BBC News with Sue Montgomery

The leaders of France and Germany have reached agreement on measures for tougher

budgetary

controls to try to ease the eurozone debt crisis. After meeting in Paris, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel set out a programme of reforms to strengthen the rules which govern the eurozone. With the details, Chris Morris.

Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy have set out a series of measures they want to implement as soon as possible. They include automatic sanctions for countries which exceed deficit limits and the requirement for countries to enshrine in law a promise to balance their budgets. There'll also be a role for the European Court of Justice, but no further demands on banks to take a voluntary loss on the money that they are owed. Angela Merkel says they want all EU member states to sign up to this new deal, but they intend to go ahead, come what may.

The Irish government has announced a new round of spending cuts worth $3bn. Health, education and welfare budgets will all be reduced, and there are expected to be thousands of job cuts. Additional measures, including tax rises, will be

unveiled

on Tuesday.

A series of bomb attacks has targeted Shia pilgrims in Iraq, killing more than 25 people. Three roadside bombs hit pilgrims travelling through Baghdad. A car bomb also exploded in the city of Hillah. The attacks came on the eve of Ashura, the most important Shia religious holiday. Here's Sebastian Usher.