Cuban President Raul Castro faces deep problems in 2017

Alex Romero was delighted when President Barack Obama came to Havana in March bearing the promise of a bright new future. Like so many other Cubans, the 42-year-old state photography shop employee thrilled at the president’s vision of restored ties between the...

Typhoon Nock-Ten threatens Philippine capital Manila

Powerful typhoon Nock-Ten is continuing to batter the Philippines, as it heads towards the area around the heavily-populated capital Manila. Civil defence officials have been put on “red alert”, as the storm is due to hit the city later on Monday. The...

Huge search for bodies in Black Sea

A huge search operation is continuing “round the clock” in Russia, after a Russian military plane with 92 people on board crashed into the Black Sea. Some 3,500 people on ships, jets, helicopters and submersibles are involved in the operation near Sochi....

Pope Francis: Christmas ‘hostage to materialism’

Pope Francis has said that the true meaning of Christmas is being drowned out by materialism. During a high-security Christmas Mass at the Vatican, the head of the Roman Catholic Church also denounced the continuing suffering of children. He mentioned those who faced...

Donald Trump vows to shut controversial Trump Foundation

Donald Trump has announced that he plans to shut his charitable foundation, although an investigation into its practices continues. The US president-elect said he wanted to avoid “even the appearance” of any conflict of interest. New York’s attorney...

Form Four exam results to be released next year

Form Four examination results will not be released before the end of the year despite speculation that the outcome will be announced abruptly. The Kenya National Examinations Council chairman George Magoha said the examination was still being marked in some centres...