Reuters: N. Ireland: ex-militant's peace push 09 April

Millions of Nepalese head to the polls in the first major elections in the country in almost a decade, marking the climax of a peace process to end a decade-long Maoist revolt. Security has been stepped up for Nepal's most-watched vote in history. The future assembly's first priorities will be to abolish the monarchy and rewrite the constitution. An AFPTV report.

Bruno walked from Italy into Austria and then over the border into Germany, and was the first bear to be seen in Bavaria for 170 years. There was an outcry among animal lovers when the Bavarian environment ministry authorised hunters to shoot him after he killed farm animals and got close to humans. Joanna Partridge reports

Thousands celebrated in the streets early on Monday after Bolivia's Santa Cruz voted for autonomy but President Evo Morales warned that the vote was "illegal and unconstitutional." The poll was punctuated by clashes between pro- and anti-autonomy militants that left at least 20 injured.

There remains in the south some 4,100 British military personnel, just one tenth of the British contingent of the invasion force, and the signs are they could be substantially withdrawn by the end of 2008. The British troops presently spend most of their time training and advising their Iraqi counterparts, who now take the lead role in security. Reuters correspondent Stuart McDill has been with the British forces in the region.

Four years of left-wing rule have brought significant change to Spain -- more liberal social policies, including gay marriage and, for a while, a flush economy. But with the economy now slowing down, and worries over immigration and other issues rising, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's easy re-election may not be a foregone conclusion.

The women's car was ambushed by a gang with machine-guns in Bosasso port as they drove to a local hospital. It's the latest abduction in the semi-autonomous northern Puntland region of Somalia. It comes two days after gunmen in Puntland released French journalist Gwen Le Gouil. He'd been kidnapped and held for eight days - his captors demanding $80,000 in ransom.

Carrasco was shot five times outside his house in the town of Mondragon. The government has blamed Basque separatist group ETA for the killing and promised the killers will be brought to justice. Zapatero broke off peace talks with ETA in December 2006 after the group killed two people with a car bomb.

The Aisling Return to Ireland project was begun by workers in the London Irish Centre and Arlington house, the biggest homeless hostel in Europe which has been home to more Irish men than any other building outside Ireland. The Aisling Return to Ireland project provides supported holidays 4 times a year in Ireland for long-term emigrants, fulfilling what is for many a dream of seeing their homeland again. Their dream is to build a house in Ireland. Aisling Co-ordinator Alex McDonnell, describes the project aims to Wyllie O Hagan in conversation en route through Barnesmore Gap, Donegal, Ireland. Wyllie O Hagan asks you support the Aisling Return to Ireland. Visit http://www.aisling.org.uk

Carrasco was shot five times outside his house in the town of Mondragon. The government has blamed Basque separatist group ETA for the killing and promised the killers will be brought to justice. Zapatero broke off peace talks with ETA in December 2006 after the group killed two people with a car bomb.

Brown used new legislation to take over the bank, which is Britain's fifth largest mortgage lender. Northern Rock was forced to borrow 25 billion pounds ($49 billion) from the Bank of England last year, after the global credit crunch ruined its funding model. Irate shareholders are now set to take legal action. Andrew Potter reports.