Wanted: Billions of bees for European farms
Many countries in Europe face a worrying lack of crop-pollinating honeybees, a problem caused mainly by an EU policy shift in favour of biofuels.
China has world's most outbound tourists: report
Nearly 100 million Chinese tourists visited foreign countries last year, and they are likely to extend their lead as the world's biggest-spending travellers, state media reported Thursday.
Ukrainian novelist Kurkov backs 'school for revolution' protests
The long-running opposition protests on Kiev's central Independence Square are becoming a "school for revolution" as the country's leaders lose touch with society, top Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov told AFP.
Children beheaded in C.Africa fighting: UNICEF
At least two children have been beheaded in the fighting which has gripped the Central African Republic, the UN agency for children said Monday, adding "unprecedented" levels of violence were being committed against youngsters.
Philippines allows phone use on planes
The Philippines' civil aviation authority said Tuesday it would allow passengers to use mobile phones and laptops to make calls and access the Internet during flights.
Greece eyes return to bond markets in 2nd half of 2014
Bailed-out Greece is hoping to return to bond markets in the second half of 2014 -- but only if growth and a primary budget surplus permits, its finance minister said Sunday.
Final amnestied foreign Greenpeace activist leaves Russia
The last of the 26 foreign Greenpeace activists who were detained after an Arctic protest flew out of Russia on Sunday, the group announced, finally ending a saga that had caused global concern.
Fireworks but no joy as Latvia joins eurozone
Fireworks will light up the skies above Riga when Latvia adopts the euro on January 1, but on the ground the feeling will be far from festive among those fearing the impact of the switch.
Britain to become Europe's biggest economy by 2030: report
Britain will surpass France and Germany to become Europe's biggest economy by 2030, according to a study released on Thursday.
Israel says to free Palestinians and build more settlements
Israel will announce plans for new settlement construction next week, coinciding with the release of a third batch of Palestinian prisoners as part of peace talks, an official said Thursday.
Turkey PM reshuffles cabinet amid graft scandal
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan replaced nearly half his cabinet in a dramatic reshuffle after a spreading graft scandal forced the resignation of three top ministers.
Mining threatens unique culture of Sweden's Samis
As winter approaches, the Samis of northern Sweden move thousands of reindeer down from the snow-covered mountains for lowland grazing. They have done so for centuries, but they wonder how much longer they can continue.
EU banking union too complicated, too slow: analysts
An EU system to prevent a repeat of the massive bank bailouts which crippled the economy is a major step but it is also too complicated when speed is absolutely essential, analysts said.
Mozambique airline captain 'intentionally' crashed: probe
A Mozambican Airlines captain had a "clear intention" to crash an airplane that went down in Namibia killing 33 at the end of November, according to a preliminary investigation reported Saturday.
Scandal-hit Turkey PM presses police purge
Turkish prosecutors have begun charging some of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's closest allies in a huge graft scandal he has responded to with a spectacular purge of the police.
Spain watchdog fines Google for privacy 'violations'
Spain's data protection watchdog ordered US Internet giant Google on Thursday to pay a 900,000-euro fine for "serious violations" of users' privacy.
EU finance ministers reach banking union deal
EU finance ministers Wednesday reached a banking union accord which will hand Brussels unprecedented new powers to prevent failing banks from wrecking the economy, official sources said.
Russian missile deployment raises alarm
Washington has joined Russia's neighbours in voicing alarm after Moscow revealed it had moved nuclear-capable Iskander missiles closer to EU borders in response to the US-led deployment of a disputed air defence shield.
West has 'lost sense of reality' over Ukraine: Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday said that Western countries appear to have lost "their sense of reality" over the pro-EU protests in Ukraine, which he called the work of provocateurs.
Ukraine opposition calls mass weekend rally as pressure mounts
Ukraine's opposition called Thursday for a mass weekend rally, as pro-European demonstrators sought to increase the pressure on President Viktor Yanukovych following a failed police raid.