The breakthrough for bands that sing in English has not been straightforward.

Under France's cultural

protection laws, radio stations can only play a set amount of English-language music, and most prefer to
fill their quota with actual British or American bands. That means little airtime for French-English bands.

There's also a feeling among some critics that singing in English is perhaps a bit of a cop out. But for
the members of Anorak, in rehearsal here outside Paris, singing in English is simply a recognition of
changing times.

The internet generation cares little for national barriers, today's French youngsters are tuned into
English like everyone else is, so why feel guilty? Language has always been a vital part of French culture,
so whether you like it or resent it, what's happening is undoubtedly significant. Young French musicians
are abandoning their linguistic heritage, and joining the globalised world.

Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris

She was a schoolgirl when Brazil fell under military dictatorship in 1964, later becoming a key player in a
militant group resisting the dictatorship, for which she was arrested and tortured. Her name is still
engraved on the wall of the prison where she spent three years.

A career civil servant, Rousseff became energy minister when Lula da Silva took office in 2002.

In 2005, after a corruption scandal brought down key government figures, Lula da Silva made her his
chief of staff, a post she held until March 2010, when she launched her campaign for the presidency as
the Workers' Party candidate. With Lula's 80% approval ratings behind her, few doubted her chances of
success despite a lacklustre campaign.

On January the first, Dilma Rousseff takes over from the most popular president Brazil has ever known. It
won't be an easy act to follow.

Paulo Cabral, BBC News, Sao Paulo

Despite the number of undernourished people in the world falling between 1990 and 2006, recent years
have seen that number creep up, with the data from 2009 showing more than one billion hungry people.
The most recent figures from 2010 suggest the number may again be falling, but this data isn't yet
complete.

Twenty-nine countries - mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia - have levels of hunger described as
alarming or extremely alarming. The global food price crisis and the worldwide recession have
contributed to this rise, says the report. And it's children under two who are most at risk.
Malnourishment at this stage harms physical and mental development and its effects are mostly
irreversible, causing life long damage.

The authors argue that improving child nutrition would have the biggest effect on reducing global hunger.
They estimate that child malnutrition could be cut by around a third by providing improved health care
and nutrition, not only to young children, but also to mothers during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Reducing the numbers of hungry people will also significantly improve productivity and economic
development.

Ania Lichtarowicz, BBC News, London

China was bound to overtake the US in terms of total energy consumption sooner or later, and
according to IEA calculations, it happened in 2009.

One long-term factor behind this development is China's population – more than four times that of the US
– with a growing appetite for consumer goods that need energy to use and to manufacture.

The other key reason is China's rapid economic growth, an annual average of 10% over the last two
decades, compared with a much slower 2.6% in the United States. Much of China's economic growth has
been in industry and construction, which are big energy users.

The timing of China overtaking the US also reflects the global financial crisis, which hit the American
economy much harder and so had a bigger impact on the country's energy use.

China's new lead in energy consumption is yet another indicator of its growing influence in the global
economy especially in international energy markets.

But while China's total energy consumption has, according to the IEA, overtaken the US, it's still far behind
in terms of energy use per person, by a factor of more than three. Chinese officials have said the IEA's
data are unreliable, and fail to account for what they call their relentless efforts to cut energy use and
emissions.

The response probably reflects China's sensitivity to criticism of its growing global influence. But the IEA's
analysis is not a criticism. A senior official at the agency described China's growing energy consumption as
legitimate, considering its population.

Andrew Walker, BBC News, London

Carrying banners reading 'Abolish bullfighting' and comments disparaging bullfighters, the coalition of
animal rights activists and ecologists gathered in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol square. The Madrid
regional government's decision to officially declare the sport part of Spain's cultural heritage has intensified
opposition:

Male protestor (voice of translator):

"I feel very ashamed. I feel ashamed of being Spanish when I hear of these crimes, and people say this
torture is culture. For me it is savage, more appropriate to other centuries."

The centuries-old spectacle, whose ritual includes implanting barbed sticks into the bull before a
matador kills it with a sword, draws thousands to the country's bullrings and matadors receive celebrity
media coverage. Many Spaniards reject accusations of cruelty:

Madrid resident (in Spanish)

This Madrid resident insists those who want to watch bullfighting should be allowed to continue doing so as
it's part of the nation's culture.
But support for bullfighting varies across the country, with parliament in the autonomous Catalan region
recently debating a possible ban, and a vote there on the issue is expected soon.

In Spain's Canary Islands, the sport is already outlawed.

Sean Fanning, BBC News

Report

JFK Airport in New York is one of the largest airports in the country, handling nearly a thousand take-offs
and landings a day. But just after 8pm on the 16th of February, there was somebody else in the control
tower directing air traffic and giving instructions to pilots.

Recording from air traffic control:

Boy: JetBlue 171 clear for take off.
Pilot: Clear for take off JetBlue 171.

The boy was speaking to an airbus A320 heading for Sacramento. The child's father, who is a certified
controller, brought his son to work and then put him to work as well.

Recording from air traffic control:

Boy: JetBlue 171 contact departure.
Pilot: Over to departure JetBlue 171. Awesome job.

The young boy continued directing pilots for several take-offs, pilots appearing to be more amused than
worried.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates Americas airports, hasn't released the names of the
controllers involved but it's not treating it as a joke. It's investigating the controller, as well as his
supervisor. Both have been relieved of their duties.

Some are saying the incident is being blown out of proportion since the youngster was repeating
standard, routine directions to pilots with the adults, presumably, alongside him. It's been revealed the
controller in question brought his daughter in the following evening.

The FAA has released a statement saying "This lapse in judgement not only violated the FAA's own
policies but common sense standards for professional conduct. These kinds of distractions are totally
unacceptable."

James Gordon, BBC News, New York