Israel will likely agree in the coming days to develop the range of supplies flowing into the blockaded Gaza strip, the special envoy for Middle East peace Tony Blair said on Thursday.Former British prime minister Blair, who represents a diplomatic quartet of the EU, United States, UN and Russia, said he hopes Israel will finalise a list of products banned from Gaza when he visits the region in t
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated Canada's 143rd birthday Thursday before a crowd of tens of thousands of people who cheered her on as she saluted the Canadian men's hockey team's recent Olympic win.Canada has become an example to the world, the country's titular head of state said in a nationally televised address during a visit to the capital with her husband Prince Philip. During my lifetime, I
Belgium's turn holding the rotating presidency of the European Union for six months has begun, taking over from Spain.It aims to tackle financial regulation and economic coordination among its priorities, this with a caretaker government and mutual support between the permanent president of the European Council and the rotating presidency.Steven Vanackere is Belgium's acting Minister for Foreign
British art collector Charles Saatchi, credited with discovering Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, will give more than 200 art works worth 25 million pounds to the nation, his museum said Thursday.The works from London's Saatchi Gallery -- seen as Britain's finest collection of contemporary art in private hands -- will be donated to a foundation.But advertising guru Saatchi will remain head of the mu
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday brought cocaine and marijuana bought on the Internet to a government meeting to show how easily they could be procured in the country.At a televised meeting, Yanukovych brandished test tubes of cocaine and marijuana he said his staff bought on the Internet and slammed officials for failing to fight drug trafficking. What work can we talk about if
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government called for unity on Thursday after rebels forced a humiliating vote over the presidency that could lead to a watering down of her austerity package.The struggle to get Christian Wulff elected to the largely ceremonial post of head of state on Wednesday, even when Merkel had a clear majority on paper, showed growing disenchantment with the leadership of
Foreign Secretary William Hague said Thursday he would be very surprised if Afghan forces had not taken control of their own security from international forces by 2014.But he insisted Britain was not setting a timetable for withdrawing its 9,500 troops from Afghanistan, even after Prime Minister David Cameron said last week he wanted them home before the next election in 2015. We are committed
Spain successfully raised money on the bond market at moderate rates on Thursday, despite a warning its credit standing was under review, but suffered a new blow when regional government debt was downgraded.Spain issued bonds to borrow 3.5 billion euros for five years, shaking off a warning from credit rating agency Moody's that the country's sovereign debt was under scrutiny for a possible downg