BRUSSELS - Member states have begun preliminary talks on some of the most political aspects of the Lisbon Treaty - the office set-up for the proposed new full-time President, the shape of the diplomatic service and the power-sharing arrangement for the regular ministerial meetings in Brussels.
UNITED NATIONS - The idea of the starving masses driven by their desperation to take to the streets and overthrow the ancien regime has seemed impossibly quaint since capitalism triumphed so decisively in the Cold War.
NEW YORK - There are no speeches or writings, no public records to tell us what Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - the future Pope Benedict XVI - thought of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. But the influential prelate, then head of the Vatican's office for internal doctrinal matters, clearly had a forceful opinion.
JERUSALEM - A sermon last Friday by a prominent Muslim cleric and Hamas member of the Palestinian parliament openly declared that "the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital," would soon be conquered by Islam.
WASHINGTON - Pope Benedict, who is sometimes seen as insensitive to other faiths, will reach out to other religious leaders during his first visit to the United States, even though the trip is aimed at Roman Catholics.
SINGAPORE - Oil prices rose to an intraday trading record above $112 a barrel Tuesday after the U.S. dollar fell further and crude supplies to the U.S. and elsewhere were disrupted.
VIENNA - Glaciers and mountain snow are melting earlier in the year than usual, meaning the water has already gone when millions of people need it during the summer when rainfall is lower, scientists warn.
ITALY - Centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi has warned of "difficult months ahead" after winning Italy's general election.
LONDON - All petrol and diesel which is sold at UK pumps now has to include at least 2.5% biofuels. These renewable fuels, made from crops such as sugar cane or maize, have been added to fuel sold around the country.
CALIFORNIA - China has already overtaken the US as the world's "biggest polluter", a report to be published next month says.
LONDON - Prime Minister Gordon Brown is preparing to meet leading City figures in Downing Street amid rising concerns over the global economic crisis.
WASHINGTON - The leader of the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics has been to the White House only once in history.
LONDON - In the run-up to the Olympics some opponents of China's regime are boycotting not just the games but all Chinese products.
WASHINGTON DC, USA - US President George Bush said that when he looks into Benedict XVI's eyes, he sees God.
SEATTLE, USA - The Dalai Lama said Sunday that Tibet cannot make any more concessions to China and renewed his calls for the government to cease suppression in his former homeland and withdraw troops.