Latest from Europe

France: Bonjour Marseilles
The southern port of Marseilles is unlike other French cities. That becomes apparent as soon as the visitor steps from the train at Saint-Charles terminus, high above the city.

Germans guinea pigs for Western drugs
Communist East Germany allowed Western drug companies to use its medical patients as unwitting guinea pigs for tests.

Finland: Home of Santa
Santa Claus? No grown-up believes in him any more! And yet, even the adults can be seen standing reverently when visiting Santa's office in Finland.

Turkey: How to spy a Grand Bazaar bargain
Megan Singleton visits a Turkish gem where Bond shines.

Italy: Spirit of Rome
Julia Shallcrass explores the ancient remnants of Rome, from its dark history to the Vatican City.

The Irish water of life
While it may be true that the Irish like their Guinness, it's even truer they like their whiskey as well.

All Blacks: No summer of fun after England clash
Everyone worries that the All Blacks will have their minds on summer back home instead of the test against England this Sunday.

Gregor Paul: Fouls tally calls for scrutiny
Discipline, or lack of, has become a prevailing theme throughout the autumn tests and of all the statistics to emerge in the past few weeks, writes Gregor Paul.

Wynne Gray: All Blacks reaping reluctant praise amid vilification
All sorts of damning praise is leaching from the British media.

Germany: Tourists relive risks under the Wall
Visitors come to see how desperate East Berliners dug their way to freedom.

Stephen Diver: Germany showing way ahead
For the past two years a gleeful band of Eurosceptics in the Anglo-US political establishment have been arguing that the euro cannot survive.

France: Capturing a legend
Among Burgundy's mosaic of modest vine plots, one may produce dense and silky wine; another just a few metres away may make something more fruity and feminine, Caroline Berdon discovers.

Italy: That's what I call lunch
Perfect porcini, peccorino, pasta... Jim Eagles relishes a meal in.

Italy: High-rise journey to the dark side
Venetia Sherson explores Italy's wild heart, where strange rituals flourish and cheese-producing sheep can be sponsored.

Turkey: Up, up and away in a balloon
Gliding over Turkey, Phoebe Falconer resists reaching out to the intriguing rocks sweeping by.

Italy: Long and winding trail to a chant
Jim Eagles missed out on what he wanted to hear in Montalcino, but what he saw made the trip worthwhile.