The 2014 European Parliament elections should be held from 22 to 25 May, instead of 5-8 June, says a draft decision backed with an overwhelming majority by the Constitutional Affairs Committee on Monday. This will give the new Parliament more time to prepare for the election of the European Commission President in July 2014.

Two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing at least three people and injuring 144.

Croatia, set to become the EU's 28th member state, will hold its first elections for the European Parliament on Sunday 14 April. The country with a population of 4.3 million people will elect 12 new MEPs that will take their seats after the formal accession on 1July.

Vilnius is becoming ever more accessible to tourists from Ukraine. On March 31st, Ukrainian International Airlines began offering direct daily flights from Boryspil airport in Kiev to Vilnius. Hopefully, the new route will become a popular new way for people to get to know Vilnius.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has pardoned an ex-interior minister serving a four-year prison sentence for embezzlement and abuse of office.

At least five people have been killed and five more injured after clashes between Christians and Muslims in Egypt's Qalyubia province, a spokesman for Egypt's health ministry said.

Some key data about bond purchases by Bank of Cyprus - now the focus of a controversial EU-IMF bailout - is missing, investigators have found. The gaps were found in computer records studied by a financial consultancy, Alvarez and Marsal, Cypriot media say.