vote after Green Party petition

The US state says it will act after receiving Jill Stein's petition, but it's thought unlikely to affect Donald Trump's overall win.

France

British photographer David Hamilton found dead in Paris

Unconfirmed reports say the 83-year-old committed suicide. He had denied accusations that he had raped some of his young teenage models in the past.

Poland

Poland exhumes late president Kaczynski's remains

The bodies of late Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria have been exhumed as part of a new investigation into the Smolensk plane crash.

Israel

Israel muffles the muezzin

An Israeli ministerial committee has voted to support a bill enforcing lowering the volume of loudspeakers calling worshippers to prayer in mosques.

USA

A Trump White House may reek of conflict of interest

Donald Trump appears to be taking American exceptionalism to new heights as he ponders packing his administration with buddies, business partners and family members.

World News

Russian National Unity Day brings celebration but also controversy

A monument to Grand Prince Vladimir has been erected near the Kremlin

Europe News

EU's Oettinger issues apology over Chinese 'slitty-eyed' slur

Germany’s EU commissioner Gunter Oettinger finally apologised on Thursday for a speech in which he called Chinese officials “slitty-eyed” and joked about gay…

Afghanistan

Green-eyed 'Afghan girl' in court on fake ID card charge

The famous green-eyed ‘Afghan girl’ has appeared in court in Peshawar, accused of having a fake Pakistani identity card.

Thailand

Thai government calls on Google to take down content insulting monarchy

US internet giant Google has agreed to help remove content insulting Thailand’s monarchy.

World News

Venezuela's opposition accuses government of ''coup''

In Venezuela, the opposition has accused the government of staging a coup after their bid to hold a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro was suspended.

Israel

UNESCO passes controversial Jerusalem resolution

The UN’s cultural body UNESCO has adopted a contentious resolution heavily criticising Israel’s activities at holy sites in East Jerusalem.

Netherlands

Dutch government may legalise assisted suicide for those who have 'completed life'

The Dutch government has announced it intends to draft a law legalising assisted suicide for people who are not necessarily terminally ill, but who feel they have “completed…

USA

Trump camp calls new groping allegations 'pure fiction'

Donald Trump is threatening to sue the New York Times following an article alleging he had groped two women.