Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi surprises German Chancellor Angela Merkel by hiding behind a column in Trieste.

Some of the judgements made by Mr Justice Eady, accused by the editor of the Daily Mail of creating a privacy law by the backdoor.

On a day made for climbers and those with serious aspirations to the yellow jersey, today's 224km route takes the riders from Toulouse to Bagneres-de-Bigorre.

The producers of the James Bond franchise have raised eyebrows among fans by revealing the next film will be called Quantum of Solace. But what on earth is that?

You've got an important letter that just has to reach its destination tomorrow morning, but with the effects of the latest postal strike expected to linger throughout Wednesday, can it be done? Sure, all you need are deep pockets or some ingenuity.

Australia record an emphatic 103-run victory over World Cup hosts West Indies in the Super 8 game in Antigua.

Scientists say they have found part of the brain that predicts whether a person will be selfish or altruistic.

A woman's sex drive begins to plummet once she is in a secure relationship, according to research.

In his latest diary instalment, the BBC's David Willis finds his nerves get the better of him during his first acting class.

Street protests in France and Belarus continue to dominate headlines and comment pages in the European press.

The Monitor is the home for some of our most popular features, including your letters, Punorama, the caption competition, and 10 Things.

John Grisham's Runaway Jury and series two of Marion and Geoff are among UK DVD releases this week.

Welcome to the Lunchtime Bonus Question.

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, classic early English texts, are given a modern twist in a new BBC One series.

Acclaimed tenor Placido Domingo reprises his role of Canio in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci at the Royal Opera House.

A judge spares a cuckolded husband from jail after he attacked his best man for having an affair with his wife and mother of his children.

This week, celeb smooching, Keegan's clangers, adopt-a-hippo, and our regular pun-writing competition.

Women with steady partners may still be tempted to sleep around - but mainly on certain days of the month, say researchers.

Madonna's foray onto the stage for the first time in 14 years is painfully lacking in stagecraft but is still likely to draw the crowds.

Kevin Spacey carried off a top prize at the Laurence Olivier awards, and there were smiles all round too for the cast of musical Oklahoma! - but Nicole Kidman's The Blue Room failed to pick up any major prizes.