Carnival pulls out of Europe

Carnival has told agents in a letter that it has decided to pull out of Europe blaming rising air fares and market conditions.

• Cruise passengers missing in Australia
• World's largest cruise ship to sail new route
• Nautical facts of cruise life

El Niño won't disrupt north's summer

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the latest data confirmed its forecast that El Niño was unlikely to cause extreme weather in the Northern Hemisphere.

• El Nino back soon
• Icy weather despite warming
• 2012 among 10 warmest years on record

Anti-Semitic incidents surge in 2012

Israeli researchers have seen a surge in anti-Semitic incidents worldwide in 2012 after a 2-year decline.

• French Jewish students sue Twitter
• French Jews slam 'anti-Semitic' tweets
• Italian police block white supremacist site

Keep your flip-flops on

What’s your minimum footwear standard?

Eurozone crisis not over - ECB's Weidmann

The eurozone crisis is not over and governments must tackle the roots of their troubles with reforms, says Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann.

• Economic gloom overshadows EU meeting
• Eurozone tensions fade
• Eurozone breakup fades - survey

Horsemeat scare hits UK consumers hard

The discovery of horsemeat in products sold as beef has shocked many British consumers into buying less meat, a survey shows.

Click, click, high: Easy access to drugs

Virtually any kind of illegal drug can be bought on the internet and delivered by post to users who no longer need to make direct contact with dealers.

• EU bans party drug
• Social media used to sell drugs to youth
• Google to settle US online drug probe

EU to give geeks $1.3bn

Europe is to award $1.3bn to next-generation science projects.

• Dagga has real medical benefits - expert
• SA next to breed superfish
• Science gets a grip on finger wrinkles

Europe needs to tackle tax avoidance

European governments should coordinate their efforts to root out tax avoidance, the European Union's executive body says.

• Tax on pension 'salary'
• Minister urges acceptance of higher tax
• Wall St drops on poor manufacturing data

15 000 east Europe kids abandoned annually

Fifteen thousand children are abandoned into state care every year in the former Soviet countries of eastern Europe and central Asia.

• Haiti parents abandon children
• Somali refugees 'dump' babies at camp
• Germany honours Roma Holocaust victims

Spotify to stream music on Samsung TVs

Swedish music streaming service Spotify says the South Korean electronics giant Samsung will be first to offer its music catalogue on its Smart TVs in Europe.

• Spotify offers free internet radio in US
• Spotify to hit US
• Spotify in patent infringement suit

Space freighter starts death plunge

A bus-sized craft that had delivered food to the International Space Station will re-enter Earth's atmosphere overnight for a controlled implosion over the South Pacific.

• European vessel to dock with ISS
• Support strong for space exploration - Nasa
• Space secrets safe - ESA chief

Global warming blamed for heat

An analysis by a top government scientist says the extreme heat and drought seen in the US, Europe and other regions in recent years must be global warming.

• Sea level rise dangerwatch
• 'Low' expectations from climate talks
• No ice loss in major Himalayan glaciers

VW sales up, warns on debt crisis

Despite an 8.9% increase in global vehicle, carmaker Volkswagen has warned of the risks posed by Europe's debt crisis.

• Wedding bells for VW, Porsche
• Peugeot slashes jobs, sparks backlash
• BMW car sales break records

EU set to simplify clinical trial rules

The European Union's executive is due to propose new rules next week to make it easier for drug companies and researchers to carry out cross-border clinical trials, in a bid to cut costs and red tape.

• Scientists rethink chronic pain
• Mad cow nearly eradicated in EU
• Cancer-starving compound to be tested

US teen smoke, drink less than in Europe

Fewer teenagers in the United States smoke and drink compared to their European counterparts, but more use drugs, according to a study.

• SA kids fatter, smoking, drinking more
• Sleep-deprived teens in riskier behaviour
• Smoking tied to kids' behaviour problems

Six European countries voting

Six European countries are holding elections, which might see France get a new president and the public anger in both Germany and Italy being gauged.

• Anti-austerity anger sweeps Europe
• Ministers rally behind besieged Gillard
• France holds breath ahead of tight vote

EU probes Motorola in patent war

The European Commission has opened two antitrust investigations against Google's Motorola Mobility following complaints from Apple and Microsoft in a patent war.

• Smartphone ecosystem critical - Motorola
• Microsoft complains about Motorola
• Motorola hints at 4G phone strategy

Nato exercises to beef up cyber defence

Nato's Tallinn-based cyber defence centre has launched a three-day exercise involving European IT and legal experts in a bid to beef up cyber defence skills through gaming.

• Take care with internet security
• Cabinet approves cyber security plan
• China cyber capability puts US at risk

Microsoft complains about Motorola

Microsoft has lodged a complaint with the EU competition watchdog against Motorola, citing patents.

• Europe OKs Google Motorola Mobility deal
• Microsoft sues Motorola over royalties
• Google deal could hit HTC, Samsung

Eastern Europe's worst cold snap, storm

Officials say the worst cold snap in memory in Eastern Europe has killed more than 600.

• Paraglider brings aid to Romania village
• Montenegro state of emergency
• Snow damages Colosseum

EU paying for lovable robots

The European Union executive in Brussels is funding research designed to make robots more lovable.

• Honda shows smarter robot
• Robot seals comfort tsunami victims
• Mind alone lifts unattached robot arm

Protesters against web piracy treaty

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken part in rallies across Europe against an international anti-piracy agreement they fear will curb their freedom to download movies and music for free.

• Vote on US online piracy bill on hold
• Wikipedia blackout over piracy bill
• Internet, mobiles blocked in Damascus