French president calls for environmental 'security council
French President Francois Hollande called for the creation of an "environmental security council" to verify and enforce measures to be adopted at a year-end UN climate summit.
Catalan parliament begins process of secession from Spain
Lawmakers in Catalonia officially kicked off a process to secede fromSpain by 2017, despite impassioned pleas against independence, in an unprecedented showdown with Madrid's central government.
Croatian parties in tough talks to form government
Croatia's political parties faced tough negotiations to cobble together a government after the conservative opposition won a narrow election victory.
US concerned by 'far from perfect' Myanmar vote
The United States welcomed Myanmar's landmark election, but warned of "important structural and systemic impediments" to full democratization in the Southeast Asian nation after decades of military rule.
EU turns to African leaders to stem migrant crisis
EU leaders will push their wary African counterparts to help tackle the migration crisis at a summit in Malta this week, offering them billions of euros in aid in exchange for cooperation
Catalan parliament to vote on secession in showdown with Madrid
Catalonia's pro-independence regional parliament is expected to launch a secession process in Spain's wealthiest region, in a showdown with the central government in Madrid.
Romania president meets with protesters as fire toll mounts
Romania's president appealed for protesters' support in reforming the country, as the death toll rose to 45 from a horrific nightclub fire that brought down the government
IMF chief urges Gulf to adapt to sustained oil price drop
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde warned that global energy prices could remain low for years and urged Gulf countries to adjust their budgets.
UK seeks extra security abroad in wake of Russian jet crash
Britain will push for higher security at foreign airports in risky areas even if it means extra delays for passengers, foreign minister Philip Hammond said.
Iran appoints first woman ambassador since revolution
Iran has appointed its first woman ambassador since the 1979 Islamic revolution, naming foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham to head its embassy in Malaysia.
Obama rejects Canada's Keystone XL pipeline to US
US President Barack Obama on Friday blocked the Keystone XL oil pipeline that Canada sought to build into the United States, ruling it would harm the fight against climate change.
Estonia PM questions Baltic plan to price Soviet occupation
Estonia's premier raised doubts Friday about the decision of three Baltic states to calculate how much money they lost under some 50 years of Soviet occupation.
Trudeau says Canada ready to settle 25,000 Syrian refugees
Canada's new prime minister vowed to make good on campaign promises to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the beginning of next year and bring home fighter jets battling the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
Suu Kyi eyes historic win in Myanmar elections
Myanmar's boisterous election campaign draws to a close Friday, two days before milestone polls that could finally propel Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party to power after a decades-long struggle against the military.
True colours: China summit foments Taiwan's green-blue split
The colours blue and green symbolise the rift between opposing political parties in Taiwan, an entrenched divide that polarises friends and families, with this weekend's historic China summit adding fuel to the fire.
'Disappointed' Michelle Obama calls off Jordan trip
Michelle Obama has called off plans to travel to Jordan on her Middle East tour after bad weather left her stranded in Qatar for 36 hours.
Bad Blood: Katy Perry still outearns Taylor Swift
The "bad blood" between Taylor Swift and Katy Perry may be about to get worse.
Second Baltic pipeline will cost Ukraine $2bn a year: PM
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk blasted a planned second gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, claiming it would cost his country $2 billion (1.8 billion euros) a year in lost revenue.
Germany to speed up repatriations of rejected asylum-seekers
Germany plans to speed up repatriations of rejected asylum-seekers from new central hubs, Chancellor Angela Merkel and her coalition allies agreed, vowing to bring order to a record migrant influx.
France advises against non-essential travel to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh resort
France advised its nationals against all non-essential travel to Sharm el-Sheikh following the crash of a Russian passenger jet that took off from the Egyptian resort at the weekend.