World economy
Russian economy to shrink in 2015 as sanctions, falling oil prices bite
03 Dec 2014
Russia, the world’s eighth-largest economy, is expected fall into recession next year as western sanctions and plunging oil prices begin to take their toll
Swiss voters reject immigration cuts
01 Dec 2014
UK PM Cameron wants EU support on migrant benefit curbs
29 Nov 2014
UK prime minister David Cameron says lower EU migration would be a priority in future negotiations on the UK's membership to the EU
Oil wilts as OPEC stands by Saudi decision not to cut production
28 Nov 2014
To compete with US shale oil, production of which would be viable for a price of anywhere between $40 to $60 a barrel, OPEC has to allow for lower prices, feels Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s biggest oil producer
WTO hammers out first and `inclusive’ global trade deal
28 Nov 2014
WTO on Thursday ratified a global deal - the first in its history - to ease customs rules and facilitate faster movement of trade and also address concerns of the developing and poor member nations
Chuck Hagel steps down as US defence secretary
25 Nov 2014
Chuck Hagel, the only Republican in the top administration, has resigned as defence secretary less than two years after President Barack Obama appointed him on the all powerful post
China building airstrip-size island to control South China Sea: Jane’s
22 Nov 2014
The weekly said images it had obtained showed that the Chinese have built a 3,000-metre long and 200-300-metre wide island on the Fiery Cross Reef, which is in waters claimed by Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei
Obama quietly extends US military role in Afghanistan
22 Nov 2014
Obama’s new order lets American forces execute missions against the Taliban and other militant groups threatening US troops or the Afghan government.
Pakistan, Russia sign military co-operation agreement
21 Nov 2014
Beyond negotiating an important sale of Mi-35 transport helicopters to Pakistan, Russia's move is also driven by strategic issues like countering the menace of terrorism and narcotics posed by the instability in Afghanistan
Japan PM dissolves lower House, to seek fresh mandate on 14 December
21 Nov 2014
Abe wants to consult voters regarding his strategy of further raising sales tax rates, after data showed that the economy had slipped into recession in the third quarter after an initial increase in the sales tax to 8 per cent in April
Barack Obama enforces US immigration reform
21 Nov 2014
The reform package, forced through using executive orders, will benefit nearly five million illegal immigrants while another six million face prospect of deportation