Britain - Kate Middleton becomes patron of charities

Published on Jan 5, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ Kate Middleton is following royal tradition in Britain, becoming the patron of four charities. Some say in the footsteps of Lady Di, the Duchess of Cambridge will support Action on Addiction, an art therapy charity, the National Portrait Gallery and a children's hospice.

China - Raw Video: Harbin Ice Festival Dazzles Visitors

Published on Jan 5, 2012 by AssociatedPress

Thousands of visitors flocked to the ice world in northeastern China, as the city of Harbin kicked off its annual Ice Festival on Thursday. The event, now in its 28th year, pulls crowds from across China and even a few visitors from overseas. (Jan. 5)

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Germany - president Christian Wulff rebuffs calls to quit

Published on Jan 5, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ Public support for German president Christian Wulff has slipped from 63 percent to 47 percent percent, according to a poll by one German broadcaster.

It came after Wulff, a member of the ruling Christian Democrat party, appeared on television in a bid to defuse a home loan scandal.

Newspapers across Germany called on Wulff to step down on Thursday after it emerged that he had threatened the Bild tabloid upon learning it planned to publish a story about the affair.

Myanmar - Suu Kyi 'concerned' for democratic reforms Has met William Hague British foreign secretary

Published on Jan 5, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ Pro-Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met William Hague in Myanmar during the first visit by a British foreign secretary since 1955.

The visit is also the first by any senior EU figure and follows a recent trip by Hillary Clinton, indicating a warming of relations between the country - also known as Burma - and the west.

Hague has welcomed a pledge by President Thein Sein that more political prisoners will be released, and indicated this could have a possitive effect on sanctions put on the country.

Slovenia - Pension reforms for country's aging population

Published on Jan 5, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ Slovenia's population is aging, and aging fast.

Last year the country's voting population rejected a bill to raise the retirement age, dealing a blow to the government's plans to control public debt.

The country's actual retirement age is one of the lowest in Europe.

But the new centre-left party headed by Zoran Jankovic, who won a surprise victory in December's snap elections, plans to enact a pension reform that would raise the retirement age to 65.

Iraq - Pilgrims targeted as sectarian attacks surge

Published on Jan 5, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ Sectarian violence in Iraq has intensified dramatically with a spate of bombings that has left more 60 people dead. Four devices, hidden in vehicles or left by the road exploded in separate Shi'ite communities in Baghdad.

The victims in the Kadhimiya and Sadr City districts were mostly civilians going about their daily lives. Some 30 people were killed in the series of blasts that rocked the capital. Dozens of others were injured.