Cuba Pope visit raises reform hopes in Cuba There was no sign of the historically frosty relations between Cuba and the Vatican as the Pope arrived for a three-day visit to the communist-led 26/03/2012
France North Sea gas leak operation could take months There are fears a gas leak at a North Sea drilling platform could take months to bring under control. Some 240 workers at Total’s Elgin Franklin 26/03/2012
Senegal Senegal's president-elect to audit state finances As the EU and African Union congratulate officials in Senegal for a smooth run off presidential election, attention has turned to the country’s many 26/03/2012
Cuba Pope looks to boost Church in communist Cuba Cuba is making final preparations for the historic arrival of Pope Benedict. The pontiff’s three-day visit has boosted hopes among some for deeper 26/03/2012
Business US Fed cautious over drop in jobless total America’s Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has warned the current fall in unemployment may not last and that America needs to do more to boost 26/03/2012
brussels bureau Sanctions on Syria - can they help topple a regime? Lebanon is the Mediterranean country bordering Syria which is most concerned by the situation there. The former Lebanese president Amine Gemayel 26/03/2012
Korea Seoul summit overshadowed by North Korea rocket launch A summit of nuclear armed states summit in Seoul aimed at keeping the world’s safe from a nuclear attack by terrorists has been overshadowed by a 26/03/2012
Business Easyjet announces 20 million in cost savings Europe’s second-largest low-cost carrier Easyjet is celebrating the start of regular flights into Southend. The company has largely built the airport 26/03/2012
Israel Israel severs ties with UN rights body over settlement probe Israel has cut ties with the UN Human Rights Council over its investigation into Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The decision means 26/03/2012
Syria Homs suburb hit at "four shells a minute" Syrian government forces continued their bombardment of the flashpoint city of Homs on Monday, according to activists on the ground. They claimed 26/03/2012
United Kingdom Cameron to reveal contacts in response to scandal David Cameron, battling to contain a fundraising scandal, has promised to disclose his own contacts with donors to the ruling Conservatives. The 26/03/2012
Cinema Lock, Stock's Dexter Fletcher directs East End Western British actor Dexter Fletcher’s directorial debut is a Western with a twist; it’s set in the East End of London. Bill – played by Charlie 26/03/2012
World Bremen's bunker boom German architect Rainer Mielke has designed and built himself a luxurious, light-filled penthouse on top of a former World War II bunker, a bunker 26/03/2012
World A pas de deux with Parkinson's The English National Ballet is one of the world’s most renowned dance companies. With a new season fast approaching, dancers are busy rehearsing 26/03/2012
Turkey Turkey: Ex-army chief goes on trial for 'terrorism' Outside the gates, supporters of Turkey’s ex-armed forces chief gathered. Inside Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, his trial was starting on 26/03/2012
World Eliminating measles - personal stories Nastasia has made a spectacular recovery. Just a year ago she was in a coma after contracting measles. The 16-year-old who lives in Valence 26/03/2012
Spain Spain enters a week of dangers Spain is entering a big week, both politically and economically as the government faces some key tests that, if it fails them, could plunge the 26/03/2012
Senegal Senegal's Sall continues pursuit of stability Macky Sall shot to his present political height of Senegal’s president-elect in a space of 12 years, building on experience. He is originally a 26/03/2012
Japan Only one nuclear reactor working in Japan Japan is a step closer to being nuclear free after shutting down its second last functioning reactor. The temporary closure of the Kashiwazaki 26/03/2012
India Tibetan sets himself on fire over Hu's visit to India A Tibetan man has set himself on fire in New Delhi in protest against a visit by China’s President Hu Jintao later this week. The man was quickly 26/03/2012
Business Shell caught in money trap with Iran As the US and EU’s economic sanctions tighten on Iran what of oil companies who owe the Iranians money? Royal Dutch Shell says it is struggling to 26/03/2012
Business Car transporters strike hits Italian carmaker's profits With Fiat going ahead this week with factory closures and Italy’s auto industry predicting it will ship 60,000 fewer vehicles in March, the small car 26/03/2012
Business German business confidence grows again Munich-based thinktank Ifo says its business climate index, based on monthly results from 7000 companies, has risen again for a fifth successive 26/03/2012
USA James Cameron goes solo to go so low Filmmaker James Cameron has scaled new heights by hitting rock bottom. The director of ‘Titanic’ has completed the world’s first solo dive to the 26/03/2012
Spain Spain's PM fails to land big regional endorsement Spain’s ruling centre-right People’s Party has been dealt a blow ahead of launching a new austerity budget on Friday. Despite being tipped to win, it 26/03/2012
Senegal Senegal's Sall hails presidential win Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Senegalese capital, Dakar, to celebrate the presidential election victory of Macky Sall. It 26/03/2012
Israel Israel: Supreme Court rules against illegal outpost Israel’s Supreme Court has given Jewish settlers until August to evacuate Migron, the biggest illegal outpost in the occupied West Bank. 26/03/2012
Culture EU projects for disabled people The EU funds a number of projects for disabled people. Here are some of them. CATCH (CZ) Catch links and integrates the world of artistic 26/03/2012
no comment North Korea ends 100 days of mourning for Kim Jong-il North Korea observed the end of the 100-day mourning period following the death of leader Kim Jong-il last December. Tens of thousands of people 26/03/2012