world news Opel CEO steps aside The CEO of General Motors’ European business has stepped down. Karl Friedrich Stracke, who was head of the loss making Opel, is moving aside despite 12/07/2012
Ukraine No discount gas for Ukraine after Russia talks fail Russia and Ukraine’s leaders have failed to strike a deal that would see Kiev paying a lower price for gas from its former soviet overlord. The 12/07/2012
Sport Rolland wins as Wiggins extends lead France’s Pierre Rolland produced a superb display to clinch the 11th stage of the Tour de France, a 148-km trek from Albertville to la Toussuire on 12/07/2012
brussels bureau Romania's PM in Brussels to defend bid to oust president Romania’s Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, has held talks with EU leaders in Brussels to explain his bid to oust President Triane Basescu. Senior 12/07/2012
France Peugeot Citroen workers fear for their futures PSA Peugeot Citroen’s decision to shut its Aulnay plant has left workers fearing for their future. Staff said the closure will have an huge impact 12/07/2012
Syria Russia blocks UN draft resolution on Syria In keeping with its support for President Bashar al-Assad, Russia has refused to back a tougher UN draft resolution on Syria. The proposal, which 12/07/2012
Business Aegis-Dentsu deal a winner for both British advertising agency Aegis saw its share price rocketed as it was bought by the Japanese leader, Dentsu. The two groups complement each 12/07/2012
Iceland Wikileaks claims Iceland court victory over donations Wikileaks is claiming a court victory in Iceland against a partner of Visa and Mastercard over blocked donations. The whistle-blower says Valitor 12/07/2012
Belgium Belgium far-right official quits over Anonymous paedophile claims A local councillor near Brussels has resigned from the Belgian far-right Vlaams Belang party after his name appeared on a list of alleged 12/07/2012
Sport Extra troops called up for Olympics With only two weeks to go before the London Games get underway, the military has been asked to provide up to 3500 extra troops to guard the event 12/07/2012
brussels bureau Eco-crime in EU booming, report says Mafia groups are making billions from environmental crime, new research has found. Dumping toxic waste, illegal logging and trafficking of endangered 12/07/2012
Greece Greece: pensioner protests and record unemployment Outside the Health Ministry in Athens, people gathered to protest against pension cuts that are part of tough austerity measures. In the midst of 12/07/2012
Spain Spain: Austerity pain but no gain? Will it work? That is the question Spanish newspapers are asking about the prime minister’s tough new austerity plan, imposed under 12/07/2012
United Kingdom The Stones still licking the competition Mick Jagger has proved wrong. The Stones have been Rolling for 50 years. He said early on they’d probably last for two. This prediction is displayed 12/07/2012
Republic of the Congo UN moves tanks into Goma to fend off rebel threat The UN on Thursday sent tanks into the eastern Congolese town of Goma to fend off a possible attack by M23 rebels. AFP reported a dozen tanks had 12/07/2012
Nigeria Nigeria: More than 100 die after fuel tanker explodes A fuel tanker fire in Nigeria has killed more than 100 people. The vehicle overturned in Ahoada near the oil hub of Port Harcourt, located in 12/07/2012
Business Greek jobless hits record with worse predicted Challenging Spain for the worst jobless total in Europe Greek unemployment has hit a record 22.5 percent of the workforce. That was the figure for 12/07/2012
Business Carmakers' dilemma: too many plants, too few buyers Peugeot’s 8,000 job cuts and closure of a plant near Paris comes as cash strapped Europeans buy fewer new cars and the region’s manufacturers ponder 12/07/2012
France Search for missing climbers after deadly Alpine avalanche The most deadly avalanche in the Alps since 2008 has killed nine climbers and injured several others. They were swept away early on Thursday 12/07/2012
Cinema Chariots of Fire marks start of London Olympics It stirred patriotic emotions when it was first made and now in Olympic year ‘Chariots of Fire’ has been remastered. When it was first released in 12/07/2012
World Chinese interact with 3D art Visitors have flocked to the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou to see a three-dimensional art exhibition, interacting with the paintings depicting 12/07/2012
China Not out yet but China accepts pre-orders for iPhone 5 The iPhone 5 has already gone on sale in China - the only problem is Apple hasn’t actually released the phone yet! That is no setback in China 12/07/2012
Europe Animal rights - or wrongs? Alex Taylor: “What rights do animals have exactly? Who defends those rights and what happens to people who break the law? Are we all guilty of 12/07/2012
no comment China road fence's domino collapse China’s state broadcaster has released surveillance video showing a road-dividing fence in the city of Jinhua falling like a giant row of dominoes 12/07/2012
World Selecting the right sound from a lot of noise Ever wonder how we are able to focus on what one person is saying in a crowded room full of animated conversations? Researchers at the University 12/07/2012
Russia Clean-up and aid in Russia flood region Volunteers are coming from across Russia to help with the clean-up in Krasnodar, the region hardest hit by last weekend’s floods. In the state’s 12/07/2012
United Kingdom Growing old disgracefully: Rolling Stones mark 50 years Half a century to the day since their first gig, the Stones are still rolling. There is a new exhibition, a book, and the band say they are 12/07/2012
Business Italian fashion house Valentino sold to Qatari royal family Qatar’s royal family has bought the iconic Italian fashion house Valentino. The sellers are the London-based private equity fund Permira and 12/07/2012
Business Carrefour relatively upbeat despite weak sales Carrefour has said that while trading remained weak in Europe’s austerity-blighted countries, it was not getting worse. That cheered investors fed 12/07/2012