WORLD

'Growth is inevitable' optimistic Russian president says in annual press conference.

Russia's economy is in a severe downturn following sanctions by the West.

Israel call controversial UN draft resolution a 'gimmick' after its submission by Jordan to UN.

BREAKING: Terror group continue attacks in country's northern regions in village of Gumsuri

Threat seen from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Indian Mujahideen.

Raul Castro praises Barack Obama's decision to release three Cuban spies and calls for 'living together with differences'

The United States' first African-American president, Barack Obama, reveals he hasn't been exempt from racial biases.

United Nations International Migrants Day is observed annually on 18 December to promote human rights.

International Migrants Day is observed by the United Nations annually on 18 December

Ehsan Elahi, 13, played dead as the militants 'sprayed bullets like hell' into his class, killing his friends before his eyes.

As fares for flights between UK and Russia plummet to an all-time low, Brits cash in on great travel deals.

Russians rush to buy retail as the ruble falls over 50% against the dollar since 2013-end.

Sweden Democrats politician condemned for remarks 'exactly like 1930s Germany'.

The students went missing in September, and fears are growing they were killed by a local gang.

US set to pass similar measures against Black Sea region Russia annexed from Ukraine in March.

BREAKING: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reveals mass grave found in Deir al-Zor province.

BREAKING: US President gives landmark address on changing 'rigid' relationship with Cuba.

A photo of a woman spotlit by the glow of her phone wins the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest.

Licensed US travellers will be allowed to import $400 worth of Cuban goods in total.

France has indefinitely suspended the delivery of the two Mistral warships.

IBTimes UK's source in Peshawar claims hospital is hiding real death toll.

Argentinian pope played key role in historic deal to normalise relations between US and Cuba

Donors talk a good game - but their actions tell a different story.

Kuwaiti reports claim spy guarded Hezbollah chief who lives in hiding to avoid assassination.

IBT's source claims headmistress sacrificed herself to protect children from Taliban massacre.

US said it intends to improve relations with Cuba following release of American prisoner Alan Gross.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Wednesday (December 17) she and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had detected some signs of greater willingness from Russia to resolve the crisis in Ukraine's separatist eastern territories."We shared the impression that there might be some elements that could make us think that there might be some more willingness to solve the conflict on the Russian side, on President Putin's side. But we also share the fact, the evaluation of the fact that we've gone through similar feelings or similar impressions other times in the last months," Mogherini said in Kiev adding that "what counts is not the expression of willingness, is the real willingness and the real capacity to deliver on the Minsk agreement."

Dramatic change in policy towards communist island comes after months of secret negotiations.

BREAKING: Pakistan police call for increased security at schools and underneath school buses.