International Headlines
Apr 15: Google in Trouble
The European Union has issued a "statement of objections" against Google, over the firm's promotion of its own shopping links in searches, and is investigating the way Google bundles apps and services for its Android operating system, as well as monitoring other activities which have caused complaints. Google, which accounts for more than 90% of EU-based web searches, says it "strongly disagrees" with the allegations.
Apr 14: Still Alive
More than 50 of the 200 girls abducted by militant Islamists in Nigeria last year were seen alive three weeks ago in the north-eastern Gwoza town. Boko Haram sparked global outrage when it seized more than 219 girls from Chibok town. The girls have never been traced, and little has been heard of them since they were taken from their boarding school. There is no news of the remainder of the girls.
Apr 13: Mass Protests
Thousands of people have marched in Brazil to protest against the government of a massive corruption scandal. The demonstrators, in at least 11 states, called for President Dilma Rousseff's removal, whose party has been accused of involvement in large-scale money laundering and bribery at a state-run oil company Petroleo. Ms Rousseff says she knew nothing about the bribery and price-fixing racket.
Apr 11: Castro/Obama Meeting
US President Obama and Cuba leader Raul Castro will meet for the first time since the thaw in the two countries' relations last year. The world's photographers are gathering to get a shot of their handshake when they meet at the Summit of the Americas in Panama, with delegations from 35 nations from North, Central and South America. It will be the first time Cuba has attended the Summit.
Apr 10: Statue Removed
The statue of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes has been removed from South Africa's University of Cape Town after becoming the focus of protests. Protesters cheered as the statue was removed; they have also targeted other monuments to colonial-era leaders. This is seen as a victory for black South Africans who are unsatisfied with education and job opportunities more than 20 years after the end of apartheid.
Apr 9: Refused Entry
Four pygmy marmosets - tiny Amazonian monkeys - sent to a Saudi Arabia zoo from Sweden have been turned away because of a diplomatic row beween Saudi Arabia and Sweden. Last month Saudi accused Sweden's foreign minister of "blatant interference" in its internal affairs when she called for "freedom of association, assembly, religion and expression".
Apr 7: 300 Kurds Kidnapped
300 Kurdish men have been kidnapped by an Islamist rebel group in northwest Syria. Officials from the Kurdish Democratic Union Party have blamed Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) but it has not been confirmed which group is responsible for the kidnapping. The kidnappers are demanding the release of rebels held by the Kurds.
Apr 6: Everest Clean Up
An Indian Army mountaineering team is to clean the slopes of Everest and bring down waste that has been left behind by generations of mountain climbers. It also aims to scale Mount Everest to mark the golden jubilee of the first Indian conquest of the world's highest peak.
Apr 4: Tension in Korea
South Korea has accused North Korea of test-firing four short-range missiles into the sea off its west coast. They were fired from Dongchang-ri in the north of the country and have a range of about 140km (87 miles). US-South Korean military drills, one of which is happening now, are always a trigger for a surge in tensions between the two Koreas and are the probable reason for these test-fires.
Apr 3: Nuclear Agreement
An outline agreement on Iran's future nuclear programme has been reached following talks with six major powers in Switzerland. Iran is to reduce its uranium enrichment capacity in exchange for phased sanctions relief. The world powers and Iran now aim to draft a comprehensive nuclear accord by June 30. Iran denies Western claims that it is trying to build a nuclear weapon.
Apr 2: Imprisoned for a Beard
A 38 year old man has been given a six-year prison sentence in China for growing a beard, accused of "provoking trouble". The man is an Uighar from the far north western province of Xinjiang, a restive region and the homeland of a mostly Muslim minority. His wife was also reportedly handed a two-year sentence for wearing a veil that covered her face.
Apr 1: China’s New Wall
The US has questioned the intentions of China’s “great wall of sand” in the South China Sea. In recent months, China has been creating artificial landmass by pumping sand and concrete over coral reefs, a move it says is “mainly for the purpose of improving working and living conditions…” However, the US fears that the artificial facilities could be for military use, as China tries to reclaim land in these contested waters.
Mar 31: Refugees Killed
An air strike in northwest Yemen has killed at least 40 people at a refugee camp. The Yemeni foreign minister said "artillery strikes" by Houthi rebels were to blame, although the state media said Saudi planes were responsible. A Saudi Arabian-led coalition has been targeting Shia Houthi rebels across the country in support of Yemen's embattled president, Abdabbuh Mansour Hadi.
Mar 30: Dhaka Blogger Murdered
Another blogger, Washiqur Rahman, has been murdered in Dhaka, Bangladesh only a month after a prominent atheist writer, Avijit Roy, was killed in a similar attack. Rahman, who was killed within 500 metres of his home, was said to be “…a progressive free-thinker and was against religious fundamentalism.” Two students at an Islamic seminary were arrested immediately after that attack while trying to flee the scene.
Mar 29: New Vaccination Programme
The National Health Service has announced that all babies within the United Kingdom (UK) will soon have access to a vaccine against meningitis B. The drug will be added to the national childhood immunisation scheme, making the UK the first country in the world to have a nationwide meningitis vaccination programme. The disease can be fatal and usually affects children under the age of one.