Europe News

Pope and Anglican leader agree on closer relations

Belgian ex-premier meets party chiefs as hunt begins for new PM

BRUSSELS (AFP) - - The hunt began in earnest Saturday for a new Belgian prime minister after Herman Van Rompuy was chosen as the EU first president, with his predecessor Yves Leterme appearing in pole position.

Restored machine to explore mysteries of Big Bang

GENEVA - Scientists are preparing the world's largest atom smasher to explore the depths of matter after successfully restarting the $10 billion machine following more than a year of repairs.

W.Sahara activist refuses Madrid offer of refugee status

MADRID (AFP) - - Western Sahara activist Aminatou Haidar has declined an offer by Madrid to grant her refugee status following her expulsion from the territory by Morocco, a representative said Saturday.

Italian police arrest 2 linked to Mumbai attacks

Life requested for US suspect in Italy murder case

Germany to send trial observer to NY

BERLIN - A German government official says the nation will send an observer to the upcoming trial in New York of the professed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks and four accused henchmen.

Russia president criticizes ruling party over vote

ST.PETERSBURG, Russia - Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday sharply criticized officials in the ruling Kremlin-backed party for using its clout and undermining democracy in recent regional votes, saying it must learn to win fairly.

Museum: Galileo's fingers, tooth are found

ROME - Two fingers and a tooth removed from Galileo Galilei's corpse in a Florentine basilica in the 18th century and given up for lost have been found again and will soon be put on display, an Italian museum director said Friday.

Kidnapped Britons say Somali pirates may kill them

LONDON - A British couple being held hostage by Somali pirates said in an interview broadcast Friday that they fear they will be killed or handed to a terrorist group if a ransom is not paid soon.

Researcher: Faint writing seen on Shroud of Turin

ROME - A Vatican researcher has rekindled the age-old debate over the Shroud of Turin, saying that faint writing on the linen proves it was the burial cloth of Jesus.

Swedish Soprano Elisabeth Soderstrom dies at 82

STOCKHOLM - Swedish soprano Elisabeth Soderstrom, an international opera star, has died, her husband Sverker Olow says.

Floods devastate UK Lake District; much of Ireland

New German foreign minister on first Moscow visit

MOSCOW (AFP) - - Germany's new Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle emphasised strong relations with Russia during his first visit to Moscow Friday, but remained discreet on human rights issues.

The new EU chiefs: Rompuy-pumpy and Cathy Who?

LONDON - Catherine Ashton.

Croatian parliament ratifies Slovenia border deal

ZAGREB (AFP) - - The Croatian parliament ratified on Friday a deal with Slovenia for international arbitration to resolve a border row between the two countries that blocked Zagreb's bid to join the European Union.

Russia's Gorbachev considers political comeback

MOSCOW - Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev criticized Kremlin policies Friday and toyed with the ambitious idea of attempting a political comeback.

Queen, Prince Philip mark 62 years of marriage

LONDON - Buckingham Palace says the queen and her husband Prince Philip are celebrating 62 years of marriage quietly _ without the fanfare of two years ago, when they marked their diamond anniversary.

UK man cleared of wife's death during nightmare

LONDON - A British man who said he strangled his wife during a nightmare about fighting off an intruder has been found innocent in her death.