[Translate] David CameronDavid Cameron has promised to use the “global drama” of the Olympics and “glory” of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to help get Britain “up to strength”. “This will be the year Britain sees the world and the world sees Britain,” the PM said in his new year message. However, he admitted 2012 would be difficult... 

[Translate] European leaders have warned of a difficult year ahead, as many economists predict recession in 2012. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe was experiencing its “most severe test in decades” but that Europe was growing closer in the debt crisis. France’s President Sarkozy said the crisis was not finished, while Italy’s president called for more... 

[Translate] The accused persons could face more than 18 years in prisonAn Ethiopian court has convicted two Swedish journalists of supporting terrorism. Ethiopian troops captured Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye six months ago during a clash with rebels in the East African state’s Somali region. The court ruled it was “very unlikely” that they had entered Ethiopia... 

[Translate] Silvio Berlusconi has tendered his resignation as Italian prime minister. President Giorgio Napolitano accepted his offer and is likely to appoint technocrat Mario Monti his successor. Mr Berlusconi lost his majority amid an acute debt crisis that threatens the eurozone. He promised to go once MPs had approved new austerity measures. He is Italy’s longest-serving post-WWII PM... 

[Translate] French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “liar” in remarks to US President Barack Obama overheard by journalists. “I can’t see him anymore, he’s a liar,” Mr Sarkozy said in French. “You may be sick of him, but me, I have to deal with him every day,” Mr Obama replied. The exchange at the G20 summit... 

[Translate] G20 leaders in Cannes have ended their summit with a plan to boost growth and rebalance the global economy. The continuing eurozone debt crisis has dominated the summit. In a closing press conference, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: “We will fight to defend Europe and the euro.” He said the G20 had agreed to boost the resources of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)... 

[Translate] Mr Papandreou addressed parliament on Thursday after the opposition (left) walked outGreece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou faces a crucial confidence vote in parliament on Friday with the outcome on a knife-edge. Mr Papandreou shocked EU partners and sent markets into turmoil after calling for a referendum on a hard-fought EU deal to bail out debt-ridden Greece. While the... 

[Translate] The Commonwealth must have strong values, David Cameron saysDavid Cameron has threatened to withhold UK aid from countries that do not reform legislation banning homosexuality. The UK prime minister said he raised the issue with some of the states involved at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia. Human rights reform in the Commonwealth was one issue that... 

[Translate] Sons and daughters of any future UK monarch will have equal right to the throne, after Commonwealth leaders agreed to change succession laws. The leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries where the Queen is head of state unanimously approved the changes at a summit in Perth, Australia. It means a first-born daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will take precedence over younger... 

[Translate] Former UN chief Kofi AnnanFormer UN chief Kofi Annan is among senior statesmen attending talks in northern Spain which could be a prelude to the dissolution of Eta. The armed Basque separatist group has killed more than 800 people over four decades, but has been weakened by arrests and is observing a ceasefire. Former Irish PM Bertie Ahern and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams will be...