Belgium cut off from world by national strike
Belgium ground to a halt in its biggest strike in years Monday as trade unions grounded flights, cut international rail links and shut sea ports to protest the new government's austerity plans.
US congratulates Japan's Abe on re-election
The United States welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's easy re-election victor in snap polls, hailing his "strong leadership" on international crises
Brazil's Rousseff inaugurates nuclear sub shipyard
Brazilian President inaugurated a naval shipyard that will oversee construction of a nuclear-powered submarine and four others to patrol Brazil's long coastline and oil reserves.
13 December 2014
Kerry to meet Russia's Lavrov in Rome on Monday
Top US diplomat John Kerry will meet with his Russian counterpart in Rome, amid a toughening American response to a Kremlin-backed separatist insurgency in Ukraine.