Spain's most prominent judge, Baltasar Garzon, vows to fight his conviction and 11-year suspension from the judiciary for authorising prison phonetapping.

Reporters cleared over Nazi film

Two Dutch journalists are cleared of breaching the privacy of Nazi Heinrich Boere, whom they confronted in a German old people's home.

French parfumier in racism trial

The French parfumier Jean-Paul Guerlain goes on trial on racism charges after he caused widespread offence during a television interview.

Sarkozy ex-minister faces charges

The former French minister Eric Woerth is under criminal investigation for influence peddling in connection with the Bettencourt scandal.

ECB leaves euro rates unchanged

The European Central Bank leaves its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.0% saying there are signs of stabilisation

Prince qualifies as Apache pilot

The MoD says Prince Harry has qualified as an Army Air Corps Apache helicopter pilot, paving the way for a possible return to Afghanistan.

Redknapp says focus is Tottenham

Harry Redknapp says he has not thought about succeeding Fabio Capello and insists his focus remains on Tottenham.

Rolls-Royce makes record profits

Aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce has reported orders, sales and profits at record levels thanks to airline expansion.

Hackers vow new Kremlin attacks

A group of Russian hackers has said it will continue to target pro-Kremlin supporters after publishing emails from a youth movement supporting the Russian government.

Real still top football rich list

Real Madrid head the list of the richest football clubs in the world for the seventh year in a row, says a Deloitte report.

Nokia to carry out 4,000 job cuts

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia announced the details of 4,000 job losses on Wednesday at plants in Hungary, Mexico and Finland.

Lost $9m jewels found in drawer

Jewellery worth $9m (£5.9m), thought stolen from the wife of the US ambassador to the Netherlands in 2006, is found in the Hague.

Kate attends Lucian Freud preview

The Duchess of Cambridge carries out her first solo public engagement, attending a preview of a new Lucian Freud exhibition in central London.

Greek austerity plans 'not ready'

More work needs to be done on Greece's austerity proposals before a 130bn euro bailout can be handed over, say eurozone ministers.

Daimler achieves record results

German car and truck maker Daimler posts record sales and profits in 2011, with the promise of more to come.

Sheffield Wed 0-3 Blackpool

Blackpool seal an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Everton after a convincing 3-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday.

VIDEO: European Parliament

The UK government has been warned it will "regret" refusing to sign up to the EU's new treaty on enforcing budgetary discipline.

Country profile: Albania

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Country profile: Andorra

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Country profile: Armenia

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Belarus country profile

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France country profile

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Georgia country profile

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Germany country profile

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Hungary country profile

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Iceland country profile

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Country profile: Ireland

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Country profile: Lithuania

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Monaco country profile

An overview of Monaco including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Country profile: Montenegro

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Country profile: The Netherlands

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Norway country profile

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Russia country profile

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Country profile: San Marino

An overview of San Marino including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Country profile: Serbia

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Slovakia country profile

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Slovenia country profile

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Spain - Country profile

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Turkey country profile

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Country profile: Ukraine

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United Kingdom country profile

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Country profile: Vatican

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Regions and territories: Abkhazia

An overview of Abkhazia including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media.

Regions and territories: Ajaria

An overview of Ajaria including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Regions and territories: Ceuta, Melilla

A profile of the Spanish north African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla

Regions and territories: The Channel Islands

An overview of the Channel Islands including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Regions and territories: Chechnya

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Regions and territories: Corsica

An overview of Corsica including key facts and notes on the media

Regions and territories: Crimea

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Regions and territories: Dagestan

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Regions and territories: Faroe Islands

An overview of the Faroe Islands including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Gibraltar profile

An overview of Gibraltar including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Regions and territories: Greenland

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Regions and territories: Ingushetia

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Regions and territories: Isle of Man

An overview of the Isle of Man including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media

Kabardino-Balkaria profile

A profile of the southern Russian republic

Regions and territories: Kaliningrad

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Regions and territories: Kalmykia

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Regions and territories: Karachay-Cherkessia

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Regions and territories: Kosovo

An overview of Kosovo including key facts, leaders and notes on the media

Regions and territories: Nagorno-Karabakh

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Regions and territories: North Ossetia

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Regions and territories: South Ossetia

An overview of South Ossetia, including key facts and political leaders

Trans-Dniester profile

An overview of the breakaway region in eastern Moldova

VIDEO: Mount Etna's spectacular eruption

The highest active volcano in Europe erupts with spectacular lava fountains and plumes of ash

VIDEO: Flute or coupe? Scientists decide

French researchers from the University of Rein have discovered that the shape of the glass may affect our experience of drinking champagne.

VIDEO: Banned Spanish judge to appeal

The Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzon, has said he will appeal against a court decision banning him from practising law for 11 years.

VIDEO: Gold coin hoard displayed in Poland

A huge collection of gold coins discovered in Slovkia in 1935 is put on display at a Polish castle.

VIDEO: Bankski: Russia's mystery street artist

The mysterious Russian street artist, 'Pavel 183', is being compared to Britain's Banksy.

VIDEO: Europe's extreme cold snap explained

The BBC's Lucy Hockings and weather presenter Helen Willetts look at why Europe is experiencing such unusually cold weather.

VIDEO: Greek coalition fails to agree cuts

Greek PM Lucas Papademos has failed to secure the support of his coalition for a raft of new austerity measures, after more than seven hours of talks.

VIDEO: Can Greece take more austerity?

In Greece, the government is said to be close to agreement on new austerity measures to qualify for more bailout funds.

Dutch gripped by skating fever

As temperatures plummet, the Dutch are gripped by ice fever

New image of France's National Front

France's National Front develops a new image

Rosenberg's Russia: On the election trail

Why honesty often turns out to be a lonely word

BBC man in mannequin fetish film role

Tough role for BBC man as film debut premieres in Berlin

Why is Hebden Bridge the lesbian capital?

How a sleepy UK market town became a lesbian capital

All for the want of a winter horseshoe

Why Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia ended in disaster

'Europe is poor so should live within its means'

Time to learn from Asia and cut the cloth accordingly says Mahathir Mohamed