Greece told to accept debt deal or 'head towards default'

European Council President Donald Tusk told Greece to accept a debt deal with its international creditors or face defaulting.
An emergency summit will be held on on Monday to address Athens' future in the eurozone.

UN calls for better protection of migrants' rights

 The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein criticized Monday the international community for failing to protect the rights of migrants and called for European Union to open its doors.

Kurds battle IS on Syria border as Turkey blocks refugees

Kurdish fighters pressed an offensive Saturday to capture a key Syrian border town from the Islamic State group, as Turkish forces sought to prevent thousands fleeing the fighting from crossing the frontier.

IMF breaks off negotiations with Greece over debt deal. Bundesbank president warns over rising insolvency risk

The International Monetary Fund has dramatically raised the stakes in Greece's stalled debt talks, announcing that its delegation had broken off negotiations in Brussels and flown home because of major differences with Athens.

Ukraine: UN reports uptick in internal displacement as country’s conflict grinds on

UN, 9 June 2015 – The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine has soared to over one million due to the ongoing conflict in the country’s eastern regions, the United Nations humanitarian office reported today.

Germany sold arms to Saudi Arabia to secure its vote for 2006 World Cup (report)

Germany allegedly sent arms to Saudi Arabia in return for the Arab nation giving its support to Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup. The claims made by the Die Zeit newspaper are the latest revelations to rock scandal-ridden FIFA.

Fighting Surges in Ukraine After Kiev Says Rebels Launch Assault

Fighting surged in east Ukraine on Wednesday as Kiev accused pro-Russian forces of launching a "large-scale" attack in breach of a tenuous ceasefire.

‘Persistent and grave’ human rights violations in eastern Ukraine (UN report)

UN, 1 June 2015 – Serious human rights violations and abuses persist in eastern Ukraine, including shelling, executions, arbitrary and illegal detentions, torture, ill-treatment, human trafficking and the lack of justice and accountability, as well as deprivation of economic and social rights, deeply affecting the 5 million people living in the conflict-affected areas, a new United Nations report said today.

Belgian-Turkish deputy expelled from party over ‘genocide denial’

A Belgian deputy of Turkish origin has been expelled from her party for refusing to call the 1915 killings of Ottoman Armenians as “genocide.”

Joint UN report says rate of world hunger dropping amid wider eradication efforts

 UN, 27 May 2015 – The number of the world's chronically undernourished has dropped below the 800 million mark as an increasing number of countries hit their Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets on hunger, according to a new United Nations report released today by the Organization's three food agencies.

France moves to ban food waste in supermarkets

In a rare show of unity, France's parliament voted unanimously Thursday to ban food waste in big supermarkets by outlawing the destruction of unsold food products.

ISIS in almost full control of Syria’s Palmyra

Jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group were in almost full control of Syria’s historic city of Palmyra on Wednesday night after the withdrawal of government forces, a monitor said.

US plays down IS militants' gains in Iraq

Despite major new setbacks in Iraq, the US military command leading the fight against Islamic State militants insisted Friday that its strategy is working and that the militants' takeover of a key oil refinery and a government compound are fleeting gains feeding an IS propaganda machine.

Russia’s UN envoy urges meeting of all sides to Yemen conflict

All parties to the conflict in Yemen should gather in the country as soon as possible, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said Wednesday on the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

EU asks UN for help with migrant crisis

Migrants intercepted at sea will not "be sent back against their will", the European Union's foreign policy chief has told the UN Security Council, in the context of a proposed EU maritime operation against the growing wave of migrant smuggling from North Africa.

Saudi FM offers ceasefire as warplanes pound Yemen rebels

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister vowed Friday that a ceasefire would begin on May 12, despite Saudi-led coalition attacks on Thursday against Yemeni rebels.

Russia’s Progress space freighter debris may reach Earth on May 8. Hard-to-melt titanium and steel parts... (Roscosmos)

Russia’s Progress M-27M cargo spacecraft will be deorbited on May 8 and part of its debris may reach the Earth, Russian space agency Roscosmos told reporters on Wednesday.

China, Taiwan leaders hold highest level talks in 6 yrs

 China's President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's ruling party chairman Eric Chu met Monday, with the intention of boosting economic ties.

Ex-US president Carter urges Palestinian elections

Former US president Jimmy Carter on Saturday urged Palestinians to hold elections to end the de facto division of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the Islamist-run Gaza Strip.

He was speaking at a joint news conference with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the Palestinian political capital Ramallah in the West Bank.

Colourful rallies around the world mark May Day

Demonstrations have taken place around the world as protesters gathered to mark May Day, also known as Labour Day, the annual day when workers take action to demand increased labour rights.