GERMANY-OBIT-GUENTER GRASS

BERLIN — Guenter Grass, the Nobel-winning German writer who gave voice to the generation that came of age during the horrors of the Nazi era but later ran into controversy over his own World War II past and stance toward Israel, has died. He was 87. Matthias Wegner, spokesman for the Steidl publishing house, confirmed that Grass died Monday morning in a Luebeck hospital. 

UKRAINE

DONETSK, Ukraine — Fighting has picked up in eastern Ukraine, after more than a month of relative calm, as diplomats gathered in Berlin Monday to discuss the Ukraine crisis. The military conflict between Russia-backed rebels and government forces has killed more than 6,000 but has largely subsided since the cease-fire was announced in February and at least some heavy weaponry withdrawn. 

TURKEY-MINE DISASTER TRIAL

ANKARA, Turkey — Forty-five managers and employees of a mine in the western Turkish town of Soma, went on trial on Monday accused of causing the deaths of 301 miners who perished in a fire last year in Turkey's worst mining disaster. The opening hearing of the trial was tense with lawyers and families of the victims protesting authorities' decision that eight of the jailed defendants — the main suspects in the proceedings — should not attend the trial over security concerns. The court called a recess and then adjourned until Wednesday, demanding that the eight defendants be present at the next hearing, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

FRANCE-FAR RIGHT

PARIS — French far right symbol Jean-Marie Le Pen has told a French publication that he will not run in upcoming regional elections, standing down in a high-profile feud with his daughter over the future of the National Front party. Le Figaro on Monday quotes party founder Le Pen as telling its weekly magazine that he wants his granddaughter to assume his candidacy instead. A top party official, Florian Philippot, said on i-Tele television Monday that Le Pen had discussed the decision with party leadership. 

EU-FRANCE-VERSAILLES

VERSAILLES, France — Will the Sun King usher in the dawn of a French television golden age? The makers of the new historical drama "Versailles" hope so. Based on King Louis XIV, the series has a budget of $30 million — making it the most expensive show France has ever produced. And the biggest surprise for a nation known for Gallic pride: The show will be in English. 

BRITAIN-THEATER AWARDS

LONDON — An American classic directed by a Belgian and a musical about a very English rock band were the big winners at Britain's Olivier theater awards Sunday — but it was an 89-year old theatrical Dame who brought the house down. The Arthur Miller drama "A View From the Bridge" and The Kinks musical "Sunny Afternoon," won the most prizes, and there were roars of approval when Angela Lansbury took the best supporting actress trophy for playing scatterbrained psychic Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's comedy "Blithe Spirit."