Israel launches Palestinians-only buses

Two Palestinians-only bus lines were launched by Israel at the beginning of the week (photo AFP)

Two Palestinians-only bus lines have been launched by Israel in the occupied West Bank, a move described as racist by an Israeli rights group.

The Transport Ministry said it was an improvement in service.

Presidential elections on April 14 in Venezuela

Thousands gathered in Caracas on Wednesday, as Hugo Chavez’s coffin made his way to the military academy (photo Reuters)

Following Venezuelan leader’s death on March 5 after a long battle with cancer, the country’s electoral commission has announced that the presidential election to name his successor will take place on April 14.

The campaigning period will go from April 2 to April 11, the electoral commission also said.

Saudi men get text alert when ‘dependants’ leave

Saudi Arabia has long been criticised regarding its women rights. In the Muslim country women cannot travel without the consent of their male ‘guardians’ and are now monitored by an electronic system at airports.

If a woman crosses the border a new system will automatically send a text message to the men in order to inform them that the woman is leaving or entering the country, even if the man is travelling with her.

New Bridget Jones novel on the way, says Helen Fielding

After 13 years Helen Fielding has started working on a third novel centered around the famous Bridget Jones , who was born out in 1995 of a weekly column in The Independent.

More than 15 millions copies were sold of the first two books (Bridget Jones’ Diary and The Edge of Reason), which inspired two films, starring Renee Zellweger as Bridget (photo, from telegraph.co.uk).

Adopt an Italian gargoyle to help renovate a cathedral

135 gargoyles are up for adoption at the Milan’s main cathedral (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk), the fourth-largest cathedral in the world.

Thousands rally in Ireland demanding new abortion law after tragedy

Several thousand people have gathered on Saturday in the Republic of Ireland to demand changes to the country’s abortion law, following the death of Savita Halappanavar.

The largest demonstrations took place in Dublin (photo, from dailymail.co.uk) where more than 4,000 people marched to the Irish parliament for a candle-lit vigil and held one minute silence. In Galway, where Mrs Halappanavar lived, more than 1,000 gathered for a vigil in Eyre Square, and some 60 members of the Indian community rallied outside the hospital and held two minutes of silent prayers.

Controversial new treason law in Russia

A few days after promising to review treason law, Russian president Vladimir Putin (photo, from dailymail.co.uk) has signed it. The law which expands the definition of treason went into effect on Wednesday.

According to critics this new law may be used to stifle dissent.

Egypt reopens one of the pyramids to tourists

The Pyramid of Chefren (Khafre) has been reopened, as Egypt tries to revive its tourism industry, badly hit by last year’s uprising.

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the European Union

The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel committee which argued that the EU had helped transform Europe “from the continent of war to a continent of peace”.

‘Love padlocks’ removed from Italian bridge

After couples decorated the Ponte Milvio on the river Tiber with “love padlocks” for years, they are now being removed with bolt-cutters in order to protect the ancient structure.