• European gas supplies disrupted

Several EU countries report major disruption to their gas supplies from Russia as Moscow accuses Ukraine of shutting pipelines.

  • German billionaire kills himself

German billionaire Adolf Merckle commits suicide after his business empire runs into trouble in the global economic slowdown.

  • Mob drama gets Scorsese backing

Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese publicly endorses an Italian drama about organised crime in Naples.

  • Bulgaria urges return to nuclear

Bulgaria's president suggests that a nuclear reactor deemed unsafe by the EU could help cover gas shortages.

  • Euro weakens on rate cut evidence

The euro weakens against the pound and the US dollar as data suggests that a eurozone interest rate cut next week is likely.

  • Arson attack on French synagogue

Arsonists drive a burning car packed with a petrol bomb into a French synagogue, raising fears of new anti-Semitic attacks.

  • Turkey rehabilitates poet Hikmet

Turkey is to restore the citizenship of one of its most illustrious writers, the late Nazim Hikmet.

  • Nigerian pirates grab French ship

Pirates seize a ship owned by a French company off the Nigerian coast, taking nine crew hostage.

  • German child sweethearts try to elope for sunny African wedding

Two German children aged six and five are stopped by police on their way to Africa for a secret "wedding" in the sun.

  • Gulbis stuns Djokovic in Brisbane

Novak Djokovic suffers a surprise setback ahead of his Australian Open defence, crashing out of the first round of the Brisbane International.

  • Murray eases to victory in Qatar

Andy Murray makes a comfortable start to his Qatar Open title defence with a straight-sets victory over Albert Montanes.

  • In pictures

Christmas time for Orthodox Christians around the world

  • Pressure rising

Russia ups ante in bitter gas dispute with Ukraine

  • Ski crackdown?

Calls for compulsory helmets after fatal Austrian crash

  • Dangerous turn

Police shooting fuels fears of Greek terror revival