United Kingdom Britain's regulator turns off Iran's Press TV Britain’s independent media regulator has pulled the plug on Iran’s state-funded Press TV, claiming its editorial policies are controlled by Tehran 20/01/2012
Italy Weather worries hit Italian cruise ship recovery Concerns of approaching bad weather are hampering efforts to salvage the stricken Italian liner Costa Concordia. A week after running aground off 20/01/2012
Business Is investor confidence coming back? It was a week full of interesting insights. After the downgrade of several EU countries by rating agency Standard & Poor’s, all eyes were on the 20/01/2012
Business Italy deregulates for competition Italy’s cabinet has approved new laws deregulating some service sector jobs and professions — everything from taxi drivers to pharmacists 20/01/2012
brussels bureau Croatia votes on whether to join EU Croatia will decide if it wants to be in or out of the EU on Sunday in a referendum to join the club. Polls point to a ‘Yes’, with around 55 to 60 20/01/2012
Yemen Revised immunity law angers Yemeni opposition Human rights groups and the opposition in Yemen have condemned a draft law granting immunity to outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The bill 20/01/2012
USA Megaupload hackers lash back One side calls it stealing – users call it sharing. Content-sharing website Megaupload.com is not fighting its battles alone. Within minutes of its 20/01/2012
USA Blues legend Etta James dies at 73 The American singer, Etta James, has died from complications of leukaemia at the age of 73. A pioneer of 1950s rhythm-and-blues and rock music 20/01/2012
Afghanistan Minister condemns 'murder' of French troops French foreign affairs minister, Alain Juppe has condemned what he called the “murder” of French soldiers by an Afghan Army trainee. The rogue 20/01/2012
Italy Strikes bring Sicily to a halt Traffic on the Italian island of Sicily has been brought to a virtual standstill after a five day strike by truckers, farmers and fishermen. The 20/01/2012
Poland Polish MP lights up cannabis incense A libertarian Polish MP who threatened to smoke a joint in parliament has tested the country’s new anti-cannabis laws which allow police to arrest 20/01/2012
Ireland Deadly infection shuts down Belfast maternity ward The death of a third baby in as many weeks has sparked a health alert at Northern Ireland’s Royal Maternity Hospital. Their deaths have been linked 20/01/2012
Sport Tributes paid after death of freestyle skier Burke Colleagues of the freestyle skier Sarah Burke have been speaking of their shock and disbelief after her death. The 29-year-old Canadian had been 20/01/2012
Business Schlecker confirms insolvency German retailer Schlecker has said it is insolvent and has not been able to secure funds to keep it afloat during restructuring. The company is 20/01/2012
Germany Germany marks Nazi Wannsee Conference anniversary In Germany, a memorial has taken place to mark the 70th anniversary of the Wannsee Conference, the official start of the mass extermination of 20/01/2012
Italy Concordia rescue halted as victims' families arrive Families of the missing continue to arrive at Giglio Harbour, which overlooks the final resting place of the doomed Costa Concordia cruise 20/01/2012
Syria Arab League considers future of Syria mission Arab League leaders will decide on Sunday if they are to extend their monitoring mission in Syria. The mission’s chief has arrived in Cairo to 20/01/2012
World Towards a low-carbon Europe In this edition of U-talk Fabián, in Spain, asks: “In a world whose economic model is based on oil consumption, do you as a European ecologist think 20/01/2012
USA Sundance showcases crisis-hit American dream The fractured American dream, the housing crisis and the sluggish economy feature prominently in the opening films at this year’s Sundance Film 20/01/2012
Israel Mideast talks undermined by arrest of Hamas leader The arrest by Israel of a senior Hamas figure has placed possible new strains on relations between the two main Palestinian groups. Aziz Dweik was 20/01/2012
Cinema Jack Russell poised for movie stardom with more awards First there was the Cannes Film Festival where his performance in, “The Artist” won him praise and a prestige award. His starring role is in the 20/01/2012
World Contrasts on the catwalks of Paris and Berlin “Psychedelic elegance,” is how fashion designer, Dries Van Noten described his collection on show during Paris Fashion Week. Jean Paul Gaultier 20/01/2012
world news Winner of the Arab Spring: Islamism The man who predicted the revolution in Egypt two years before it happened says it was Islamists that profited from the Arab Spring, stressing that 20/01/2012
Afghanistan France suspends Afghan training as four soldiers are killed France is suspending military operations in Afghanistan, and may accelerate its planned troop withdrawal after the killing of four French 20/01/2012
Business Samsung loses one of many patent cases with Apple Samsung has suffered a setback in its tablet and smartphone battle with Apple. A German court has ruled against the South Korean company in a 20/01/2012
Business GM back at the top General Motors regained its title as the world’s top-selling carmaker from Japanese rival Toyota last year. GM, which was on the brink of 20/01/2012
Business China buys into Thames Water China’s sovereign wealth fund has bought a minority stake in London water supplier Thames Water. China Investment Corporation said it had bought 20/01/2012