Dozens dead in European cold snap

At least 60 people have died due to freezing conditions caused by a cold snap in eastern and central Europe. The drop in temperatures, forcing some countries to deploy the army and set up emergency shelters, is set to continue to Friday, forecasters say. At least 30 people - mostly homeless - have died in Ukraine. Deaths have also been reported in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, among others. Temperatures plunged to -20C (-4F) on Monday.

Romney won in Florida

US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has won a clear victory in the Republican primary election in Florida, official results indicate. Mr Romney polled 46%, but rival Newt Gingrich, who only managed 32%, says he has no intention of dropping out. Florida's primary was the biggest of the 2012 election season so far and saw a bitter TV ad battle between the men hoping to take on Barack Obama.

Pakistan backs Afghan Taliban

The Taliban in Afghanistan are being directly assisted by Pakistani security services, according to a secret Nato report seen by the BBC. The leaked report, derived from thousands of interrogations, claims the Taliban remain defiant and have wide support among the Afghan people. A BBC correspondent says the report is painful reading for international forces and the Afghan government. A Pakistani foreign ministry official has called the accusations "frivolous".

Facebook prepares to go public

Facebook will begin the process of becoming a publicly-listed company this week, valuing the social networking site at between $75bn (£48bn) and $100bn, reports suggest. The company plans to file papers with the US financial watchdog on Wednesday, according to the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal. The flotation later this year would raise about $10bn, they reported.

Romney back into lead in Florida

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is pulling away from his nearest rival Newt Gingrich, with a nine-point lead in Florida's opinion polls. The candidates are campaigning in the key swing state ahead of its crucial primary election next week. Mr Romney's ratings boost comes a day after he put Mr Gingrich on the defensive in a feisty TV debate.

US fears for Bin Laden informer

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said he is "very concerned" about a Pakistani doctor arrested for providing intelligence for the US raid that killed Osama Bin Laden last year. Dr Shikal Afridi is accused of running a CIA-run programme in Abbottabad where Bin Laden was killed. A Pakistan panel says he should be tried for treason.

Salman Rushdie in festival

Author Salman Rushdie will now address the Jaipur literature festival via video-link, organisers say. There had been doubts about Mr Rushdie's speech amid controversy over his participation in the festival. Mr Rushdie withdrew from the festival, saying that sources had told him of an assassination threat. He later said he had been lied to about the threat. Many Muslims regard his book, The Satanic Verses, as blasphemous and it is banned in India.

UK spied on Russians with fake rock

A former UK government official has admitted Britain was caught spying when Russia exposed its use of a fake rock in Moscow to hide electronic equipment. Russia made the allegations in January 2006, but this is the first time anyone in the UK has publicly accepted them. Jonathan Powell, then Prime Minister Tony Blair's chief of staff, told a BBC documentary it was "embarrassing", but "they had us bang to rights".

Italian captain turned too late

The captain of the cruise ship that capsized on Friday, killing at least 11 people, has admitted making a navigation mistake, Italian media say. Captain Francesco Schettino told investigators he had "ordered the turn too late" as the luxury ship sailed close to an island, according to a leaked interrogation transcript. The Costa Concordia ran aground with about 4,200 people on board.

Abu Qatada wins deportation appeal

Radical cleric Abu Qatada has won a European Court of Human Rights appeal against deportation from the UK to Jordan. The judges accepted the UK's deal with Jordan to protect him from abuse was sound. But the court said that the preacher might face trial based on evidence obtained by the torture of others. Abu Qatada has fought for six years against deportation from the UK, saying he faced an unfair trial if sent home.

Abu Qatada deportation ruling

Radical cleric Abu Qatada will find out later whether he will be sent back to Jordan, where he has been convicted in his absence of terror offences. Qatada, branded by a High Court judge as "truly dangerous" and at the centre of al-Qaeda-related activity in the UK, says he faces torture in Jordan. But the British government has signed an agreement with Jordan intended to ensure he will not be ill-treated.

Israeli websites hackered

The websites of Israel's national airline, El Al, and the Tel Aviv stock exchange have been disrupted just hours after they were reportedly threatened by a Saudi computer hacker. Flights and trading on the stock exchange have not been affected. There has been a series of hacking attacks affecting Israeli businesses in the past two weeks. The most serious saw details of tens of thousands of Israeli credit cards posted online.

Sharia used by UK Muslims

The use of Sharia, or Islamic religious law, is growing in Britain, with thousands of Muslims using it to settle disputes each year, but women's groups and some others are objecting. ''You must speak the truth, sister. Because Allah is listening to your every word, you can lie to us but not to Him.'' The bearded sheikh is instructing his first client of the day to explain why she is unhappy in her marriage.

Cruise captain committed errors

The company operating a cruise ship that capsized after hitting rocks off western Italy on Friday says the captain may have "committed errors". He appears to have sailed too close to land and not to have followed the company's emergency procedures, Costa Crociere said in a statement. Capt Francesco Schettino is suspected of manslaughter, but denies wrongdoing.

Body abuse US marines identified

All four US Marines seen in a video apparently urinating on dead Afghans have been identified by American military investigators, US media say. Two of the men have already been interviewed by the US Navy's criminal investigation branch. The Marine Corps has also appointed Lt Gen Thomas Waldhauser, a three-star general, to decide what, if any, disciplinary action is to be taken.

protest against austerity cuts in Romania

Romanian riot police has fired tear gas during clashes with demonstrators protesting against austerity cuts in the capital, Bucharest. At least nine people, including policemen, were injured in what was the third consecutive day of protests. The rallies began in solidarity with a popular health official who had quit in protest against health care reforms.

Survivors found on Italian ship

Three survivors have been found on the stricken cruise ship Costa Concordia, more than 24 hours after it ran aground off the Italian coast. A third passenger was located, hours after a honeymooning South Korean couple were found in a cabin. Three people are so far confirmed dead and about 40 are unaccounted for.

Welfare reform set to continue

The government has insisted it will continue with changes to the welfare system despite defeats in the Lords. Labour peers and independent crossbenchers rejected proposals to means test the benefits of young disabled people and cancer patients. Employment minister Chris Grayling said the welfare state should be focussed on supporting those with the most need.

                             Japan to reduce Iran oil imports

Japan will take "concrete steps" to reduce its oil dependency on Iran, its finance minister has announced. The comments from Jun Azumi came after he met US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in Tokyo. Mr Geithner is seeking backing from China and Japan for stricter sanctions on Iran's oil industry in a bid to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

French journalist killed in Syria

French TV reporter Gilles Jacquier has been killed in the Syrian city of Homs, the first Western journalist to die in the country's current unrest. He was on a government-authorised trip to the city, the France 2 channel said. Syrian TV said Jacquier was among eight killed. A colleague said that minutes earlier they had interviewed some people at a pro-government gathering.