musica Domingo nurtures opera's rising stars Milan, La Scala and Plácido Domingo – all together for Operalia, the prestigious world opera competition. It was founded by the legendary Spanish 05/05/2010
futuris A tale of underground alchemy In the mining area around Katowice in Southern Poland thousands of tons of coal are still dug out of the ground every year. But one mine hides a 05/05/2010
Greece Deaths in Athens shock Greeks The deaths of three people in riots that broke out after a demonstration against the government’s austerity plan in Athens have shocked 05/05/2010
Greece Greeks protest austerity before violence flares Before the violence broke out in Athens, tens of thousands of people gathered outside the parliament to express their anger at the government’s 05/05/2010
USA Some success in stopping Gulf of Mexico oil spill BP says it has capped the smallest of three leaks coming from a ruptured oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. Around 5,000 barrels of crude have been 05/05/2010
world news Icelandic volcano causes more travel disruptions Once again, air passengers are feeling the fury of the Icelandic volcano. This time it’s people in Scotland and Ireland who have been affected 05/05/2010
United Kingdom Final campaigning in UK general election As the countdown to Thursday’s UK general election begins, the main candidates have been squeezing in as much last minute campaigning as possible 05/05/2010
United Kingdom A mixed response from voters in London Following the polls can be a very confusing way of gauging support for the main parties in Britain’s general election. They all give different 05/05/2010
brussels bureau New wave of EU fishery policy reform begins Reforming the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy is under way. Informal talks discussion among the Fisheries Ministers began in Vigo, Spain 05/05/2010
United Kingdom UK: Expenses scandal impact The 2010 UK General Election is the most keenly fought in almost two decades. All the polls point to a hung parliament. Despite the closeness of the 05/05/2010
World If you can't fight the fat, freeze it! Doctors in some health centres in the US are testing a way of getting rid of unwanted fat, without resorting to plastic surgery or liposuction 05/05/2010
Greece Three die in Athens protests Three people have died in a fire in central Athens after protesters marching against austerity measures threw petrol bombs into a local bank branch 05/05/2010
Greece Greek workers stage third general strike this year As violence raged in Greece’s cities, anger at the government’s tough austerity measures also saw a mass walkout by workers. Public transport ground 05/05/2010
World Fisherman's Friends land a recording deal A group of Cornish fishermen have reeled in a record contract, with a film about their catch in the pipeline, too. 05/05/2010
Greece Merkel warns Greek aid plan vital for Europe's future Trying to get the German parliament to back an international rescue plan for debt-stricken Greece, Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Europe’s 05/05/2010
Cinema Emmerich film re-opens Shakespeare debate He is best known for spectacular disaster movies like Independence Day. But German director Roland Emmerich has chosen a very different subject for 05/05/2010
no comment Clashes in Greece during general strike Thousands of outraged Greeks took to the streets to protest harsh new spending cuts aimed at saving their country from bankruptcy, as workers walked 05/05/2010
no comment Royal panic in Netherlands Around 60 people were injured and the Dutch queen was briefly rushed to safety when a screaming man caused panic among thousands of visitors at the 05/05/2010
Greece General strike paralyses Greece Both private and public sector trade unions are staging a general strike in Greece, the latter for 48 hours, to protest against the government’s 05/05/2010
Greece Greek demonstrators clash with police With so many people in the streets and so much anger at the Greek government’s austerity measures something had to give. In Athens groups broke 05/05/2010
USA Oil spill could reach Miami Small patches of crude from the massive Gulf of Mexico spill have washed up on the Louisiana coast, but the bulk of the slick still remains at 05/05/2010
Greece Merkel tells parliament Germany no soft touch The future of Europe hangs on the success of the aid package to Greece. That is what German Chancellor Angela Merkel told her colleagues in 05/05/2010
Ireland Volcanic ash grounds flights in Ireland All flights in and out of Dublin airport have been halted once again because of the volcanic ash cloud drifting from Iceland. It follows similar 05/05/2010
no comment Major anti-terror exercise in Paris French authorities carried out a major anti-terror exercise, simulating a suicide bombing under the Eiffel Tower and a blast at the Stade de France. 05/05/2010
USA Picasso fetches record price A Pablo Picasso painting has set a new world record for a piece of art sold at auction. ‘Nude, Green leaves and Bust’, said to be a depiction of the 05/05/2010
USA Scientist warns oil spill may reach Miami Fresh fears have been raised over the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Robert Weisberg, a physical oceanographer at the University of South 05/05/2010
Greece Greek workers unite against harsh cuts All flights to and from Greece stopped at midnight as a general strike took hold against the government’s harsh austerity measures. The walkout is 05/05/2010
Iran Iran does not fear UN sanctions Iran’s president has dismissed threats of a new round of UN sanctions over his country’s nuclear programme. Speaking at a press conference on the 05/05/2010
United Kingdom Party leaders tour UK in final push for votes Britain’s main party leaders are touring the country in a final effort to win votes. It is the last day of campaigning in the general election and 05/05/2010