At least 11 people were killed when a fire broke out on the Italian Ferry Norman Atlantic off the northwestern coast of Greece on Dec. 28.

The ferry, believed to be carrying 478 people, was sailing from Patras, Greece, to Ancona, Italy, when fire broke out on the car deck. Rescue efforts took more than 36 hours, as rescue boats struggled in high seas, wind and smoke to get passengers to safety. Helicopters were eventually brought in to assist the rescue effort.

At press time,...

US president Barack Obama on Dec. 17 revealed plans for changes in US policy toward Cuba, including plans to ease travel restrictions to Cuba for US citizens, ease financial restrictions, increase telecommunication links and lift the US trade embargo against Cuba.

Both countries made early concessions, with Cuba releasing American citizen Alan Gross, who has been in prison in Cuba for five years, and with the US releasing three Cuban prisoners who had been convicted of espionage. ...

After three separate attacks in December, France deployed 300 soldiers in areas around the country as a security measure during the end of the year.

In the first attack, on Dec. 20, a man wielding a knife and proclaiming “Allahu Akbar” (“God is great” in Arabic) injured police in Tours before being shot dead.

On Dec. 21, a man yelling “Allahu Akbar” drove into a group of pedestrians in Dijon, injuring 13. The man was arrested without further incident.

The next day, a man...