France France to ban electronic cigarettes in public Their use has boomed in the USA, where smokers of electronic cigarettes doubled in 2011, but now the French are going to ban them in all public 31/05/2013
Germany Blockupy Frankfurt return to the ECB Thousands of Blockupy supporters circled the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany. The of anti-austerity demonstrators surrounded other 31/05/2013
Monaco complete deal for Falcao Radamel Falcao has left Atletico Madrid to become the latest superstar to join the ranks of AS Monaco as the principality club prepares to rejoin the 31/05/2013
Ailing Wiggins ruled out of Tour de France defence Bradley Wiggins will not defend his Tour de France title because of injury and illness. The Briton was also forced to withdraw from the Giro 31/05/2013
A new economic horizon for Africa Bankers, economists, ministers and entrepreneurs outnumbered tourists in Marrakech, Morocco for the annual meeting of the African Development Bank 31/05/2013
Europe's unusual spring Skiing in June in Europe’s Pyrenees Mountains… you usually can’t do that. But a resort there has just re-opened, after being closed since 1 April, as 31/05/2013
Eurogroup's Dijsselbloem says more Greek debt relief possible Greece is getting better, but still has a long way to go. That was the conclusion of Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the eurozone finance ministers’ 31/05/2013
Giant pork deal moves closer China’s Shuanghui International has moved a step closer to buying US firm Smithfield Foods – the world’s biggest pork producer. On Friday it 31/05/2013
A job at all costs Where there are no jobs for them at home in Spain and Portugal, young people have been packing their suitcases and venturing out to other countries 31/05/2013
Syria Qusair battle rages, as US-Russia relations sour over Syria The international fallout continues over Syria after President Bashar al-Assad claimed a Russian contract to supply anti-aircraft missiles was being 31/05/2013
interview Cyprus says no to 'blackmail' With Cyprus deep in a bank-triggered recession, we asked the head of state for his views. Even with a bailout, Cyprus’s GDP is predicted to shrink by 31/05/2013
Turkey Turkey protests spread from Istanbul to Ankara Police in the Turkish capital Ankara used tear gas to disperse protesters trying to reach the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development 31/05/2013
EU's "lost generation" to be heard at polls The latest market research suggests Europe’s politicians should beware the youth vote in next year’s EU parliamentary poll. Expect a close contest 31/05/2013
Iran Iran gets first presidential TV debate Iranian voters have been treated to their first-ever televised electoral debate between the presidential hopefuls. The eight leaders in the running 31/05/2013
Neymar prepares to carry Brazil's football hopes Finally, Neymar will play in Europe. Arguably Brazil’s best player, he has been the protagonist of this year’s biggest football transfer saga and the 31/05/2013
Switching away from austerity Europe is changing its emphasis on economic growth. The European Commission is for the first time moving to slow the pace of austerity in the 31/05/2013
Ukraine Teen prostitution in Ukraine In Ukraine June 1 marks Children’s Day. However, an alarming number of teenage girls, many escaping problems at home, have turned to prostitution 31/05/2013
Unemployment at new record 'threatens eurozone unity' Unemployment has hit a new high in the eurozone, increasing the pressure on EU leaders and the European Central Bank to do more to revive the 31/05/2013
state of the union Europe Weekly: European economy lags behind US Europe’s economy is still lagging behind the United States, according to the OECD. Brussels softens its stance on austerity but still wants more 31/05/2013
Italy World's oldest Torah found in Italy The world’s oldest known complete Torah scroll may have been found in Bologna University Library. The sheepskin document dates from around 1155, and 31/05/2013
Egypt Troubled waters in Egypt and Ethiopia as Nile row erupts There is concern in Egypt over a potential reduction in water supply, after Ethiopia began diverting a stretch of the Nile river earlier this week to 31/05/2013
Israel Christian church vandalised in Jerusalem A Christian church in Jerusalem has been graffiti-painted in an attack being blamed on militant Jewish settlers. Cars parked nearby were also daubed 31/05/2013
Istanbul: protesters clash with police to defend Gezi Park Protesters mounting an occupation of Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul were confronted by police for the second day running on May 31. Police attempted to 31/05/2013
Penguins in African costume for development summit Penguins of African origin welcomed the arrival of around 50 African leaders for a development summit in Japan with a parade in Yokohama on Friday. 31/05/2013
focus Azerbaijan: A Caucasian mosaic The Caucasus region is a crossroads of more than 50 ethnic groups and a variety of religious beliefs. Many of these populations have inhabited the 31/05/2013
learning world Do school uniforms make a difference? Dressing for success – South Africa’s school recipe In South Africa, where apartheid still casts a long shadow, many schools have a compulsory 31/05/2013
USA Chinese firm poised to purchase US pork giant Smithfield Smithfield Foods, the world’s number one pork producer, is set to to be bought out by China’s Shuanghui International in a 3.6 billion euro deal 31/05/2013
Russia Russia bans smoking in a variety of public places from June 1 Just one day after World No Tobacco Day, a ban in Russia will mean no smoking in certain public areas. From June 1, no one will be allowed to 31/05/2013
United Kingdom Queen pays tribute to murdered fusilier Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II has made a scheduled visit to Woolwich barracks in London, where slain British soldier Lee Rigby was stationed. Just 31/05/2013