Beijing Winter Olympics: Speed skating test event at Ice Ribbon

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, said it was time to reassess Western policy vis-à-vis Syria and that the approach followed in recent years had failed. “The only end to the crisis is a political solution,” he added. The Jordanian minister also hinted that his country was favourable to bringing Syria back into the Arab League.

Despite being the first genocide of the 20th century, the 1904-1908 massacre of the indigenous Herero and Nama peoples by German colonial troops in Namibia remains a little-known chapter of history. It was not until May of this year that Berlin officially recognised its responsibility for the atrocities. Our regional correspondents report.

A Ugandan company uses banana tree byproducts to create strands for hair extensions. The result? A stronger, reusable, and biodegradable fabric.

Indian police claim two marijuana smugglers were using Amazon's website to order and move their product. Investigators accused the retail giant of "not cooperating" with the authorities.

Haitian officials had said the gang had asked for $1 million each for the group of 17, which included five children. The gang had threatened to kill the North Americans.

Storm Arwen brought with it snow, ice and wind gusts of almost 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour. Police said one man was killed in Northern Ireland and another in Cumbria.