When Czechs go to the polls next week, the result may be an unlikely coalition of the left. Full story

Ruling coalition loses majority, talks on new government expected to be difficult. Full story

To enhance its social dimension, the EU does to improve its existing policies, rather than to roll out new initiatives. Full story

Author: Ian Buruma IN HIS remarkable apology to the Catholics of Ireland (most of that country's population), Pope Benedict XVI explained why he thought sinful priests were tempted to commit sexual acts with children. It was because of "new and serious challenges to the faith arising from the rapid Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story

Author: Jill Campbell Mackay These days, icons are generally assumed to be found on one's computer screen, there as a symbol to signify a command. When used in conversation, an icon now refers to something that is instantly recognised. The word comes from the Greek 'eikona,' meaning image, and Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story

Author: Hugh Pope and Didem Akyel WITH TURKISH Cypriot elections today, the future of the Cypriot negotiations are under question. It is clear from the candidates' platforms that a victory for incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat will make it easier and quicker to reach a deal on a true federal state. But Publication: Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) Full story

China chalked up unexpectedly strong annual growth of 11.9 percent in the first quarter, prompting renewed calls for tighter policies to prevent the economy from overheating and stoking speculation of when Beijing will loosen its grip on the yuan. The rate of expansion, the fastest since 2007 and Publication: Financial Mirror (Cyprus) Full story

A volcanic eruption in Iceland, which has thrown up a 6 km high cloud of ash and disrupted air traffic in northern Europe, has grown more intense, an expert said on Thursday. British Airways said in an announcement that "due to the weather conditions, a plume of volcanic ash has now spread Publication: Financial Mirror (Cyprus) Full story

Strong growth in China and upbeat corporate earnings lifted world stocks on Thursday to a new high for the year, putting them at levels last seen around the collapse of Lehman Brothers. World stocks as measured by MSCI were up 0.1 percent, extending recent gains to September 2008 levels Full story

European shares edged higher at midday on Thursday, with drugmakers rising after sales at Roche beat forecasts, though gains were capped by weaker mining stocks. At 1057 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares was up 0.2 percent at 1,107.14 points, having moved in and out of Publication: Financial Mirror (Cyprus) Full story