British panda given helping hand in quest for cub Experts at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland have artificially inseminated Britain's only female giant panda Tian Tian after she failed to mate with her male partner, Yang Guang.
22 April 2013
Vatican urges dialogue in crisis-hit Venezuela The Roman Catholic Church weighed in Sunday on Venezuela's political crisis, with Pope Francis expressing deep concern and calling for dialogue in the wake of a disputed presidential election.
Protesters in final bid to block France gay marriage lawTens of thousands of opponents of government plans to legalise gay marriage marched in Paris Sunday two days before a final vote on the bill, which has provoked fierce and sometimes violent protests.
Queen Elizabeth turns 87 as Kate shows baby bump Queen Elizabeth II marked her 87th birthday with little fanfare on Sunday, spending the day privately while Prince William's wife Catherine was showing off her baby bump.
22 April 2013
France's opponents of gay marriage fight to the end France's bitter debate over gay marriage is set to reach a potentially explosive climax on Sunday, two days before a bill legalising same-sex unions is due to be finally approved.
Italy centre-left leader Bersani to resign Voting for a new Italian president headed towards a fifth round Saturday, after the political deadlock claimed another victim, with centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani saying he will step down.
21 April 2013
French family arrive home after hostage ordeal Tired but smiling, a French family of seven arrived in Paris early on Saturday, welcomed by relatives and French President Francois Hollande.
Weak global economy key worry as IMF, World Bank meet Advanced and developing countries alike voiced worries over fragile global growth, eurozone stagnation and the swamp of excess monetary liquidity as the IMF and World Bank spring meetings kicked off.
France's Hollande blasts 'homophobic' violence French President Francois Hollande on Thursday hit out at "homophobic" acts by opponents of a same-sex marriage bill following violent protests that included an attack on a gay bar.
19 April 2013
Finland to use Kazakhstan-made copper rodsA memorandum on supplies of Kazakhstan-made copper rods to Finland was signed during Kazakhstan-Finnish forum on green economy and modernization in Astana.
Serbia, Kosovo talks fail once again Serbia and Kosovo again failed to clinch a deal to normalise ties and ease tension in the Balkans after lengthy talks brokered by the European Union.