resounding

yes by the French public. It's the first time in over 30 years the Socialists have taken the lower house, and it underlines yet again that across Europe people are turning against austerity. With control of both the senate and the lower house, Francois Hollande now has a

mandate

to spend and raise taxes. Though the Socialists' absolute majority ensures he can at least he take the more difficult decisions of spending cuts without the support of the hard-left.

A curfew has been imposed in Kaduna state in northern Nigeria after bomb attacks on at least three churches prompted

retaliatory

violence against Muslims. More than 20 people are reported killed and many others wounded. Blasts hit two churches in the town of Zaria and one in Kaduna city as services were taking place. In response angry Christian youths

took to the streets

of Kaduna attacking Muslims

at random

. It's the third Sunday in a row that churches have been bombed in northern Nigeria.

Syrian activists say opposition strongholds in the city of Homs are coming under intense bombardment, raising concern for hundreds of families trapped there. Activists say up to 40 people have been killed across Syria today while the government says it's held funerals for 20 military personnel.

World News from the BBC

Police in California say Rodney King, whose beating by police sparked the Los Angeles race riots of 1992, has died. Officials said Mr King, who was 47, was found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool. They say there was no sign of