Democrats in the US Senate vote against a plan that would speed-up approval of the disputed Keystone XL pipeline project.

Talks between Australia's Qantas and Malaysia Airlines about establishing a joint venture premium airline in Asia break down.

Politicians in Italy say the UK did not consult its government before approving the failed bid to rescue a Briton and Italian held hostage in Nigeria.

Germany's biggest-circulation tabloid, Bild, says it is ending the tradition of using pictures of naked women on its front page after 28 years.

Japan ends its whaling season after catching less than a third of its annual target, blaming activists' sabotage and the weather.

The US economy created 227,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate stayed at 8.3%, official figures show.

Two men, including the leader of the Popular Resistance Committees, are killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.

Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu warns he will not countenance a long delay in attacking Iran's nuclear sites.