France French unions happy with protest turnout It is a mobilisation the French unions had been hoping for. Police figures show that more than 1.1 million took part in nationwide protests against 07/09/2010
brussels bureau EU "state of union" speech aims to stir morale In Strasbourg, the European Parliament has re-opened after the summer recess. The citizens of the French city were demonstrating against pension 07/09/2010
brussels bureau Roma rights and funding firmly on EU agenda President Jose Manuel Barroso of the European Commission did not mention France by name in his state of the union speech in the European Parliament 07/09/2010
brussels bureau MEPs' reactions to Barroso speech After the state of the union speech by the head of the European Commission, it was plain the content had gone down more or less well in the European 07/09/2010
France A pensions timebomb in Europe To avoid setting off what has been described as a pensions timebomb, Europeans face having to work longer and harder before they can retire. The 07/09/2010
South Korea Freedom for South Korean fishing crew Free after a month in captivity. North Korea has released the seven-man crew of a South Korean fishing boat, including three Chinese nationals 07/09/2010
France Hostile reception for French pension plans A “rendez-vous with the future” is how France’s Labour Minister described the government’s proposals to progressively raise the retirement age. As 07/09/2010
USA Nato condemns church's 9/11 plan Nato’s heavyweights, whose sights are usually fixed on the Taliban, have turned on an American church that plans to use the anniversary of 9/11 to 07/09/2010
Business Assets frozen as Kabulbank feels the heat Afghanistan has frozen the assets of leading shareholders and borrowers of Kabulbank, the country’s crisis-hit top private bank. Among those 07/09/2010
Business Ecofin stuck on bank tax solutions European finance ministers have given their go-ahead for a new body to supervise the finance industry which could be up and running next 07/09/2010
Business Diamond takes the reins at Barclays Prominent Barclay’s investment banker Robert Diamond will be the bank’s next CEO, according to an official statement. Massachussetts born Diamond has 07/09/2010
Business Japan counts the cost of poor mental state The Japanese government claims suicides and depression cost the country’s economy 25 billion euros last year. The losses stem largely from lost 07/09/2010
Business HSBC's Green leaves for government post The chairman of Europe’s biggest bank is stepping down to become Britain’s next trade minister. After 18 years at HSBC, Stephen Green will take up a 07/09/2010
Italy Berlusconi guns for rival Fini The prospect of early elections in Italy is growing after Silvio Berlusconi vowed to appeal to President Giorgio Napolitano to remove his bitter 07/09/2010
Germany 3D on display at IFA in Berlin 2010 marks the 50th edition of the IFA, the largest European trade show for consumer electronics and domestic appliances. Around 1,500 exhibitors 07/09/2010
World 3D - Bringing it home American computer experts in California’s Silicon Valley think that within the next 5-10 years all the displays we use in daily life will become 3D – 07/09/2010
World Amazons/POVO A new exhibition in Speyer, Germany, looks at Amazons and asks are they legend or did they really exist? Alexander Koch, the director of the 07/09/2010
Cinema Vallanzasca/Passione Vallanzasca, from Italian director Michele Placido, is showing out of competition at the Venice Film Festival. It is a biopic about one of Italy’s 07/09/2010
France Mass protests over French retirement reform It was a show of force against Nicolas Sarkozy’s retirement reforms. Hundreds of thousands have turned out on the streets to protest against plans 07/09/2010
Sci-tech Morocco cleans up one of its oldest industries Tanning is an ancient art in Morocco, but it pollutes the environment heavily. Chouara is part of this tradition. It is one of the three tanneries in 07/09/2010
United Kingdom Tube strike causes chaos in London Getting around London has been a struggle for millions of commuters as striking Underground workers virtually crippled the tube network. Unions 07/09/2010
world news Gillard to form minority Australian govt She’s got the numbers to remain Australia’s first-ever woman prime minister. Julia Gillard is to form a minority government with a one seat majority 07/09/2010
Guatemala Guatemala and Mexico fear more floods Rescue workers in Guatemala are hoping to resume their search for victims of a massive landslide after rain and darkness forced them to 07/09/2010
France 'Swim together or sink separately' - Barroso on EU Jose Manuel Barroso has used his first US-style ‘state of the union’ address to call for solidarity in tackling Europe’s economic problems The 07/09/2010
Spain Spain adds Asturias Prize to trophy cabinet “After meeting in Oviedo the jury for the Asturias Sports Award are unanimous in the decision to hand the Prince of Asturias Prize for Sport to the 07/09/2010
France France downs tools over raising retirement age French trade unions are flexing their muscles with widespread strikes to protest against government plans to make people work longer before they can 07/09/2010
world news Two independents tip Australia Labor's way Australia’s Labor prime minister Julia Gillard will remain in office after finally winning the backing of two independent MPs to give her a 07/09/2010
no comment Damage assessment continues in quake stricken New Zealand The powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that smashed buildings, cracked roads and twisted rail lines on New Zealand’s South Island also ripped a new 07/09/2010
France Barroso gives EU "state of union" address Jose Manuel Barroso has called on EU countries to show solidarity in tackling Europe’s economic problems over the next year. “We either swim 07/09/2010