Khodorkovsky to stay out of Russia, help jailed dissidentsRussia's former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky said Sunday after walking free from a decade in jail that he would stay away from his homeland but help to free Russian political prisoners still behind bars.
23 December 2013
Revealed: Vast water store beneath Greenland's iceA vast store of water equivalent in area to Ireland lies beneath Greenland's icesheet, and it may provide answers to one of the big riddles of climate change, scientists reported on Sunday.
EU banking union too complicated, too slow: analystsAn 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.
23 December 2013
Chinese billionaire feared dead in France helicopter crashFour people were feared dead Saturday including a Chinese billionaire and his 12-year-old son after the helicopter in which he was overflying his newly purchased French vineyard crashed into a river.
French Revolution's 'monster' gets modern diagnosisDepending on what you read, Maximilien de Robespierre was a defender of the poor and downtrodden -- "the Incorruptible" who defended the values of the French Revolution to the end.
Six countries sign US pacts in fight against tax fraudThe United States has signed anti-tax fraud pacts with six countries and territories including some considered tax havens, the US Treasury Department said Thursday.
20 December 2013
2,000 extra steps a day cuts cardiovascular risk by 8 percentPeople with a glucose-tolerance problem -- a driver of diabetes and cardiovascular disease -- can cut the risk of heart attack or stroke by simply walking an additional 2,000 steps per day, a study said on Friday.
20 December 2013
Scores hurt in London theatre collapseThe ceiling of a packed London theatre collapsed on the audience during a hit show on Thursday, wounding 76 people including children and leaving terrified theatregoers covered in blood and rubble.
Hollande hopes Poland to join French troops in CARFrench President Francois Hollande said he expected Poland to announce Friday that it would provide military backing for France's troops in the Central African Republic.
20 December 2013
China to build two new Antarctic bases: state mediaChinese workers are on their way to build the country's fourth Antarctic research base and a fifth is being planned, state-run media said Thursday as the country expands its imprint on the icy continent.
20 December 2013
Spaniards bet on slimmed-down 'Fat One' Christmas jackpotSpaniards are digging into their pockets to gamble on their beloved "Fat One" Christmas lottery with the world's richest total payout, but winners will get slimmed-down prizes this year as a new austerity tax takes a bite.
20 December 2013
EU finance ministers reach banking union dealEU 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.
19 December 2013
Once-stolen Stradivarius sells for £1.3 millionA rare Stradivarius violin, which was once stolen and offered for just £100 ($162, 118 euros) by thieves, sold at auction in Britain on Wednesday for £1.3 million ($2.3 million, 1.6 million euros).