December 16, 2014
141 Dead in Taliban Attack on Pakistan School
The siege of a school in Pakistan by Taliban militants has ended, leaving at least 141 people dead, most of them students. Islamist militants wearing military uniforms and strapped with explosives attacked the military-run facility in the…
December 15, 2014
Sydney Police Storm Cafe, End Standoff
A daylong standoff in Sydney, Australia, ended after heavily armed police stormed the cafe where a man, who was known to authorities, reportedly held at least a dozen people hostage for about 16 hours. Heavy gunfire and loud bangs from stun grenades…
December 15, 2014
Denmark challenges Russia and Canada over North Pole
Denmark has presented a claim to the UN, arguing that the area surrounding the North Pole is connected to the continental shelf of Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory. Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard said it was a "historic and important…
December 10, 2014
Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest
A Palestinian minister has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the West Bank. Palestinian medics told the BBC Ziad Abu Ein had died from complications related to tear gas exposure. But several witnesses said the minister…
December 10, 2014
Boko Haram Turns to Female Bombers
In its five-year campaign to establish a caliphate in Nigeria, extremist group Boko Haram has repeatedly used suicide bombers against civilians and the military. But analysts say its recent use of female suicide bombers in strikes across the country…
December 9, 2014
US Tightens Security Ahead of CIA Torture Report
U.S. diplomatic facilities and military installations overseas are under increased security Tuesday as the Senate prepares to release a long-awaited report detailing the CIA's interrogation methods since the September 11, 2001 attacks. The…
December 9, 2014
150 Arrested in California During Police Killings Protests
More than 150 protesters were arrested in California overnight after shutting down a major freeway and stopping an Amtrak train as nationwide demonstrations against police use of deadly force on minorities continued for a third night. Hundreds of…
December 9, 2014
US Supreme Court rejects BP’s oil spill challenge
The US Supreme Court has rejected oil giant British Petroleum's (BP) legal challenge to a compensation deal over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. It means BP will have to make the payments that stem from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil…
December 5, 2014
ICC Drops Case Against Kenyan President
The International Criminal Court prosecutor withdrew crimes against humanity charges against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, citing a lack of evidence. Accusations that the government did not cooperate with the court during its investigation also…
December 5, 2014
Obama Nominates Ashton Carter as Defense Secretary
President Barack Obama has nominated former deputy Pentagon chief Ashton Carter to become the next secretary of defense. President Obama announced the choice Friday at the White House. Carter, a physicist and high-tech weapons expert, served as…