Former SS member admits killings
A former member of the Nazi SS admits in court that he killed three Dutch civilians in 1944, but says he was following orders.

UK 'set for bank bonus tax'
A one-off tax on bankers' bonuses is expected to form the centrepiece of the UK chancellor's pre-Budget report.

Iraqis top of EU list for asylum
The EU granted asylum to 16,600 Iraqis last year - by far the largest group, forming 22% of the total, official figures show.

Greek stocks fall 6% on debt fear
Continuing worries over Greece's high public debt levels cause Greek shares to fall 6% as the country's credit rating is cut.

Putin scorns officials over fire
Russian PM Vladimir Putin hits out at local officials for safety failures at a nightclub where 118 people died in a fire.

Turkey may ban Kurdish DTP party
Turkey's Constitutional Court is considering whether to ban the country's leading Kurdish party, the DTP.

Romanian opposition lodges appeal
Would-be Romanian president Mircea Geoana calls for new polls, saying an election he lost to President Traian Basescu by less than 1% was rigged.

Expensive toast - Serbia President Tadic in champagne fine
Serbian President Boris Tadic is fined 400 euros (£360) for toasting Serbia's qualification for the football World Cup with champagne at a stadium.

Singer Pete Doherty arrested in Germany over 'bottle-throwing'
Singer Pete Doherty is arrested in Germany after allegedly throwing a bottle at a parked car window.

Greek sprinter Thanou denied Jones' Olympic gold
Katerina Thanou will not be awarded Marion Jones' 100m gold medal from the 2000 Olympic Games.

Sea The Stars jockey Mick Kinane to retire
Veteran jockey Mick Kinane, who rode record-breaking racehorse Sea The Stars, retires at the age of 50 after a 34-year career.

Budget DIY
Ireland faces an uphill battle to balance its books

Stop right there!
Swedish burger chain in call to eat less meat

Balancing act
Can Obama still count on Turkey as a US ally?

Al-Qaeda 'took Europeans hostage'
An al-Qaeda offshoot says it kidnapped three Spanish aid workers in Mauritania and a Frenchman in Mali last month.

Vatican 'ashamed' of abuse report
The Vatican is ashamed by the findings of the Murphy report into clerical abuse in the Dublin diocese, the Pope's representative in Ireland says.

Artist Wright wins UK's top art prize
Painter Richard Wright, whose work includes striking, large-scale frescos using paint and gold leaf, wins the £25,000 Turner Prize.

Hunger striker refuses Spanish care
A Western Sahara independence activist on hunger strike at a Spanish airport says she is now refusing all medical care.

EU and UN welcome US climate move
The EU and UN hail a US declaration that greenhouse emissions harm health, as climate talks are held in Copenhagen.

EU agrees to upgrade Serbia links
The EU agrees to upgrade links with Serbia after the Netherlands lifts its opposition to closer ties, officials say.

Romania opposition claims fraud
Romania's opposition Social Democrat party says Sunday's presidential election was rigged and plans to contest the result.

Turkish soldiers killed in attack
At least seven soldiers are shot dead in an attack by gunmen on a military unit in northern Turkey, officials say.

Athens police clash with youths
Youths clash with Greek police on a second day of protests to mark the anniversary of the fatal police shooting of a teenager.

German factory output falls back
German industrial production fell unexpectedly in October by 1.8%, official figures show.

Talks between UK and France off
A scheduled meeting between the UK and France, which may have addressed the EU banking regulation dispute, is off.

Soviet TV star Tikhonov mourned
Russian actor Vyacheslav Tikhonov, who immortalised fictional wartime spy Stirlitz in a 1973 Soviet TV series, dies at 81.

US and Russia 'sort out Start'
Paul Reynolds of BBC News Online looks at the shape of a likely new nuclear arms reduction treaty between Russia and the US.

EU cautious on Ukraine relations
Ukraine's bid for closer EU ties is losing momentum

Turkey embraces mediation role
Turkey's foreign minister optimistic on regional stability

GM shows off technology future
Electric driving with a back-up petrol engine

Costing Europe's space ambitions
Sexy space ideas from Europe - but what's the cost?