Europe News

Residents return to N. England homes after flood

Bulls escape on set of film starring Cruise, Diaz

MADRID - Seven bulls being used on the set of a film starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz have broken free in Spain and slightly injured two people.

Somali pirates holding 12-year-old hostage: Spanish skipper

MADRID (AFP) - - A Spanish trawler captain released by Somali pirates said he is haunted by his failure to save a 12-year-old Ukrainian girl held captive for more than six months, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Russian cosmonaut Feoktistov dies at 83

MOSCOW - Russian spaceship designer Konstantin Feoktistov, the only non-Communist space traveler in the history of the Soviet space program, has died at the age of 83.

Police: IRA dissidents plant car bomb in Belfast

DUBLIN - Irish Republican Army dissidents left a 400-pound (180-kilogram) car bomb outside police reform headquarters in Belfast but the homemade device failed to detonate, Northern Ireland's police commander said Sunday.

Rare Charles Darwin book found on toilet bookshelf

Swiss police: man attacked by bear in park

BERN, Switzerland - A bear has attacked a man who entered its enclosure at a new park in Switzerland, and a policeman opened fire on the animal to defend the intruder.

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.

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.

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.