Monthly world current affairs December 2015

World News For The Year 2015 and Month Dec

World's most populous country to boost numbers

With China officially deciding to end its one-child policy from 1 January 2016, it has joined a group of about 56 countries, representing a third of world population, that have policies promoting more population.
2015-12-31

China building second aircraft carrier

China on Thursday announced it was designing and building its second aircraft carrier completely on its own.
2015-12-31

Fire breaks out at a Dubai Hotel near Burj Khalifa, 16 injured

The Dubai government media office tweeted that a "fire has been reported in the Address Downtown hotel. Authorities are currently on-site to address the incident."
2015-12-31

Media should give more space to good news, Pope says after grim year

The media should give more space to positive, inspirational stories to counterbalance the preponderance of evil, violence and hate in the world, Pope Francis said in his year-end message.
2015-12-31

Guyana passes terrorism law with death penalty provision

Guyana's parliament has approved anti-terrorism legislation that includes the death penalty for certain offenses and would allow rendition of suspects to other countries. The ruling party used its one-seat majority to pass the bills during the National Assembly's final session for the year.
2015-12-31

Israeli police question PM's wife over household spending

Israeli police are questioning the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over her alleged inflated household spending. The questions are expected to focus on whether Sara Netanyahu used state funds to finance maintenance work and new furniture for the couple's private home.
2015-12-31

French journalist leaving China after being forced out

A French journalist is leaving China after being denied press credentials and facing heavy criticism from the foreign ministry and state media over her reporting. Ursula Gauthier, a longtime journalist for the French news magazine L'Obs, planned to board a flight out of Beijing shortly after midnight on Friday.
2015-12-31

Charlie Hebdo to release 1 million special issue copies to commemorate attack

Charlie Hebdo will release one million copies of a special issue on January 6 to commemorate the attack on its office. The edition, which will have 32 pages, instead of 16, will be sold at the usual price of 3 euros ($3.27). It is the first anniversary of the jihadi attack on the French weekly magazine that claimed 12 lives.
2015-12-31

Erdogan vows no respite in Turkey's war on Kurdish militants

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan vowed no let-up in a military campaign which he said had killed more than 3,000 mostly Kurdish militants this year in some of the heaviest fighting since their insurgency began three decades ago.
2015-12-31

China building 2nd aircraft carrier

Amid mounting tensions with the US in the disputed South China Sea, China today said it is building a second aircraft carrier and hinted at plans to make a third one to enhance its blue water capabilities.
2015-12-31

Two sentenced to death for Bangladesh blogger murder

Ahmed Rajib Haider, an architect, became a target of the group after he helped launch a massive protest against the leaders of the largest Islamist party, several of whom are accused of war crimes during Bangladesh's 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan.
2015-12-31

Bill Cosby charged with felony sexual assault in Pennsylvania

Comedian Bill Cosby was arraigned in Pennsylvania on charges related to an alleged sexual assault against a woman at his home in 2004. Cosby was charged with aggravated indecent assault, a second-degree felony carrying a maximum penalty of 5 to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
2015-12-31

North Korean leader expresses deep grief over death of top aide

Kim Yang-Gon, a top party official and key confidante to Kim Jong-Un who oversaw relations with the South, died in a traffic accident.
2015-12-31

Freed Afghan village reveals key to Taliban 'success'

The Taliban remain largely unpopular in urban centers, but in many rural areas the puritanical movement has entrenched itself among alienated groups, competing directly with the government for public loyalty. The Taliban now control more territory than in any year since they were toppled from power in a 2001 US-led invasion, with the UN estimating that nearly half of all districts across Afghanistan are at risk of falling.
2015-12-31

Freak heatwave pushes North Pole 20 degrees Celsius above winter norm

Temperatures at the North Pole rose above freezing point, 20 degrees Celsius above the norm in a season of extreme weather events. It would be too hasty, however, to pin this week's extreme weather directly on the man-made climate change phenomenon, rather than on a discreet anomaly.
2015-12-31

Alarm in Brazil over a virus and a surge in malformed infants

A little-known virus spread by mosquitoes is causing one of the most alarming health crises to hit Brazil in decades. Thousands of cases of brain damage, in which babies are born with unusually small heads, have been reported.
2015-12-31

China drops plan to ban surrogacy

China has scrapped its publicized plan to ban surrogacy , since a ban would further encourage a black market for surrogate pregnancy patronized by wealthy Chinese, sources said.
2015-12-31

Life sentences for British attack plot couple

A husband and his former wife convicted of planning a major attack to mark the 10th anniversary of the London suicide bombings were both sentenced to life in prison.
2015-12-30

Germany took in 1.1 million asylum seekers in 2015

Germany took in almost 1.1 million asylum seekers this year, an all-time record and five times last year's total, a newspaper reported today citing unpublished official figures.
2015-12-30

Italy approves new anti-pollution measures

Italy's center-left government authorized local authorities to cut traffic speed limits by 20kph (12mph) and office heating by two degrees in response to spikes in deadly air pollution. The move follows this week's introduction of traffic restrictions in Rome, Milan and other cities.
2015-12-30

Argentine president scraps media monopoly watchdog

Argentine President Mauricio Macri scrapped a media watchdog aimed at preventing monopolies, his office said, the latest in a series of reforms reversing measures by his leftist predecessor.
2015-12-30

Joe Biden to meet with leaders in Turkey in mid-January

Vice president Joe Biden will travel to Turkey next month amid the ongoing fight against the Islamic State group.
2015-12-30

Donald Trump 'to spend $2 million a week on presidential bid'

Trump has said that he will spend at least $2 million a week on his campaign to become the Republican party's presidential candidate. The amount would be used for TV advertising in the first three voting states. He has spent nothing on TV ads so far, but more than $300,000 on radio ads.
2015-12-30

UK minister apologies for racist remarks 30 years ago

British Prime Minister David Cameron's policy chief apologized "unreservedly" for his racist remarks made 30 years ago, blaming "bad moral attitudes" of black communities for disturbances during the 1985 riots here.
2015-12-30

Philippine troops battle militants in south, at least 9 dead

Philippine troops clashed with about 100 Abu Sayyaf gunmen suspected of plotting attacks on New Year's Eve, leaving eight militants and one soldier dead, officials said. A police report, citing intelligence information, said the militants were planning to carry out bombings in downtown Jolo town in predominantly Muslim Sulu.
2015-12-30

Bahrain F-16 crashes in Saudi near Yemen border

A Bahraini fighter jet taking part in the Saudi-led coalition battling rebel forces in Yemen crashed in Saudi Arabia due to a "technical error," the alliance said.
2015-12-30

Strictly manage your families for corruption: Xi Jinping to CPC leaders

In a stern warning to top Communist Party leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping has told them to strictly manage the people close to them to prevent corruption or they will meet the fate of fallen leaders like Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang who were jailed for life.
2015-12-30

Indonesia suffers setback in fight against haze after suit rejected

Indonesia brought a civil case in a South Sumatra court against PT Bumi Mekar Hijau (BMH), a supplier to Asia Pulp and Paper, one of the world's biggest pulp and paper companies.
2015-12-30

BNP contests Bangladesh's 1st local body polls on party lines

Over 12,000 candidates from some 20 parties, including former prime minister Khaleda Zia's BNP, were contesting the polls in which 7 million eligible voters are likely to exercise their franchise to elect mayors and councillors in 234 municipalities.
2015-12-30

Bangladesh Nationalist Party contests first local body polls on party lines

Over 12,000 candidates from some 20 parties, including former prime minister Khaleda Zia's BNP, were contesting the polls in which 7 million eligible voters are likely to exercise their franchise to elect mayors and councillors in 234 municipalities.
2015-12-30

South Korea 'comfort women' protest against Japan deal

South Korean women forced into wartime sexual slavery and hundreds of supporters held a rally against a "humiliating" deal with Japan designed to settle the issue, and vowed to keep fighting for justice.
2015-12-30

US accuses Iran of conducting rocket test near warships

Iranian naval vessels conducted rocket tests last week near U.S. warships and commercial traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, causing new tension between the two nations after a landmark nuclear deal.
2015-12-30

The rich will get richer while two million more children slide into poverty, 2030 economic forecast suggests

A joint study by Landman Economics and the Fabian Society says policies introduced since the election will increase long-term poverty
2015-12-30

Kremlin's gift to Russia: Book of Putin's quotes

The Kremlin is bestowing a special gift this holiday season on a select group of Russian officials. The gift is words. Not just any words, but the collected wisdom of President Vladimir V. Putin, compiled in a 400-page book modestly titled 'Words That Change the World'.
2015-12-30

No holiday cheer as Turks in Russia dread 2016

Since Ankara shot down a Russian warplane on the Syria-Turkish border on November 24, Moscow regards Turkey -- a trading partner and top tourist destination for Russians.
2015-12-30

Top aide to North Korea leader Kim Jong Un dies in car cras

Kim was part of a high-level delegation that held talks in August after the rival states exchanged artillery fire, raising tensions to one of its highest points in recent years.
2015-12-30

Bankers create ATM cards to steal from little-used accounts

The 15 JPMorgan Chase bank accounts had a few things in common: They had high balances, there was little activity on them and they belonged to elderly clients -indeed, at least eight were dead.And all 15 of the accounts got regular cash infusions, thanks to direct deposits from the Social Security Administration.
2015-12-30

Brother of China ex-minister passed security secrets to US?

The brother of a former Chinese minister has been accused of passing on military secrets, including nuclear codes, to the US government. Ling Wancheng is believed to have escaped to the US in the midst of an investigation.
2015-12-30

As US fights IS, Qaida re-emerges

Even as the Obama administration scrambles to confront the Islamic State and resurgent Taliban, an old enemy seems to be reappearing in Afghanistan -Qaida training camps are sprouting up there, forcing the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies to assess if they could again become a breeding ground for attacks on their country.
2015-12-30

IS leader linked to Paris attacks 'mastermind' killed in Syria

An Islamic State leader with "direct" ties to the alleged mastermind of the Paris attacks was among 10 of the group's higher-ups killed in Syria and Iraq this month.
2015-12-29

10 Islamic State leaders killed in airstrikes by US

A US military official in Iraq says that coalition airstrikes killed 10 Islamic State leaders over the past month, including several linked to the Paris attacks or other plots against the West. They were killed mainly by drone strikes.
2015-12-29

Russian minister: Turkey remains important trading partner despite spat

Turkey remains an important trading partner for Russia, and Moscow aims to minimise problems for Turkish and Russian businesses caused by sanctions.
2015-12-29

Spanish PM insists he will battle to form government

Spain's beleaguered Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he would battle on to try and form a government despite categorize refusals by other key parties to back him after inconclusive elections.
2015-12-29

Syria army advances against rebels in south

Regime forces seized a military base from rebels in southern Syria and were locked in heavy fighting in a nearby opposition stronghold, a monitor and state media said.
2015-12-29

WHO announces Ebola milestone as Guinea outbreak ends

The UN's health agency declared Guinea's Ebola outbreak over two years after it emerged, spreading death across west Africa and pushing the region's worst-hit communities to the brink of collapse.
2015-12-29

$38 billion state funds misused: China's chief auditor

Liu Jiayi, head of the National Audit Office, said at the national auditing work conference that in the audit inspection conducted on more than 20,000 officials, they found misused funds to the tune of more than 250 billion yuan ($38 billion).
2015-12-29

Israel's top court sends ex-PM Olmert to 18 months in prison

Israel's Supreme Court reduced former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's prison sentence for a sweeping bribery scandal from six years to 18 months, partially accepting his appeal and clearing the ex-premier of the main bribery charge against him.
2015-12-29

Thai king's favourite dog dies, days after 'insult' arrest

The dog, called Tongdaeng (Copper), became both a household name and a publishing sensation in Thailand after King Bhumibol Adulyadej adopted her as a stray puppy and penned a heartfelt book about her attributes in 2002.
2015-12-29

Taj Mahal greets Eiffel Tower on Twitter debut

The Taj Mahal and the Statue of Liberty have welcomed the 126-year-old Eiffel Tower on Twitter, as the world's most visited monument joined the microblogging site last week.
2015-12-29

China publisher withdraws vulgar translation of Tagore poetry

A publisher in China today hurriedly withdrew a Chinese translation of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's "Stray Birds," after facing flak from literary critics who termed the racy translation of the classic as "blasphemy" and "cultural terrorism".
2015-12-29

Iraqi forces liberate Ramadi from IS after week long battle

Iraqi forces announced on Monday that they had liberated the western city of Ramadi from the Islamic State after a fierce week long battle to retake it, following a brutal seven-month occupation by the extremist group.
2015-12-29

Gallantry medal for police dog killed after Paris attacks

A French police dog killed in a security services raid after the Paris attacks is to receive a posthumous medal for gallantry from a British animal charity.
2015-12-28

Trump says Hillary's women's card on him will backfire

Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump has criticized his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for playing the women's card on him, saying her husband's "terrible record of women abuse" will haunt her on the campaign trail.
2015-12-28

Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene apologise for 'sexy' Enrique Iglesias concert

Legendary Sri Lanka cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have apologised for 'unruly scenes' witnessed during an Enrique Iglesias concert in Colombo on December 20. The concert of the pop star was organised by Live Events - a company co-owned by the two former cricketers.
2015-12-28

Saudi posts record $98 billion deficit in 2015: ministry

Saudi Arabia posted a record $98 billion budget deficit in 2015 due to the sharp fall in oil prices, the finance ministry said. Revenues were estimated at 608 billion riyals ($162 billion), well below projections and 2014 income, while spending came in at 975 billion riyals ($260 billion), ministry officials announced at a press conference in Riyadh.
2015-12-28

Turkey detains teen 'for insulting Erdogan on Facebook'

A Turkish court has remanded in custody a 17-year-old construction worker on charges of "insulting" Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Facebook, media reports said. Activists have expressed alarm over the limits on freedom of expression under Erdogan.
2015-12-28

80 killed as Boko Haram attacks northeast Nigerian city

At least 30 people were killed when Boko Haram extremists struck the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri for the first time in months with rocket-propelled grenades and multiple suicide bombers, witnesses said.
2015-12-28

South Korea, Japan reach landmark deal on WWII sex slaves

An apology from Japan's prime minister and a pledge of more than $8 million sealed a breakthrough deal on a decades-long impasse with South Korea over Korean women forced into Japanese military-run brothels during World War II.
2015-12-28

China passes first-ever anti-domestic violence law

Nearly a quarter of Chinese women who are married have experienced domestic violence, figures from the Communist Party-linked All-China Women's Federation showed, according to Xinhua.
2015-12-28

Inside North Korea's computer Red Star OS: High degree of paranoia, invasive snooping

Under the hood there's a lot that's unique in the Red Star OS, including its own version of encrypting files. Red Star makes it very hard for anyone to tamper with it. If a user makes any changes to core functions the computer will display an error message, or reboot itself.
2015-12-28

Hezbollah leader tells Israel to brace for retaliation over Qantar's death

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, speaking in a ceremony to mark a week since Qantar's death in a strike in a residential quarter of Damascus, said Israelis should brace themselves for a response either inside or outside Israel.
2015-12-28

At granddaughter's wedding, Nawaz Sharif wears pink turban gifted by PM Modi

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wore the pink turban gifted to him by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his granddaughter's wedding.
2015-12-27

Pakistan army chief visits Kabul as peace diplomacy builds

The powerful head of the Pakistan Army, General Raheel Sharif, met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as diplomatic contacts continued to improve regional security and prepare the way for fresh peace talks with the Taliban.
2015-12-27

Organisers Of 'Sexy' Iglesias Show Should Be Whipped, Says Sri Lanka President

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena said that organizers of a recent concert by pop star Enrique Iglesias in Colombo should be "whipped with toxic stingray tails" because it was "uncivilized."
2015-12-27

Where even banks don't accept cash anymore

Few places are tilting toward a cashless future as quickly as Sweden, which has become hooked on the convenience of paying by app and plastic. It is also a practical matter, as many of the country's banks no longer accept or dispense cash.
2015-12-27

China officially ends three-decade-old 'one child' policy

China has officially junked its controversial one child policy, allowing couples to have a second child amid deepening demographic crisis of shrinking workforce and aging population in the world's second largest economy.
2015-12-27

Chicago police kill three, say one shot 'accidentally'

Police in Chicago shot and killed three people Saturday, including a mother of five who they said was shot "accidentally" when officers responded to a domestic disturbance.
2015-12-27

Airstrikes only increase our resolve, says Islamic State's leader Baghdadi

The Islamic State group released a new message purportedly from its reclusive leader, claiming that his self-styled "caliphate" is doing well despite an unprecedented alliance against it and criticizing the recently announced Saudi-led Islamic military coalition against terrorism.
2015-12-27

Barack Obama to deliver his last state of the union address on January 12

US President Barack Obama would deliver his last state of the union address to the Congress on January 12. "I've got 12 months left to squeeze every ounce of change I can while I'm still in office. And that's what I intend to do," he wrote to his supporters. Obama was first elected president in 2008 and then in 2012.
2015-12-27

Nepal to woo Chinese tourists with free visas

Nepal will grant free visas to visitors from neighbouring China as the Himalayan nation seeks to rebuild its tourist industry after two devastating earthquakes in April that killed nearly 9,000 people. China is the second-largest source of tourists to Nepal.
2015-12-26

Miss Universe crown to the wrong contestant

Steve Harvey, the man who famously gave the Miss Universe crown to the wrong contestant, has now offered the world Easter greetings -- on Christmas Day.
2015-12-26

World's most obese man dies after weight-loss surgery

Andres Moreno, 38, died of a heart attack and peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) in Ciudad Obregon, in Sonora state, his family said.
2015-12-26

Pope Francis assures atheists: You don't have to believe in God to go to heaven

Pope Francis has stated that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences. You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don't believe and who don't seek the faith...God's mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart," he wrote for a newspaper.
2015-12-26

Sweden introduces six-hour work day

Sweden is moving to a six-hour working day in a bid to increase productivity and make people happier. Employers across the country have already made the change, according to the Science Alert website. The aim was to get more done in a shorter amount of time and ensure people enjoy their private lives.
2015-12-26

UN secretary general welcome Modi-Sharif meeting in Lahore

United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore.
2015-12-26

Ecuadorian couple to become first transgender parents in S America

A couple in Ecuador is making history with a unique pregnancy: The father-tobe is carrying the baby of his transgender partner.
2015-12-26

Asia's most expensive flat? HK apartment sells for record $76.7m

A luxury apartment in Hong Kong sold for a record 594.7 million Hong Kong dollars (US$76.7 million), days before Christmas, making it the most expensive flat in the city and possibly in Asia, reports said on Friday.
2015-12-26

Zimbabwe to adopt Chinese yuan as its main currency

Zimbabwe has announced it will soon adopt the Chinese yuan as the main currency for use. Zimbabwe is the first country apart from China to use the yuan as its currency in the domestic market; it has been the legal tender along with the US dollar and South African Rand for the last couple of years.
2015-12-26

'Nepal tabled amendment bill forcefully'

Nepal's two top Madhesi leaders told Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly called Prachanda, who is mediating between the government and the agitating group, that the constitution amendment proposal has been forcefully tabled at the parliament without their consent.
2015-12-26

Turkish president Erdogan talks man on bridge out of suicide

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used his celebrated rhetorical skills to save a life, preventing a man from jumping off a bridge in Istanbul. The man was apparently preparing to jump when Erdogan's motorcade was passing over the bridge linking Europe with Asia after Friday prayers.
2015-12-25

Top Syrian rebel leader killed in air strike in Damascus suburb

Zahran Aloush, the head of Jaysh al Islam, one of the most powerful insurgent groups in the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus, was killed in an aerial raid that targeted his group's headquarters, two rebel sources said on Friday.
2015-12-25

Georgia deputy PM to step in after boss's surprise resignation

Georgia's president nominated vice premier Giorgi Kvirikashvili as the new head of government after the surprise resignation of Irakli Garibashvili.
2015-12-25

British astronaut dials wrong number on Christmas call from space

Tim Peake, the first British astronaut on the International Space Station, dialled a wrong number after trying to phone home for Christmas. "I'd like to apologise to the lady I just called by mistake saying 'Hello, is this planet Earth?' - not a prank call...just a wrong number!" he tweeted.
2015-12-25

Christmas Day full moon appeared in the UK sky for the first time in 38 years

A full moon is appeared in the Christmas sky, for the first time in 38 years.
2015-12-25

Japan foreign minister's Seoul visit to settle 'comfort women' row

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had instructed foreign minister Fumio Kishida to make the trip to Seoul for talks, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga also said.
2015-12-25

Japan mountaineer Kei Taniguchi dies in fall while climbing

Japanese mountaineer Kei Taniguchi (43) died in an accident while climbing in the snowy Daisetsuzan range in northern Japan's Hokkaido. Taniguchi, who climbed Mount Everest in 2007, became the first woman to win the prestigious Piolet d'Or (Golden Ice Axe) mountaineering award in 2009.
2015-12-25

36 years on, big win for Tehran embassy hostages

After spending 444 days in captivity, and more than 30 years seeking restitution, the Americans taken hostage at the United States embassy in Tehran in 1979 have finally won compensation.
2015-12-24

Pope, on Christmas, urges return to essential values

Pope Francis led the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas, urging those "intoxicated" by possessions and superficial appearances to return to the essential values of life.
2015-12-24

Sexist translation of Tagore's poems stirs controversy in China

A Chinese writer has kicked up a major controversy by publishing a distorted translation of Rabindranath Tagore's poems
2015-12-24

South Korean court refuses to review WWII treaty with Japan

Seoul's Constitutional Court said that the accord was never meant to serve as a standard for providing individual compensation.
2015-12-23

UK government attempting to keep details of secret security pact with Saudi Arabia hidden from public

Theresa May agreed to memorandum of understanding with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef last year
2015-12-23

Greek Parliament legalizes same-sex civil partnerships

Greece's parliament has overwhelmingly approved legislation legalizing civil partnerships for gay couples, two years after the country was condemned by a European human rights court for discrimination.
2015-12-23

UN security council to vote on support for Libya peace deal

The UN security council  is expected to vote on a resolution supporting a new UN-brokered deal to form a unity government in Libya.
2015-12-22

Bowe Bergdahl arraigned on charges including desertion

US Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, appeared before a military judge on charges of desertion and misbehaviour before the enemy.
2015-12-22

Nepal's Madhesis decide to press on with protests on India border

Ethnic Madhesis in Nepal have vowed to continue with protests at border crossings with India after rejecting a government plan which they said did not meet their call for a redrawing of internal boundaries or offer adequate national representation.
2015-12-22

Gay files China's first same-sex marriage rights case

Sun Wenlin (pseudonym) first applied for a marriage certificate for himself and his boyfriend on June 23 at the Civil Affairs Bureau in the Hunan province's Changsha after the couple had been dating for one year. But his application was turned down by an official who said that only "one man and one woman" can be registered as married, according to Sun.
2015-12-22

World Bank to give $35mn to Pakistan for Indus River Basin

The World Bank has approved an additional financial assistance of $35mn to support improved management, planning and development of water resources in the Indus River Basin in Pakistan. This is in addition to the $38mn given earlier towards improvement of water resources management in the Indus River system.
2015-12-22

US ends 30-year ban on blood donations by gay men

The US government on Monday overturned its 30-year ban on blood donations by gay men, saying they can now donate 12 months after their last sexual contact with another man. Gay rights advocates have said the updated policy remains discriminatory.
2015-12-22

Support for legal abortion in US at highest level in 2 years

Support for legal abortion has shown an apparent increase in support among both Democrats and Republicans over the last year, an Associated Press-GfK poll has showed. This is the highest level of support the controversial topic has seen in two years.
2015-12-22

SpaceX succeeds in historic rocket launch, landing

SpaceX successfully landed its powerful Falcon 9 rocket in an upright position, a historic first in the company's bid to make rockets as reusable as airplanes. Video images on SpaceX's webcast showed the first stage of the rocket touching down at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
2015-12-22

China presses ahead with 'one couple, two children' policy

Faced with the demographic pressures of an ageing population and shrinking labour force, the Chinese government has submitted a draft amendment to the decades-old 'one-child' policy. Reports however suggest not many people might be interested in having a second child because of the associated costs.
2015-12-21

Changes to US visa waiver program contradict nuke deal

Changes to a US visa waiver program that impose travel restrictions on those who visit Iran contradict the landmark nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers, deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said.
2015-12-20

Nepal avalanche carried half the force of an atomic bomb

The avalanche that buried the popular hiking village of Langtang in Nepal this past spring struck with about half the force of an atomic bomb, according to a study published this week in the journal Science.
2015-12-20

Sri Lankan military to be modernized with Indian help: PM Ranil Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka's military is set to be modernized with assistance from militarily advanced nations such as India, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Wickremesinghe was addressing a military passing out parade in the central town of Diyathalawa.
2015-12-20

Lebanese militant Samir Qantar killed in Israeli raid

The powerful Lebanese Hezbollah group said Qantar was martyred in an Israeli aerial raid on a residential district of the Syrian capital Damascus but gave no details.
2015-12-20

Iraq gets first beauty queen since 1972

It was smoky, alcohol-free and there was no swimsuit contest, but Saturday's party produced the first Miss Iraq in four decades and left all feeling a small victory had been won.
2015-12-20

UN announces end of Yemen peace talks due to new fighting

The United Nations says peace talks between warring sides in Yemen have ended amid severe new fighting in the country.
2015-12-20

Hillary Clinton vows no new middle-class taxes if elected President

US Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton vowed on Saturday not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans if elected next November in a populist push to position herself for a general election battle on pocket-book issues.
2015-12-20

Spain conducts National Election in 40 years

Spain faces its most uncertain national election in 40 years on Sunday with newcomer parties poised for big gains against the traditionally dominant conservatives and socialists, complicating efforts to form a stable government.
2015-12-20

US lifts oil export ban; India to benefit?

The United States lifted a 40-year-old ban on export of oil, thus paving the way for energy deficient countries like India to open up another frontier to import oil from a distant friendly nation.
2015-12-20

Russian secret services foiled 30 planned attacks in 2015

Russian president Vladimir Putin hailed the country's secret services for foiling around 30 planned attacks and uncovering more than 320 foreign spies in 2015.
2015-12-19

Heavy casualties in Yemen as Swiss peace talks due to end

Fierce fighting between government forces and Iran-backed rebels in Yemen produced heavy casualties amid UN alarm at ceasefire violations ahead of a final day of peace talks in Switzerland.
2015-12-19

Turkey announces troop withdrawal from Iraq

Turkey said it would "continue" to pull its troops out of northern Iraq after US president Barack Obama urged president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to do so in order to de-escalate tensions with Baghdad over the deployment.
2015-12-19

Adolf Hitler only had one testicle, German historian claims

Medical records appear to confirm that Adolf Hitler really did have only one testicle.
2015-12-19

70 killed in major anti-PKK operation in south-east Turkey

Seventy suspected members of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed in a vast operation against the group in the mainly Kurdish southeast over the past four days.
2015-12-19

Pakistan Taliban reject Islamic State leader's claim to be 'caliph'

Pakistan's Taliban have rejected Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's claim to be the global leader of all Muslims.
2015-12-19

Thousands rally against Polish govt as constitutional row drags on

Thousands of the Polish gathered to protest against the government for the second time this month, putting pressure on the month-old conservative cabinet which they accuse of testing the boundaries of democracy.
2015-12-19

Cuba's Castro says US can do more to normalize relations

Cuba is willing to keep improving relations with the United States even though Washington has failed to meet its key demands for normalization, Cuban president Raul Castro said.
2015-12-18

World Bank approves $1 billion loan to Egypt

The World Bank Group has announced a $1 billion loan to Egypt, the first installment of an $8 billion financing plan to help the country carry out key economic reforms.
2015-12-18

US announces $88 million in food aid to Ethiopia

The United States government has announced $88 million to help feed hungry people in drought-stricken areas of Ethiopia, bringing the total amount of humanitarian aid to the country in 2015 to more than $435 million.
2015-12-18

Military still plays a bloated role in Pakistan's politics: Hina Rabbani Khar

Ex-foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said that Pakistan's military still plays a bloated role in the country's politics, claiming that the democratically elected prime minister has much less freedom than he ought to have.
2015-12-18

Norway wants to move its border 20 metres left so it can give Finland a mountain

As politicians meet in Europe to discuss border controls, campaigners in Norway has proposed moving its own border west to give their neighbors in Finland a mountain.
2015-12-18

US, Nato certify anti-missile defense site in south Romania

US and NATO officials have certified an anti-missile defense site in southern Romania which is scheduled to become operational next year.
2015-12-18

Ukraine still committed to good faith debt talks with Russia

The Ukrainian Finance ministry said it was still committed to negotiating a good faith restructuring agreement with Russia on a $3 billion Eurobond, as the government imposed a moratorium on its repayment next week.
2015-12-18

Ukraine declines to pay $3bn debt to Russia: Ukrainian PM

Ukraine announced it would not make payment on its $3 billion debt to Russia due this weekend, deepening a row with Moscow which said it would take Kiev to court.
2015-12-18

African Union seeks 5,000 peacekeepers for Burundi

The AU decision, drawn up late, needs approval from the UN Security Council, which has been considering options to resolve the crisis including sending peacekeepers.
2015-12-18

US to increase quota of unskilled foreign workers

US lawmakers have decided to increase by nearly 400 per cent the quota for H-2B visas meant for unskilled foreign workers, but will not affect Indians who do not opt for them.
2015-12-18

From Russia with love: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump sing each other's praises

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US presidential candidate Donald Trump praised each other, saying they would welcome an improvement in the now-icy relations between their two nations. Democrat Obama has been critical of Putin and had called for sanctions against Russia after it annexed Crimea.
2015-12-18

Turing CEO Martin Shkreli arrested for securities fraud

Martin Shkreli, who caused public outrage after raising the price of a prescription drug by more than 5,000 percent, was arrested for engaging in what U.S. prosecutors said was a Ponzi-like scheme at his former hedge fund and a pharmaceutical company he previously headed.
2015-12-18

IMF has 'confidence' in chief Christine Lagarde, facing trial in France

The IMF expressed confidence in its chief Christine Lagarde after she was ordered to stand trial in France over her role in a massive state payout to a French tycoon. Lagarde, who has headed the IMF since July 2011, was charged with negligence in the handling of the 2008 government payout to French tycoon Bernard Tapie during her tenure as finance minister.
2015-12-17

Putin rules out reconciliation with Turkey

Russian President Vladimir Putin fired off an angry tirade against Turkey on Thursday, ruling out any reconciliation with its leaders and accusing Ankara of shooting down a Russian warplane to impress the United States.
2015-12-17

Regular flights to resume between US and Cuba: State department

The United States announced the resumption of regular flights to and from Cuba, the latest step in a historic thaw in relations.
2015-12-17

Turkish forces kill 23 Kurdish militants in southeast operation

Turkish security forces have killed a total of 23 Kurdish militants in military operations inside two towns this week against suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), official media said on Thursday.
2015-12-17

Pakistan military deals a blow to jihadis but not to ideology

Even as the Pakistani military has driven some jihadi groups out of business or into hiding over the past year, other technically banned jihadi or sectarian groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat are still thriving.
2015-12-17

US announces $1.8 billion arms sale to Taiwan

The Obama administration announced a $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the first offered by the US to the self-governing island in four years. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory
2015-12-17

US announces $1.8 billion arms sale to Taiwan

The Obama administration announced a $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the first offered by the US to the self-governing island in four years.China regards Taiwan as part of its territory
2015-12-17

Teen punches Spanish PM in face, breaks his glasses

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy suffered a scare when a 17-year-old youth punched him in the face during a campaign appearance in his northwestern fiefdom of Galicia, breaking his glasses. Police said the aggressor has been detained.
2015-12-17

Paris suspect may have slipped past Belgian police: Media

A key suspect in last month's Islamic State attacks in Paris may have slipped through a Belgian police cordon hidden in a car or even a piece of furniture, public broadcaster RTBF said on Wednesday.
2015-12-17

Kerry to chair UN Security Council meeting on Syria on Friday: State Department

US Secretary of State John Kerry will chair a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday to push efforts to end the conflict in Syria, the State Department said.
2015-12-17

Yemen's truce in danger of collapse; prisoner swap blocked

A ceasefire between Yemen's Houthi group and a Saudi-led alliance was in danger of collapse on Wednesday, each side accusing the other of violating the truce, as peace talks went into a second day in Switzerland.
2015-12-17

Last class: Plane seats worse than economy

Major airlines have started selling tickets for `last class' seats -a term to refer to seats worse than economy.
2015-12-17

GOP debate winners: Indian Muslims

The moderation of India's nearly 200 million Muslims in a plural, democratic country got a famous thumbs-up in a raucous Republican presidential debate on Wednesday where rivals piled on to front-runner Donald Trump's perceived hostility to the Islamic faith.
2015-12-17

Republican debate winners: Indian Muslims

The moderation of India's nearly 200 million Muslims in a plural, democratic country got a famous thumbs-up in a raucous Republican presidential debate on Wednesday where rivals piled on to front-runner Donald Trump's perceived hostility to the Islamic faith.
2015-12-17

Malala Yousafzai condemns Trump's 'ideology of hatred'

Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai condemned Donald Trump's views on Muslims, at a somber ceremony to remember the 134 children killed in a Taliban attack on a Pakistani school a year ago.
2015-12-16

Charlie Hebdo giving $4 million in donations to victims

Charlie Hebdo, the satirical newspaper whose staff was decimated by Islamic extremist gunmen, is giving nearly 4 million euros ($4.4 million) to victims of the three days of attacks in January.
2015-12-16

Pakistan vows revenge one year after Taliban school massacre

Pakistan's leader, speaking beneath portraits of children killed by Taliban bullets, called for vengeance as the country marked the first anniversary of a school massacre that killed 151 people in its worst-ever extremist attack.
2015-12-16

Nepal passes long-delayed bill on quake rebuilding

Nepal's parliament passed a long-delayed law to pave the way for rebuilding after April's massive earthquake, ending months of bickering that paralyzed reconstruction despite donor pledges of billions in aid.
2015-12-16

In Germany, birthrate peaks while mothers become older

German women gave birth last year at the highest rate since the country's reunification in 1990 with 1.47 births per woman, the Federal Statistics Office said.
2015-12-16

Russia, US clear way for Syria meeting after John Kerry Moscow talks

Secretary of State John Kerry went into meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday not knowing whether Moscow would veto a third round of international talks on Syria on Friday after the Kremlin spoke of preconditions needing to be met.
2015-12-16

WTO must deliver trade deals or change role: Kenya

The Geneva-based WTO, which has more than 160 members, has been trying and largely failing to agree on a worldwide package of trade reforms since a meeting in Doha in 2001 hatched an ambitious plan for knocking down trade barriers.
2015-12-16

UK astronaut Tim Peake puts space back on agenda in Britain

Peake is Britain's first publicly funded British astronaut and the first Briton to visit the International Space Station.
2015-12-16

Norway is the best place to live in the world, according to the UN

Norway has been named the best country in the world to live in - for the 12th year in a row. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a measure of basic human developments within 188 countries, released by the UN in its annual Human Development Report.
2015-12-16

Australian military plane flies over disputed South China Sea

An Australian military surveillance plane has flown near disputed areas of the South China Sea, it emerged on Wednesday, with the crew heard warning China's navy it was on a freedom of navigation mission.
2015-12-16

Iran's October missile test violated UN ban: Expert panel

The medium-range Emad rocket that Iran tested in October was a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, which makes it a violation of a UN Security Council resolution, a team of sanctions monitors said in a confidential new report.
2015-12-15

UN watchdog decides to close nuclear weapons probe of Iran

The UN nuclear watchdog's 35-nation board decided to close its investigation into whether Iran once had a secret nuclear weapons programme, opting to support Tehran's deal with world powers rather than dwell on its past actions.
2015-12-15

WTO meet; agriculture key issue for developing nations

WTO meeting today kick started here with members such as Kenya pitching for resolution of important issues like agriculture of the long-stalled Doha Round.
2015-12-15

A year of the brutal attack on APS, Peshawar

Stringent security measures have been taken in the northwestern city of Peshawar as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and opposition leader Imran Khan will attend a special ceremony at the Army Public School to mark the first anniversary of the brutal attack.
2015-12-15

V K Singh criticises Pakistan at the SCO meet

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization's meeting saw two would-be members, India and Pakistan, taking strident stance on terrorism. India's representative V K Singh, external affairs MoS, made oblique criticism of the role of Pakistan in the battle against terrorism.
2015-12-15

Vladimir Putin signs law allowing Russia to ignore international human rights rulings

Vladimir Putin has signed a law allowing the Constitutional Court of Russia to decide whether or not to comply with judgements made by international human rights courts.
2015-12-15

Queen Elizabeth II 'sent condolences' to grandson of man who wrote her a christmas card for 60 years

Queen Elizabeth II reportedly wrote a personal letter to the grandson of a man who had sent a Christmas card to her for 60 years, upon learning of his death.
2015-12-15

A restaurant in China is charging its customers for breathing

The pollution in China is so bad, a restaurant started putting a surcharge on top of customers food bills as an air cleaning fee.
2015-12-15

Saudi Arabia announces 34-state Islamic military alliance against terrorism

Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism. A long list of Arab countries such as Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, together with Islamic countries Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and Gulf Arab and African states have joined the alliance.
2015-12-15

Barack Obama warns Islamic State leaders: 'You are next'

President Barack Obama said the US-led coalition is making progress against Islamic State militants in both Iraq and Syria, as he delivered an update on the campaign aimed at reassuring Americans worried about the spread of extremism-fueled terrorism.
2015-12-15

Alibaba to pay $266m for Hong Kong's paper

Chinese internet giant Alibaba will pay $266 million for Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, the newspaper said, far higher than analysts estimates in a deal that has sparked fears the paper will lose its independent voice.
2015-12-14

In a first, six Gulf states to tax people

Six Gulf states have said they will tax their citizens for the first time in a radical policy shift. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) a loose federation of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates has agreed to introduce VAT following costly military campaigns and a drop in global oil prices.
2015-12-14

No sign of terrorist act in Russian jet crash: Egypt

A preliminary investigation into the crash of a Russian passenger plane has found no indication yet of any illegal or terrorist act, Egypt's chief investigator said in a report released.
2015-12-14

US army allows Sikh to keep beard, turban

An active duty US army captain of Sikh faith has been allowed to keep his beard and turban in a temporary relaxing of service rules, even as Sikhs in America, often mistaken for Muslims, continue to be the target of hate crimes and discrimination.
2015-12-14

With change of tone, EU warms to Turkey, Serbia membership bids

The European Union revived Turkey's membership bid and opened accession talks with Serbia, showing how a migration crisis and Russia's presence in the Balkans has prompted the EU to rethink plans to stop expanding.
2015-12-14

Review petition against the death sentence of Mumtaz Qadri rejected

Pakistan's apex court rejected a review petition against the death sentence of former elite force guard Mumtaz Qadri for gunning down former Punjab governor Salman Taseer.
2015-12-14

Turkey-Russia summit cancelled: Kremlin

Russia said a summit between President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan penciled in for December 15 had been cancelled, with ties between the two leaders in tatters over the downing of a Russian warplane.
2015-12-14

In Iran, sharing photos on mobile apps can mean jail

The tattooed young Iranian initially sparked wonder and some envy when pictures of him with scantily-clad, heavily made-up women, often more than one at a time, went viral.
2015-12-14

Canada PM Trudeau welcomes Syrian refugees as US Muslims warn against hate speech

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally welcomed Syrian refugees at Toronto's Pearson International Airport this week. Meanwhile, south of the Canadian border, US Muslims warned against a rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate crimes.
2015-12-14

This is how Canada greets refugees

Canadian school children have extended a warm welcome to Syrian refugees entering the country.
2015-12-14

Colombia orders arrest of army colonel over 15 killings

A Colombian judge has ordered the arrest of an active duty army colonel for his alleged role in the 2007 extrajudicial killings of 15 civilians.
2015-12-14

Angela Merkel wants to 'drastically reduce' refugee arrivals in Germany

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wanted to "drastically decrease" the number of refugees coming to Germany, signalling a compromise to critics of her open-door policy from within her conservatives on the eve of a party congress.
2015-12-14

India can't prove my role in 26/11 Mumbai attacks: Hafiz Saeed

Days after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Pakistan, Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed has dared India to prove his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He also slammed Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif for holding a meeting with PM Narendra Modi in Paris.
2015-12-14

Thousands in Brazil rally to demand president's impeachment

Thousands of Brazilians have marched to demand that Congress impeach President Dilma Rousseff, whose government is plagued by an overwhelming corruption scandal and a dismal economy.
2015-12-14

India blockade has shattered my dreams, says Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli

Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said his dream to develop the Himalayan nation as "vibrant" had been shattered by the "embargo imposed by India".
2015-12-13

Russian destroyer fires shots at Turkish fishing boat

A Russian destroyer in the Aegean Sea used small arms fire to prevent a collision with a Turkish vessel, Moscow said, adding it had summoned Ankara's military attache over the incident.
2015-12-13

ISIS may have passport printing machine, blank passports: Report

A 17-page US Homeland Security Investigations Intelligence Report, issued to law enforcement last week, said ISIS likely has been able to print legitimate-looking Syrian passports since taking over the city of Deir ez-Zour, home to a passport office.
2015-12-13

Sharif to attend SCO meeting in China on Monday

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited China to attend the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting.
2015-12-13

Initial results show 5 Saudi women elected for first time

At least five Saudi women have won seats on local municipal councils a day after women voted and ran in elections for the first time in the country's history, according to initial results released.
2015-12-13

Sophisticated IS recruitment methods lured Jordanian woman

A Jordanian woman who came close to joining the Islamic State group described a sophisticated 14-month recruitment process by the extremists that she said landed her in a secret IS compound in Turkey with dozens of other women.
2015-12-13

Foreign ministers set to endorse Libyan national unity plan

US secretary of state John Kerry is helping lead a foreign ministers' conference in Rome that's expected to endorse a UN-brokered national unity plan for Libya.
2015-12-13

Woman wins seat on Mecca municipal council in Saudi polls: Official

A Saudi woman won a seat on Mecca's municipal council in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia's first-ever elections open to female voters and candidates, the country's election commission announced on Sunday.
2015-12-13

China to loosen stringent urban residency rules

China will loosen its stringent regulations on urban residency to allow more people to enjoy public services such as housing, education and health care beginning next year.
2015-12-13

New NSA to keep Sharif in check on India

When Lt Gen Nasir Khan Janjua was appointed as national security adviser (NSA) in October, it signalled tightening of Pakistani military establishment's control over the country's security and foreign affairs.
2015-12-13

Baghdad protest against Turkey reveals Iraqi divisions

Thousands of Shiite militiamen and supporters rallied on Saturday and demanded that Turkish troops immediately withdraw from Iraqi territory, a show of strength by the country's powerful militia groups and the Shiite political rivals of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
2015-12-12

Cuba, US to resume direct mail service

Cuba and the US have agreed to resume direct mail services between the two countries after an interruption of over 50 years. A pilot plan for the transportation of mail will now be elaborated over the next few weeks, with a permanent re-opening of the service set to begin soon, said the note.
2015-12-12

Son of late Libyan head Gadhafi briefly kidnapped in Lebanon

A son of Libya's late leader Moammar Gadhafi was briefly kidnapped in Lebanon by militants demanding information about the fate of a Shia cleric who went missing in Libya decades ago, a security official and local TV stations said Friday.
2015-12-12

At India-Nepal border, a pile-up of angst, anxiety and betrayal

It's called the Maitri Bridge. But maitri (friendship) is the last thing on everyone's mind here.
2015-12-12

New Zealand picks challenger for national flag

New Zealanders have chosen a silver fern on a black-and-blue background as their preferred flag design if the South Pacific nation decides to dump Britain's Union Jack from its national banner.
2015-12-11

UK woos Indians, says no cap on foreign students

Sajid Javid, UK secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, has said there is no cap at all on number of foreign students visiting Britain for studies.
2015-12-11

US secretary of state John Kerry to meet Putin on Syria, Ukraine issue next week

US secretary of state John Kerry will travel to Moscow next week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on two of the most vexing crises in US-Russian relations: Syria's civil war and Ukraine's ongoing instability.
2015-12-11

Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable Shaheen-III ballistic missile

Pakistan today successfully test-fired the medium-range Shaheen-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile which can carry nuclear warheads up to 2,750 kms bringing many Indian cities within its range. The missile is capable of delivering nuclear and conventional warheads in a range of 2,750km.
2015-12-11

US successfully tests NATO missile defenses off Hawaii

The US military says it has shot down a missile off Hawaii in a test of a missile defense system designed to protect NATO forces in Europe from attack.
2015-12-11

Kim Jong un says N Korea has hydrogen bomb, but world sceptical

North Korean leader Kim Jong un appeared to claim the country has developed a hydrogen bomb, a step up from the less powerful atomic bomb, but outside experts were skeptical about his claim.
2015-12-10

ISIS finance chief Abu Saleh confirmed killed in air strike

The Islamic State group's finance chief has been confirmed killed in a coalition air strike last month said US.
2015-12-10

2,411 killed in Saudi haj stampede, report claims

The September stampede during the haj in Saudi Arabia killed at least 2,411 pilgrims, a new Associated Press count shows, three times the number of deaths acknowledged by the kingdom three months later.
2015-12-10

Afghan spy chief quits after Ashraf Ghani's outreach to Pakistan

The head of Afghanistan's main intelligence agency resigned, laying bare disagreements with President Ashraf Ghani over his diplomatic outreach to Pakistan aimed at reviving peace talks with the resurgent Taliban.
2015-12-10

Conservative Macri sworn in as Argentine president

Business-friendly conservative Mauricio Macri was sworn in as Argentina's new president, turning the page on 12 years under left-wing power couple Nestor and Cristina Kirchner.
2015-12-10

EU to sue Greece, Italy, Croatia over migrants

The European Union has started legal action against Greece, Italy and Croatia for failing to correctly register migrants.
2015-12-10

Kerry says progress made in Saudi-led talks with Syrian opposition

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Saudi-led talks to try to unite Syrian opposition groups had made progress, an important step for advancing political talks on ending the Syrian conflict.
2015-12-10

China to grant residence rights to 13 million 'illegal' citizens

China will give household registration permits to its unregistered citizens and make medical insurance coverage more equal, the government said, as it looks to overhaul systems often under fire for failing those people most in need.
2015-12-10

Saudi king opens summit calling for Syria, Yemen solutions

Saudi king Salman called for political solutions to the wars in Syria and Yemen, while condemning "terrorism," at the opening of an annual Gulf summit in Riyadh.
2015-12-09

Over 250,000 Britons sign petition to ban Donald Trump from entering the UK

More than a quarter of a million Britons have signed an online petition to ban US Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump from the country following his proposal to stop Muslims from entering the United States.
2015-12-09

California shooters spoke of jihad as early as late 2013: FBI director

The couple who killed 14 people in San Bernardino last week were radicalized before they met online and spoke of jihad and martyrdom to each other as early as late 2013, FBI director James Comey said.
2015-12-09

Regional conference backs resumption of Afghan peace talks

A regional conference held in Pakistan ended with calls for the resumption of Afghan peace negotiations and an agreement by Islamabad and New Delhi to relaunch bilateral talks that broke down in August over tensions in Kashmir.
2015-12-09

Tanzanian president sweeps streets on independence day

Tanzanian President John Magufuli surprised onlookers when he walked out of State House to collect rubbish off the streets, after cancelling independence day celebrations for a national cleanup.
2015-12-09

Angela Merkel is Time magazine's 'Person of the Year 2015'

Time magazine named German chancellor Angela Merkel its "Person of the Year 2015", saying her leadership has helped preserve and promote an open, borderless Europe in the face of economic turmoil and an ongoing refugee crisis.
2015-12-09

Syrians leave rebel-held Homs area in truce deal

Busloads of Syrians including rebel fighters left the last insurgent-held area of Homs on Wednesday under a rare local truce agreement in Syria's nearly five-year conflict that will shore up government control over the city.
2015-12-09

California shooters borrowed $28,000 before attack -source

Syed Rizwan Farook recently took out a $28,500 loan from an online lender, a source said, before he and his wife killed 14 of his co-workers at a holiday party in San Bernardino, California.
2015-12-09

Maduro decree seeks to stop Hugo Chavez tomb desecration

Venezuela has the world's biggest oil reserves, which Chavez and Maduro used to fund social welfare programs as well as build a regional diplomatic alliance on the left.
2015-12-09

Venezuela opposition wins super majority in National Assembly

Moderates however are calling for dialogue to give Maduro a chance to roll back policies they blame for the unprecedented economic crisis.
2015-12-09

US imposes new sanctions on North Korea

The US added North Korea's Strategic Rocket Force to its sanctions list for ties to weapons development and illicit finance activities. The additional sanctions are designed to stop the North from evading existing US and UN sanctions and prevent Pyongyang from accessing the US financial system.
2015-12-09

Eye on China, US deploys spy plane in Singapore amid sea spat

The US has deployed a P-8 Poseidon spy plane in Singapore for the first time ever, both countries said, amid simmering regional tensions over Beijing's island-building in the disputed South China Sea.
2015-12-08

UN urges Jordan to let 12,000 stranded Syrian refugees enter

The United Nations urged Jordan to allow in 12,000 Syrian refugees stranded at the border in deteriorating humanitarian conditions and offered to help reinforce security at registration points.
2015-12-08

Oscar Pistorius to appeal to South Africa's highest court

Oscar Pistorius will try to appeal his murder conviction in South Africa's highest court, his lawyer said, possibly extending a legal battle that began nearly three years ago when the double-amputee Olympian shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp to death in his home.
2015-12-08

Muslim Alliance dissociates from Madhesi front in Nepal

The anti-Constitution agitation in Nepal suffered a jolt today with the National Muslim Struggle Alliance dissociating itself from the blockade enforced by the Indian-origin Madhesis, saying it will not get involved in any activity jeopardizing national sovereignty.
2015-12-08

SAARC Charter Day observed in Nepal

The 31st Charter Day of the eight-member grouping SAARC was observed in Nepal which saw participation of senior ministers and officials.
2015-12-08

British parliament votes against lowering voting age for EU referendum

Britain's lower house of parliament voted against cutting the voting age for a referendum on EU membership, potentially blocking any further moves to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote.
2015-12-08

'Heart of Asia' conference started in Pakistan

A regional conference hosted by Pakistan with focus on Afghanistan started in Islamabad where external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will represent India at the ministerial-level meeting.
2015-12-08

Hidden portrait 'found under the Mona Lisa, could lead to it being renamed

Art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon, who has made a new BBC documentary called The Secrets of the Mona Lisa, has suggested that the find could lead to the painting's name having to be changed. The Mona Lisa currently hangs in the Louvre and is effectively the most valued painting in the world.
2015-12-08

South African court grants Oscar Pistorius bail after murder conviction

A South African court granted bail to Olympic and Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius after he was convicted of murder for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013, with the judge saying the athlete did not pose a flight risk.
2015-12-08

Survivors mark 74th anniversary of attack on Pearl Harbor

The US Navy and National Park Service hosted a ceremony in remembrance of those killed on December 7, 1941. Around 2,400 sailors, marines and soldiers were killed at Pearl Harbor and other military installations on the island of Oahu in the attack.
2015-12-08

China's odd-even policy

The official Xinhua news agency said Beijing government will implement the system of restricting cars with number plates with odd or even numbers on alternative days between 7 am on Tuesday and midnight of Thursday.
2015-12-07

John Kerry's 'one state' comments cause consternation in Israel

Kerry had said that Israel could make it impossible to partition the land between Jewish and Palestinian states if it continued with its occupation of the West Bank. He said the alternative would have to be a "binational state" in which Jews and Palestinians live together in one state.
2015-12-07

India launches long term ecological observatories programme at Paris climate summit

With nations across the globe looking for innovative approach to monitor ecological challenges, India on Monday launched its long term ecological observatories (LTEO) programme here on side-lines of the on-going climate summit.
2015-12-07

Tashfeen Malik was a Saudi girl who stood out at a Pakistani University

Bahauddin Zakariya university has come into the spotlight in recent days as one of the few known way points for Tashfeen Malik, the Pakistani-born woman who along with her husband, Syed Rizwan Farook, took up assault rifles and, police say, killed 14 people last week in San Bernardino, California.
2015-12-07

Former US President Jimmy Carter says he is cancer free

Former US president Jimmy Carter told church parishioners in his native Plains, Georgia that he is free of cancer, US media reported."Went for an MRI this past week and they (doctors) didn't find any cancer at all in the brain," Carter said.
2015-12-07

Pakistan blocks foreign reporters from investigating terrorism radicalization

Pakistan has begun preventing western reporters from investigating the radicalization of the San Bernardino terrorists even as it emerged that the Pakistani wife of the Chicago-born Pakistani-American Syed Rizwan Farooq may have "honey-trapped" him into entering the United States.
2015-12-06

Iraq defence minister asks Turkey to withdraw troops

Iraq's defence minister said he had told his Turkish counterpart that hundreds of Turkish forces deployed inside northern Iraq had been sent without informing or coordinating with Baghdad, and must be withdrawn.
2015-12-06

German vice chancellor warns Saudi Arabia over Islamist funding

Germany's Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel urged Saudi Arabia to stop supporting religious radicals amid growing concern among some lawmakers in Berlin about the funding of militant mosques by the world's biggest oil exporter.
2015-12-06

Iraq crisis: How Saudi Arabia helped Isis take over the north of the country

The fatal moment predicted by Prince Bandar may now have come for many Shia, with Saudi Arabia playing an important role in bringing it about by supporting the anti-Shia jihad in Iraq and Syria. Since the capture of Mosul by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) on 10 June, Shia women and children have been killed in villages south of Kirkuk, and Shia air force cadets machine-gunned and buried in mass graves near Tikrit.
2015-12-06

Armenia vote for a constitutional change

Armenians began voting in a referendum on constitutional changes that supporters say will strengthen democracy in the ex-Soviet state, but opponents warn will only help keep ruling party leaders in power.
2015-12-06

The world's most ignorant countries revealed

New Zealand was the most inaccurate developed country, which ranked in 5th place.

These are the top 5 most ignorant countries in the world for 2015: 

1.Mexico 2.India 3.Brazil 4.Peru 5.New Zealand

2015-12-06

Ancient tombs discovered in China

A group of tombs dating back to 771-476 BC were discovered in China's Henan province, archaeologists said.
2015-12-06

Governor of Yemen's Aden killed in car bombing

The governor of Yemen's second city Aden was killed by a car bomb that tore through a residential neighbourhood, a local official and witnesses said.
2015-12-06

Myanmar's ex-dictator tips Suu Kyi as 'future leader'

Myanmar's feared former junta leader Than Shwe has endorsed his one-time nemesis Aung San Suu Kyi as a "future leader" of the country, according to his grandson.
2015-12-06

UK doubles warplanes in fight against IS

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said that the deployment of Typhoons and two further Tornados would double the number of British fighter jets taking the fight against the Islamic State militant group.
2015-12-06

Taliban chief likely dead: Pak media

Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour has reportedly died and the Taliban has appointed Moulavi Haibatullah Akhunzada as the new caretaker chief, Xinhua quoted Pakistani broadcaster Channel 24 as saying on Friday.
2015-12-06

Seychelles votes in presidential polls

The main islands of the Seychelles voted in a presidential election , with incumbent James Michel facing his first serious challenge after two terms in office.
2015-12-05

Talks between Madhesis, Nepal government end inconclusively

A crucial meeting held among Nepal's ruling coalition, opposition and the agitating Indian-origin Madhesis to resolve the prevailing political deadlock in the country failed to produce any concrete results.
2015-12-05

NYT weighs in on gun control with first page one edit in nearly a century

The New York Times has published an editorial on its front page for the first time since 1920, using the rare, prominent placement to urge gun control following the latest mass shooting in the US. Headlined ''The Gun Epidemic,'' the editorial called for drastically reducing the number of firearms in America.
2015-12-05

SAARC fair from Dec 4 to 6

An Indian High Commission diplomat was denied permission to travel to Lahore to set up the mission's stall at the ongoing Saarc Trade Fair where all the other Saarc nations have their representation. Over 50 Indian traders are participating in the fair, which is being held in Lahore from December 4-6.
2015-12-05

Erdogan says Turkey will find other energy suppliers than Russia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said while Russia was a major supplier of oil and gas to Turkey it was not the only one, as tensions escalated with Moscow over the downing of a Russian warplane.
2015-12-05

UN mediator in Yemen to press for peace talks

The UN mediator traveled to Aden in south Yemen to press for the government and Shiite rebels to open long-delayed peace talks on December 12 in Geneva, a Yemeni official said.
2015-12-05

Pakistan denies that US officials have handed over proof of California shooter's links to Lal Masjid

Pakistan denied reports that a meeting took place between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the US envoy in London over California female shooter's links with Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad.
2015-12-05

Earliest architectural drawings discovered

On a Spanish river bank 14,000 years ago, someone carved seven semi-circular shapes on a rock. Whether the artist realized the significance of the work is unknown, but according to archaeologists, the resulting doodle could well be humanity's first architectural drawing.
2015-12-04

Rizwan Farook came from broken Pakistani family

Pakistan's reputation as a breeding ground for terrorism is again coming up for scrutiny after U.S authorities said (earlier that) the Pakistani-American assailant who carried out the carnage in San Bernardino with his Pakistani wife had been in contact with extremists who were on the FBI watch list domestically and abroad.
2015-12-04

Radiation from Japan's N-disaster spreads to US

Radiation from Japan's 2011 nuclear disaster has spread off North American shores and contamination is increasing at previously identified sites, although levels are still too low to threaten human or ocean life, scientists said.
2015-12-04

Georgia revokes ex-president Saakashvili's citizenship

Georgia stripped former leader and reformer Mikheil Saakashvili of his citizenship as he had acquired a Ukrainian passport to serve as governor of the strategic Odessa region.
2015-12-04

Court dismisses plea filed to bring Koh-i-Noor to Pakistan

A Pakistani court dismissed a petition filed by a barrister seeking direction to the government to bring back the famed Koh-i-Noor.
2015-12-04

Germany to send up to 1,200 troops to Middle East after Bundestag approves military action against Isis in Syria

Lawmakers approved plans for Germany to take on a direct role in the battle against the IS group in Syria. Chancellor has stated that armed forces will not fight or launch bombing missions, but work to support countries including Britain, France, the US and Russia.
2015-12-04

Turkey cannot be 'brought to its knees' by Russia said Turkey PM

Turkey's prime minister says his country can't be "brought to its knees" by Russian economic sanctions imposed in response to Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane.
2015-12-04

US military opens all combat roles to women

USA-MILITARY/WOMEN (UPDATE 3, PIX)UPDATE 3-U.S. military opens all combat roles to women
2015-12-03

'Clear no' in Danish vote on EU justice rules: PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen

Danes rejected in a referendum a government proposal to deepen the EU member's participation in the bloc's justice cooperation, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.
2015-12-03

Petition filed to bring Kohinoor from UK to Pakistan

A petition has been filed in a Pakistani court asking the government to bring back Kohinoor diamond, the world famous precious stone which India has been trying to get from the UK.
2015-12-03

Oscar Pistorius conviction: What's behind it

Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of murder after South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal threw out a manslaughter conviction for killing his girlfriend, and he now faces a 15-year prison term.
2015-12-03

Pentagon chief to order US military to open all combat positions to women

US defense secretary Ashton Carter will announce that he is ordering the military to open all combat positions to women.
2015-12-03

Britain joins US-led Syria air war, Putin vows more sanctions on Turkey

While Britain joined the US-led air strikes against Islamic State in Syria, Vladimir Putin issued bitter new denunciations of Turkey for shooting down a Russian plane. Meanwhile, the US said it will not launch a 2003-style invasion of Syria or Iraq.
2015-12-03

$309 million released for construction of Guam Marine base

The Department of Defense has released $309 million for the first phase of construction on a Marine base in Guam.
2015-12-03

Russia delivers missile systems to Iran

Russia in 2010 froze a deal to supply advanced long-range S-300 missile systems to Iran, linking the decision to UN sanctions.
2015-12-03

Approach of rich nations threatens an outcome at climate summit, says G77 and China group

The issue of climate finance continues to be a major sticky point with the G77 and China, a group of 134 developing countries including India, strongly objecting to the attempts made by the rich nations to dilute the Convention that sought the developed countries to extend support to their poor counterparts.
2015-12-03

Turkey 'will regret more than once' shooting down of Russian bomber, says Putin

President Vladimir Putin used his annual speech to warn Turkey that the Kremlin planned to adopt further sanctions to punish Ankara for shooting down a Russian warplane.
2015-12-03

Satellite photos show North Korea digging new nuclear tunnel: Report

Satellite photographs from October and early November indicate that North Korea is digging a new tunnel for nuclear testing. However, there are no signs that a such a test is imminent, a US research institute said.
2015-12-03

France mulls constitution change to extend state of emergency

France plans to change the constitution to allow it to extend a state of emergency "to a maximum of six months", government sources said.
2015-12-03

Putin makes surprise visit to Crimea after power shortages

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Crimea, inaugurating an undersea cable project to bring a new power supply to the strategic Black Sea peninsula.
2015-12-03

Supreme Court finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of murder

South Africa's top appeals court ruled  that paralympian Oscar Pistorius' conviction be scaled up to murder from culpable homicide for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013.
2015-12-03

British bombers make first air strikes on Syria after UK parliament vote

British bombers made their first strikes on Syria, just hours after Britain's parliament voted to target Islamic State targets in Syria. Tornado bombers took off from the RAF Akrotiri air base in Cyprus and made strikes on targets in Syria.
2015-12-03

74-minute-old is UK's youngest organ donor

A baby girl who died just 74 minutes after birth has become Britain's youngest organ donor, after her kidneys were transplanted into an adult patient.
2015-12-03

Nato plans to expand, Russia sees red

Nato invited Montenegro to become the 29th member of the US-led military alliance, defying Russia's warnings it would have to respond to what it branded a threat to its security.
2015-12-03

UK lawmakers vote to launch airstrikes on IS in Syria

British lawmakers voted by a wide margin to join the international campaign of airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria, after Prime Minister David Cameron asserted that bombing the "medieval monsters'' in their heartland would make Britain safer.
2015-12-02

Reports of 20 victims wounded in shooting in San Bernardino, California

At least one person opened fire in the Southern California city of San Bernardino, and  there were as many as 20 victims wounded.
2015-12-02

4 convicted for storming a Peshawar school hanged

Pakistan hanged four militants involved in the massacre of nearly 150 people, 134 of them schoolchildren, at an army public school last year in Peshawar in the northwest.
2015-12-02

Turkish President Erdogan benefits from ISIS oil trade, Russia claims

Russia's defence ministry says it has proof that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his family were benefiting from the illegal smuggling of oil from Islamic State-held territory in Syria and Iraq.
2015-12-02

British Prime Minister David Cameron urges use of word 'Daesh' for IS group

British Prime Minister David Cameron adopted the term "Daesh" to refer to the Islamic State group. "#Daesh is Arabic acronym for #ISIL. Daesh sounds similar to Arabic words Daes & Dahes: 'to trample' & 'one who sows discord'," read a tweet on the govt's account.
2015-12-02

Russia offers to build pipeline for gas exports to Pakistan

Russia has offered to lay a pipeline for gas exports to energy-starved Pakistan that will run parallel to the TAPI pipeline, a proposal that stems from fears that Moscow may lose the European Union market due to political tensions.
2015-12-02

Nato to keep 12,000 troops in Afghanistan next year

Nato's resolute support advice and training mission was supposed to end this year but Taliban battlefield successes, especially their recent brief capture of the northern city of Kunduz, prompted a radical re-think.
2015-12-02

Nato invites Montenegro to join alliance, defying Russia

Nato foreign ministers welcomed tiny Montenegro into their fold on Wednesday in the alliance's first expansion since 2009, defying Russian warnings that enlargement of the US-led bloc further into the Balkans was a "provocation".
2015-12-02

Pakistan hangs four convicted of Taliban massacre at school

Pakistan has executed four men for involvement in the massacre of 134 children at an army-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar last year, media and security sources said. The four men had been convicted on August 13.
2015-12-02

Pakistan hangs 4 men convicted of Peshwar school massacre

Pakistan has executed four men for involvement in the massacre of 134 children at an army-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar last year, media and security sources said. The four men had been convicted on August 13.
2015-12-02

In first step to power, Suu Kyi holds talks with Myanmar president

Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi held talks with President Thein Sein , the first of two key meetings as her election-winning party prepares to take power in a country crippled by decades of military rule.
2015-12-02

US House blocks carbon emission rules, Obama set to veto

US House Republicans voted to block president Barack Obama's regulations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions -- a move certain to spark his veto -- as negotiators work on a global climate deal in Paris.
2015-12-01

Executions polarize Bangla along liberal & radical lines

Last week's executions of two war criminals, convicted of genocide during the 1971liberation war that led to Bangladesh's creation, have polarized the country along liberal and radical lines.
2015-12-01

AirAsia crash due to faulty component, crew action

Faulty equipment and the crew's "inability to control the aircraft" caused an AirAsia A320 to crash into the Java Sea last year, killing all 162 people onboard, an Indonesian report said.
2015-12-01

BRICS Media Summit calls for coordination to tackle terrorism

Leaders of 25 media organisations from BRICS countries made a strong pitch for reaching consensus to help deal with issues like terrorism and climate change as well as rapid technological changes.
2015-12-01

China's Xi heads to Zimbabwe ahead of Africa summit

Xi and a large Chinese delegation fly on to Johannesburg ahead of the sixth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which will gather leaders from across the continent. Seeking raw material to fuel its booming economy, China has poured investment into Africa and became the continent's largest trade partner in 2009.
2015-12-01

World AIDS Day: Almost 16 million on HIV treatment as AIDS pandemic tide turns

Some 15.8 million people are now on HIV treatment and a five-year strategy to end the threat of a never-ending AIDS pandemic is starting to show results, the United Nations AIDS programme said.
2015-12-01

Senate confirms Obama's pick for USAID administrator

The Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama's nominee to lead the US Agency for International Development after months of delay rooted in a separate dispute over the international nuclear deal with Iran.
2015-12-01

Madhesi leaders submit 11-point demand to PM Oli to end stir

Nepal's Indian-origin Madhesi leaders submitted their 11-point demand to the goverment during their first meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to end the political logjam, but no breakthrough emerged from the tripartite talks attended by Opposition Nepali Congress.
2015-12-01

Bangladesh's former PM Khaleda Zia gets bail in graft case

Bangladesh's former premier and opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia was granted bail after she surrendered before a court here over a nearly USD 2 billion corruption case in 2007 involving a Canadian company.
2015-12-01

Source: Times of India News

LATEST ABBREVIATION USED

International Organization for Migration(IOM)
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
Human Development Index (HDI)
Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO)
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)
long term ecological observatories (LTEO)
Human Development Index (HDI)
National Security Adviser (NSA)
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) or (ISIL)
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)