Ukraine Ukrainian court keeps Tymoshenko ally in jail Yuri Lutsenko Ukraine’s former interior minister has had his appeal against a prison sentence rejected. Like his once close ally the jailed 03/04/2013
Egypt Protests greet IMF team in Egypt for tough financial rescue talks There was an angry welcome in Egypt for a team from the International Monetary Fund, there to resume talks on vitally needed emergency funding in the 03/04/2013
Korea N. Korea approves nuclear strike on US The North Korean army said Thursday it had final approval to launch “merciless” military strikes on the United States, involving the possible use of 03/04/2013
France Cahuzac triggers French 'democratic earthquake' The Cahuzac affair first saw the light of day at Mediapart, an online newspaper. At the beginning of December it published the transcript of a four 03/04/2013
Argentina Argentina hit by deadly flash floods A month’s worth of rain in a day has led to deadly flash floods in and around the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. More than 30 people have been 03/04/2013
Korea N Korea pressures South by shutting key industrial zone North Korea has closed access to a joint factory zone with South Korea jeopardising a crucial source of commerce and investment. The Kaesong 03/04/2013
France French govt scrambles to limit damage from Cahuzac confessions The French cabinet has gone into damage limitation mode, reeling from the confessions of the former budget minister who lied about secret offshore 03/04/2013
Insight France: tax, lies and audiotape A budget minister entrusted with rebalancing France’s books in a time of great economic difficulty is guilty of tax fraud, setting off political 03/04/2013
Samoa Samoan airline makes fat people pay more A Samoan airline that charges passengers by their weight and not by seat has defended this as the fairest method. Samoa Air began this policy in 03/04/2013
Insight Belgrade faces tough choices to realise EU membership goal Serbia’s government is left facing difficult decisions after the collapse of talks with neighbouring Kosovo. The country does not recognise 03/04/2013
economy Eurozone inflation falls for third straight month Inflation in the eurozone was down for the third month running in March. The first assessment by the EU’s statistics agency, Eurostat, was that 03/04/2013
Nepal Teen with Down syndrome becomes first ever to reach Mt. Everest 10 days, 17,000 feet and 70 miles later, 15-year-old Eli Reimer made history. The Oregon teen was the first teen person with Down syndrome to reach 03/04/2013
no comment EU flag flies at Prague Castle Czech President Milos Zeman and European Commission President Jose Barroso jointly raised an EU flag at Prague Castle, which is the seat of the Czech 03/04/2013
Afghanistan Dozens killed in Afghanistan attack More than 50 people have killed in Western Afghanistan in one of the deadliest attacks by insurgents for more than a year. Militants disguised as 03/04/2013
world news Breakdown in Kosovo talks puts time pressure on Belgrade The breakdown of talks in Brussels over northern Kosovo has highlighted a growing sense of urgency in Belgrade, with headlines warning time is 03/04/2013
le mag Tom Hanks on Broadway One of Hollywood’s biggest stars has made his debut on Broadway. Tom Hanks trod the boards of the Broadhurst theatre, not doing things by halves as 03/04/2013
economy Kaesong: North Korea's financial lifeline The Kaesong Industrial Complex, which opened at the end of 2004, was largely financed by the South with the idea of increasing economic co-operation 03/04/2013
Italy Italian police seize 1.3 billion euros from Sicilian man Over 1.3 billion euros in cash and property has been seized by Italian police from one person. It was taken from Vito Nicastri, a Sicilian 03/04/2013
Germany WWII bomb found in Berlin An unexploded world war II bomb was found near Berlin’s main railway station, causing long delays on main railway lines and the closure of nearby 03/04/2013
United Kingdom Douglas-Hamilton flies over Everest 80-years after first flight On the 80th anniversary of the first manned flight over Everest by British pilot Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, his grandson Charles repeated the 03/04/2013
economy Egypt in tough talks over IMF loan A team from the International Monetary Fund will spend at least a week and maybe more in Egypt for difficult talks on a 3.7 billion euro loan 03/04/2013
Spain Spain's Princess Cristina to face court in corruption trial The King of Spain’s daughter has been summoned to appear in court over her alleged involvement in corruption for which her husband is standing 03/04/2013
economy Chinese growth 'encouraging' Growth in China’s services sectors rose in March thanks to a construction boom and firmer demand from improving economic conditions; that includes 03/04/2013
corporate Takeover denial hits Vodafone shares Vodafone’s shares fell on Wednesday after Verizon Communications ruled out a full takeover of the British based firm. The US telecommunications 03/04/2013
France Hollande: ex-minister Cahuzac's trickery 'unpardonable' The French cabinet met in Paris, still reeling from confessions of the former budget minister that he had lied about secret offshore bank accounts he 03/04/2013
hi-tech Written on the wind - the future of texting? Typing text messages on a mobile phone via the tiny soft keyboard is very cumbersome. How about simply writing your words in the air? This idea 03/04/2013
no comment Badajoz: flood evacuation Six hundred residents of Barba in Badajoz, were evacuated after the level of River Guadiana rose sharply. Over a dozen people were rescued 03/04/2013
le mag 'Little French Songs' Bruni's latest tilt at singing success Since her husband lost his job running France Carla Bruni has been the high-profile one in her power couple, and while Nicolas Sarkozy licks his 03/04/2013
Cyprus Cyprus: New Finance Minister Harris Georgiades has been appointed as the new finance minister of Cyprus. He has replaced Michael Sarris who resigned on April 2 as a formal 03/04/2013
