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Police blamed for New Year's Eve stampede that killed 36 in Shanghai Shanghai has begun grieving the victims of a stampede that took dozens of lives on New Year's Eve. Locals as well as the media consider the police and government responsible for the tragedy - and not 'money coupons.' China mourned on Friday (02.01.2015) the 36 who died in a...

Burnt-out ferry Norman Atlantic towed to Italy Following a round-the-clock rescue effort and a towing operation that cost a further two lives, a ferry that caught fire arrived at port. The cause of the fire, and how many remain missing, is still under investigation. The ravaged Norman Atlantic ferry arrived in Brindisi, Italy, on Friday, five days after a fire on...

Russians optimistic for 2015 despite it all Revelers pose for a picture with a man dressed as Father Frost, the equivalent of Santa Claus, during celebrations of New Year’s Day in Red Square in Moscow December 31, 2014. (Reuters) At the vast skating rink in Moscow’s Gorky Park, Russians say they’re looking forward to a 2015 that will be as smooth...

Man detained after attempted bomb attack on Turkey PM’s office The man was immediately arrested at the site, which is part of the Dolmabahce complex in Istanbul. A man carrying an automatic weapon was detained near the Turkish prime minister’s office in Istanbul on Thursday after he threw a homemade bomb at police, local media reported. The bomb failed to explode and...

Over 15,000 killed in Iraq in 2014: govt A woman walks past the site of a car bomb attack in Baghdad, Oct. 18, 2014. (Reuters) At least 15,000 people have been killed in Iraq in 2014, government figures showed on Thursday, according to Agence France-Presse. Figures compiled by the health, interior and defense ministries put the death toll at 15,538, compared with...

Egypt's press freedom on retrial The imprisonment of three Al Jazeera journalists created an international uproar. While the trio will face a retrial, the outcome will likely be influenced by more than the facts of their case. If the original sentences were to be carried out in full, three employees from the English-language section of the Qatari media organization Al Jazeera...

Video purports to show 'kidnapped Italian aid workers' The video, which appeared on YouTube late Wednesday, shows two young women seated before a blank wall, and dressed in black robes. One of them holds a sign with the date December 17, 2014, although the video only appears to have been posted on December 31. The other woman appears to be reading...

Abdullah shines as Qatar rally to draw against Oman CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA: A double from Meshal Abdullah on Wednesday helped Qatar secured a fighting 2-2 draw against Oman in friendly match ahead of next week’s Asian Cup. Oman roared to a 2-0 lead after goals from Abdulazzi Mubqbali (11) and jaber Al Owaisi (27) but Qatar – coached by Djamel Belmadi –...

Shanghai stampede on New Year's Eve kills dozens At least 35 people have been killed in a stampede in the Chinese city of Shanghai on New Year's Eve. The cause of the stampede was not immediately clear. Some sources put the death toll as high as 36 on Thursday, hours after a New Year's Eve celebration on Chen Yi Square in...

Rocket hits Afghan wedding, kills at least 28 A wounded Afghan woman (C) is brought to the hospital in Helmand province early on Jan. 1, 2015 after a rocket fired during fighting between Afghan forces and insurgents killed at least 15 wedding guests late on Dec. 31. (AFP) A rocket fired amid fighting between Taliban insurgents and Afghan soldiers killed at...

Israel's Netanyahu wins Likud party primary Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) casts his ballot for the Likud primary at a polling station in Jerusalem December 31, 2014. (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won the backing of his hard-line Likud party in its primary and will lead it into general elections this March, Israeli media reported Thursday. With about 20...

Egypt court orders retrial for jailed Al Jazeera journalists An appeals court in Egypt has ordered a retrial in the case of three Al Jazeera journalists imprisoned there for more than a year. They were arrested in December 2013, accused of aiding the Muslim Brotherhood. The decision came after a brief appeal hearing in Cairo's Court of Cassation on Thursday morning. Canadian-Egyptian...

HE Prime Minister Meets Oman's Civil Service Minister Doha, December 31 (QNA) - HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani on Wednesday met Oman's Minister of Civil Service Sheikh Khalid bin Omar bin Said al-Marhoon and the delegation currently accompanying him on a visit to the country.     Read the full text news resource site… Source...

Tunisia's new president pledges reconciliation Tunisia's new President Beji Caid Essebsi attends the ceremony of transfer of power at the Carthage Palace in Tunis Dec. 31, 2014. (Reuters) Tunisia's new President Beji Caid Essebsi pledged to seek reconciliation and consensus after he was sworn in on Wednesday before the newly elected parliament to complete the country's democratic transition. The 88-year-old Essebsi who...