Thomas Cook and MyTravel to merge German-owned travel firm Thomas Cook is to buy British package holiday rival MyTravel. The new company will be headquartered in London and listed on 12/02/2007
Vodafone buying India's Hutchison Essar Vodafone has beaten rival suitors to buy Indian mobile firm Hutchison Essar. The British phone giant bid 8.4 billion euros for a controlling 67% 12/02/2007
Gibraltar solution clears way for Iran sanctions Removing a mention of Gibraltar from a formal treaty has finally allowed European sanctions against North Korea and Iran to be applied – in line 12/02/2007
Israel suspends construction at holy site, digs to continue Israel is suspending the construction of a footbridge at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem pending public discussions. Archaeological 12/02/2007
Migrants back on land after 10 days at sea Hundreds of African and Asian migrants have finally come to shore in Mauritania after being stranded at sea for 10 days. Passengers, many of whom 12/02/2007
Police unhappy at killers release Reaction following the Stuttgart court’s decision to free Mohnhaupt has been mixed. The Bavarian interior minister Gunter Beckstein criticised the 12/02/2007
Erika oil spill trial begins The French oil giant Total is among 15 groups and individuals that have gone on trial today over the Erika disaster. Bringing the charges are no less 12/02/2007
Saddam's former vice-president handed death penalty Iraq’s High Tribunal has sentenced Saddam Hussein’s former vice-president Taha Yassin Ramadan to be hanged. He stood trial alongside the former 12/02/2007
Bomb attacks kill at least 76 in Baghdad A series of bomb attacks at markets in Baghdad have killed at least 76 people. The deadliest was on the Shorja wholesale market where at least 71 12/02/2007
Baader-Meinhof killer to be freed after 24 years in jail Former Red Army Faction or Baader-Meinhof Gang member Brigitte Mohnhaupt is to be released from prison after 24 years for her role in a spate of 12/02/2007
Portugal votes to make abortion legal Those that voted for a change in Portugal’s strict abortion laws celebrate victory in Sunday’s referendum. However the low turnout means the vote is 12/02/2007
Abu Omar released from detention in Egypt The authorities in Egypt have released a Muslim cleric kidnapped in a suspected CIA operation in Italy. Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, or Abu Omar, was 12/02/2007
Portugal set to legalise abortion despite low voter turnout The decriminalisation of abortion in Portugal should go ahead but faces one last obstacle after a low turnout in Sunday’s referendum. With less than 12/02/2007
Kosovo talks start in Brussels The UN’s special envoy to Kosovo has been meeting for talks in Brussels on the province’s future. Martti Ahtisaari joined the EU’s foreign policy 12/02/2007