Christians rekindle hope of a better year

Talking Europe speaks to a veteran of the European and Italian political scenes, former EU Commissioner and former Italian foreign minister Emma Bonino. She shares her thoughts on the bitter dispute between Rome and Paris over the fate of the migrants on the Ocean Viking rescue ship, and says an EU migration policy won't happen without EU treaty change.

The supermarket chain said it was ending its association with the DFB after the soccer association abandoned its plan to have national team captain Manuel Neuer wear a rainbow armband at the World Cup.

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, giving rise to Russia and 14 independent states. Now it seems Russian President Vladimir Putin no longer respects the sovereignty of those other nations. That’s led to a new patriotism in the ex-Soviet states.

With a truce recently signed and a history of ethnic tensions, Ethiopia faces a myriad of challenges. As a result, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government has embarked on a national dialogue hoping to silence the guns.

The Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida has been shut indefinitely as authorities struggled with migrants arriving in boats. There has been a rise in migrants arriving from Cuba due to the economic turmoil there.

Legend has it that in 1963, France's Vanoise National Park was created to save the last endangered Alpine ibex. With 107 peaks of over 3,000 metres or more, the park in the heart of France's Savoie region attracts thousands of hikers each year in search of fresh air and the great outdoors. In this intact nature reserve, locals have developed alternatives to the usual winter sports. From snowshoeing to discover wildlife, to dog sledding for a unique adventure and even diving into a frozen lake, there's something for everyone!

A former Iranian deputy defense minister with dual British citizenship has been executed, according to Iranian media. The death sentence had sparked international condemnation.

Dozens of pro-democracy figures have been charged with "conspiracy to commit subversion" and are facing possible life sentences. Their trial opened two years after the initial arrests.

The government will remove regulatory hurdles to invest in new electricity infrastructure. Loadshedding has almost brought South Africa's economic growth to a standstill.

They’ve come to be known as the Hong Kong 47. A group of prominent activists, former lawmakers and student leaders went on trial this week, accused of trying to topple the pro-Beijing government. Most of them, including Benny Tai and Joshua Wong, have been detained since their arrests two years ago.

For only the third time in its history, New Zealand has declared a national emergency. It comes as Cyclone Gabrielle causes flooding and landslides across North Island.

The government's proposed changes to the pension system have partly been turned down by the country's parliament. Article 2, which would have set up a "senior employment index" to support older workers, did not get a majority. The measure was meant to accompany the raising of the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.