France to ease cannabis laws

The French government announced a new approach to cannabis users on Thursday, scrapping potential prison sentences and heavy fines in favour of on-the-spot penalties for smokers in a bid to save police time.

Countdown begins for tough EU asylum reform by June

Bulgaria on Thursday launches the first of several meetings aimed at bridging an east-west split over reforming Europe's asylum rules by June, when Sofia's EU presidency ends and the migration crisis could flare anew.

Haiti urbanisation rises but not wealth: World Bank

 Urbanisation is on the rise in Haiti, the third most urbanised country in Latin America and the Caribbean, but economic growth is still lagging behind, the World Bank said on Tuesday, warning of the increased threat of natural disasters on cities growing unabated.

Kentucky school shooting leaves two students dead

 A teenaged boy opened fire with a handgun at a Kentucky high school on Tuesday morning, leaving two fellow students dead and more than a dozen people wounded in the latest mass shooting to hit the United States.

Snow-bound Davos warms to business-friendly climate

After a gala opening set against spectacular snowfall, the World Economic Forum starts in earnest on Tuesday basking in robust global growth but facing warnings that the world's have-nots are missing out more than ever.

Clamour of calls for more UK military funds amid Russia, cyber threat

Former defence secretary Michael Fallon joined calls Monday for more British military spending, as the head of the army said the country may struggle to match Russian battlefield capabilities and another security chief warned a major cyber-attack on the UK is likely by 2020.

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