Europe

UK: Despite the drilling catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, the search for oil and gas continues. Shale-gas reserves in the north-west of England promise to turn Blackpool into the shale-gas capital of England.

BRITAIN: Have you ever seen a British cabinet minister take the Underground to work? Probably not, as they have traditionally been driven to the Palace of Westminster in Jaguars. But that’s about to change.

LOGISTICS: Even the volcanic ash cloud may have its upside. The teleconferencing industry is expecting an increase in business. The fresh-food industry, however, has to deal with cargo rotting away at airports.

FRANCE: Believe it or not, the American fast-food chain McDonald's is the role model for a food-selling venture in France.

BRITAIN: Have a party with your girlfriends. Drink a little wine. Make a little money selling unwanted gold jewellery. What’s not to like? The high price of gold is prompting women in the UK to join the “gold party” trend.

SWEDEN: In Malmö, shoes on display in shop windows have been disappearing. The police have no idea who's taking them. The thieves haven't set a foot wrong.

IRELAND: Hey, want to buy a racehorse? If you happen to have a lot of spare cash, Irish horse breeders would like to hear from you. The current financial crisis has hit the racing and breeding industry hard.

UK: Bankers, investors and other highly paid professionals have been called the “wealth creators” in Britain. But are they really? A new report states that such workers actually destroy value. Other occupations are worth much more to society.

BRITAIN: Despite the strict penalties that were introduced two years ago, the percentage of drivers in the UK who text or phone while behind the wheel of a car has risen sharply.