Kate McGough

A year after a an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig created a devastating oil spill in the region, how are fishing communities in the Gulf of Mexico dealing with the disaster? The BBC's Robyn Bresnahan visited the area to speak with people whose livelihood has been affected by the spill and the aftermath. She's witnessed everything from dead oysters to a resident so determined to increase awareness she walked to Washington D.C. from New Orleans on foot. Today we hear more from Bresnahan about her experiences in the Gulf. 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Berlin at the latest NATO summit, where members are talking about how to proceed with operations in Libya. Voices out of Libya say that NATO has not done enough to stop Col. Gadhafi; and Clinton will likely stress the need for NATO to  go after pro-Gadhafi fighters. The BBC's Steve Evans reports from the talks in Germany.

A 6.6 magnitude aftershock hit Japan on the one month anniversary of the tsunami and quake which devastated much of the country. So far there has been no additional damage and a tsunami warning was lifted. The BBC's Roland Buerk is in Japan, where has been covering the relief efforts. He says that the people have grown weary, but they are still stoic. "The awe with which the world has seen their response to their disaster has perhaps given them more strength," he says. However, it will take a long time to rebuild.

Col. Moammar Gadhafi has accepted a political road map to peace proposed by the African Union. The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, cooperation with humanitarian aids groups and a dialogue with the rebels. However, it does not require Gadhafi to step down. A rebel spokesperson said that any deal that allows Gadhafi and his sons to stay in power would not be acceptable. The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports from Tripoli.

Fierce fighting continues in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan with much of it centered on the presidential compound of the besieged Ivorian leader, Laurent Gbagbo. Despite early reports, Gbagbo is refusing to surrender. Supporters of Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of last year's presidential election, have been trying to force Mr. Gbagbo out of the compound since they surrounded it on Tuesday. The BBC's John James has the latest.

The prime ministers of India and Pakistan are sitting side by side today at the Cricket World Cup semi-final match between the two countries. It's an occasion which is being seen as an opportunity for the two nations to repair relations. India broke off relations with Pakistan in 2008, after it blamed Pakistani militants for attacks on Mumbai, which killed 160 people. Pakistan denied any involvement. This is probably the most watched cricket game ever with a billion people watching the game around the world. Aleem Maqbool, BBC Islamabad correspondent, reports on whether this match will help India-Pakistan relations.

The Syrian government will reportedly resign today with a new cabinet to be created in 24 hours. Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters in the southern city of Daraa are conducting a sit-in this morning. At least 61 people have been killed in recent anti-government protests there. Lina Sinjab, the BBC's correspondent in Damascus has the latest as tension continues to mount in different cities, mainly in Daraa and the costal city of Latakia, where there is fear of sectarian crisis between Alawites and Sunnis.

U.S. officials say the levels of radiation at Fukushima Daiichi power plant are even more dangerous than the Japanese government has indicated and their advising anyone within a 50-mile radius to evacuate. The United States is also chartering flights for Americans who want to leave the country. Kelly Williams is an American originally from Seattle. He lives in Kodaira City, a suburb west of Tokyo and although he is concerned about the radiation and the rebuilding in Japan, he says there are many reasons why he needs to stay.

There are reports that several protesters were killed when soldiers and riot police stormed the Bahrain's capital, Manama, where protesters have in Pearl Square for almost a month. The government called this a "Cleansing Operation." The BBC's Keith Adams reports from Manama on the violence.

A Saudi-led military force crossed into Bahrain on Monday to offer assistance to King Hamad’s government. Shiite Muslims are trying to rid themselves of two centuries of autocratic rule — but the potential fall of the Sunni-backed monarchy is worrying neighboring Gulf leaders. We talk with Christopher Davidson, scholar in Middle East politics at Durham University for context on the recent events. The BBC's Keith Adams reports from Bahrain.

China's Premier Wen Jiabao told the annual National People’s Congress in Beijing on Friday that controlling consumer and housing prices was a top priority. In China, where much of the ballooning population seems to be headed into the cities for work, real estate is becoming prohibitively expensive. Food prices are shooting up as well. What does this mean for China's role in the world economy and for U.S. relations with that country?

Monday saw 14,000 refugees cross the border from Libya into Tunisia and refugees are still streaming into the country. Local officials are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people arriving across the border, where just having enough supplies is a challenge.

Public Relations firms have been working in the United States and the UK on behalf of governments across the Middle East. What is the job of these PR companies? And how do they justify working for repressive regimes, even as they fall? BBC correspondent, Gabriel Gatehouse, has been reporting on PR companies that are working for governments across the troubled region.

In Libya, a defiant Moammar Gadhafi has reportedly escalated attacks against the rebellion. His forces have attacked several rebel-held cities this morning. However, the opposition, armed with tanks, machine guns and anti-aircraft guns, were reportedly pushed back by the opposition. BBC correspondent Kevin Connolly reports from Benghazi.

After Moammar Gadhafi made a defiant and rambling speech to the people of Libya yesterday, where he refused to step down and swore that he would die a martyr, the international community was left to decide exactly how to respond. German Chancelor Angela Merkel called the speech ‘alarming’ and threatened sanctions on the North African Nation. Meanwhile the head of Libya’s anti-Gadhafi delegation at the UN called on the Security Council to address the violence that he has unleashed on the Libyan people. Some are worried attacks on protesters by the Libyan air force could be next.

Silvio Berlusconi has found himself in hot water, yet again. The Italian Prime Minister was officially indicated yesterday on charges of paying for sex with an under-aged prostitute and abusing the power of his office to cover it up. Berlusconi said he was told the girl was the granddaughter of then-Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak — and he was doing the world leader a favor when he tried to get her out of jail. We talk with Duncan Kennedy, BBC reporter in Rome, for the latest in the story.

Iranian state television says new clashes have erupted between government supporters and opponents Wednesday. Violence broke out between rival groups of demonstrators during the funeral of a student killed in anti-government protests on Monday, with both sides claiming the student as their supporter. BBC's Tehran correspondent, James Reynolds, reports from London. Reynolds explains the latest and how to get information report from Iran, where foreign press is banned.

The BBC's Jim Muir is in Cairo with the latest from the protests. He says the mood in Tahrir Square has improved since violence has susbsided. Journalists have been attacked and detained, but the situation is less tense on today's "day of departure."

Abdel-Monem Said Ali is a member of Egypt's National Democratic Party. He says the challenge is to "reconstruct the country legitimately with a new constitution." He is highly critical of the United States and says it's the last country in the world to give anyone advice in the Middle East after what it's done in Iraq and Afghanistan. Can there be fair elections in the fall, while at the same time respecting Mubarak's presidency until then?

Pro-democracy protestor, Mosa'ab Elshamy speaks to us from Tahrir Square, where he says the mood is jubiliant and yesterday's tension has subsided. He has been able to go home and get medical treatment, but has returned to the square everyday during the protests.