France France confiscates passports of 6 'Syria-bound' citizens French authorities have confiscated the passports of six citizens allegedly planning to travel to Syria. It marks the first such travel ban under new 23/02/2015
France Paris malls ramp up security after Al-Shabaab threat Two malls in Paris have ramped up security after threats made in a video by Somali-militant group Al-Shabaab to attack shopping centres in the West 23/02/2015
brussels bureau Who is Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis? A profile of Greece's new finance minister, who led his country's negotiations in the recent Eurogroup talks. 23/02/2015
Sport Volvo Ocean Race: Dongfeng lead the chase for leg four honours Once again the Volvo Ocean race is dishing up a tight battle within the remaining six-boat fleet. Leg four started in Sanya in China and will finish 23/02/2015
USA USA: Almost 9,000 gallons of petrol go up in smoke A petrol tanker carrying nearly 9,000 gallons of fuel has crashed and caught fire on a motorway in New Jersey, USA. The driver managed to escape from 23/02/2015
Italy Hundreds evacuated from homes as huge sinkhole appears in Naples A ten-metre wide sinkhole has appeared in a street in suburban Naples after heavy rains and a burst underground water pipe caused the ground to give 23/02/2015
Liberia Liberia re-opens land border following deadly Ebola outbreak Liberia has reopened its land border with Sierra Leone after several months of closure. The move is a sign things are returning to normal following 23/02/2015
Business Hard times ahead for Ukraine with massive job cuts and price hikes on the way Ukraine’s currency has plumbed new depths as the Franco/German brokered ceasefire in the east of the country has failed to curtail the violence. In 23/02/2015
Iraq Kurdish forces repel ISIL militants in Iraq Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have fought off an attack by ISIL militants in the Iraqi town of Guwair on Sunday. The town which lies 25km southwest of 23/02/2015
United Kingdom Former British Foreign Ministers, Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind caught in "sting" Former British Foreign Minister and Labour MP Jack Straw has been caught in secret filming apparently offering his influence to a fictitious Chinese 23/02/2015
Sport Contrasting Champions League warm ups for Barca and City After 11 straight wins in all competitions Barcelona finally came unstuck, but surprisingly at home at the Camp Nou and by Malaga. This shock result 23/02/2015
Syria Suleyman Shah: Syria reacts to Turkish 'agression' The Syrian government has denounced Turkey’s operation to remove the remains of Suleyman Shah – the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire 23/02/2015
Sport Former Olympians in Rio for Games venue inspections and master classes The International Olympic Committee has begun a week-long visit to Rio to inspect venues ahead of next year’s summer games. The delegation includes a 23/02/2015
brussels bureau EU examines Hungary's nuclear deal with Russia A nuclear power contract agreed between Hungary and Russia is being probed by EU officials. Regulators said on Monday that they are examining the 23/02/2015
Chad African Union intensifies efforts to defeat Boko Haram Elite forces from the West begin to train the new five-nation African Union coalition with fresh boost in efforts to defeat Boko Haram. 23/02/2015
Business Ireland and Denmark get a slice of Apple as company announces huge European project Apple is to invest €1.9bn to construct two new data centers in Europe. The fresh commitment will see the new installations powered entirely by 23/02/2015
Business HSBC announces profit drop as tax scandal and CEO's bonus bank account pile on pressure Under pressure HSBC says that profits fell by 15 percent in 2014 adding business woes to embarrassment following revelations that its Swiss banking 23/02/2015
Business Honda Motor CEO steps down as weak sales and recalls prompt management shakeup Honda has announced its chief executive is standing down. Takanobu Ito will remain on the board as a director and adviser. Ito, who joined Honda 23/02/2015
Egypt Alaa Abdel Fattah sentenced by Egypt court Prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has been sentenced to five years in jail by an Egyptian court for breaking protest laws, branded repressive by 23/02/2015
no comment Turkey: Men don miniskirts to denounce violence against women Men in Istanbul took to the streets dressed in miniskirts on Saturday to protest violence against women after a woman was stabbed and beaten to death 23/02/2015
USA Oscars: actresses' dresses and Neil Patrick Harris's underwear Once a year tinsel town dons its finest garb and traipses down the red carpet for the star-studded Academy Awards. Women face running the gauntlet of 23/02/2015
no comment 80 people injured in gas explosion in Honduras A gas explosion at a market in the Honduras capital of Tegucigalpa killed an infant and injured at least 80 people. Civilians could be seen trying to 23/02/2015
no comment Stars dazzle on the red carpet at the 87th Academy Awards Actors pose for cameras during the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday (February 22) in Hollywood, California 23/02/2015
no comment Ukraine: Blast strikes peaceful Kharkiv rally This video posted on a social media website on Sunday (February 22) shows the moment a deadly blast struck a rally in Kharkiv that was being held to 23/02/2015
