A natural gas crisis looms over Europe, as a contract dispute between Russia and Ukraine shut off Russian gas supplies to six countries and reduced gas deliveries to several others

Signs are mounting that the conflict in Gaza is starting to spill over into violence in Europe's towns and cities, with assaults against Jews and arson attacks on Jewish congregations in France, Sweden and Britain

Heavy snowfalls across Europe have disrupted road and air traffic, with both Germany and France experiencing flight delays and traffic jams

European Union officials played down the impact of the gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia on gas supplies to Europe, saying that gas supplies were only mildly affected, if at all

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the international community should press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli troops are fighting Palestinian militants from Hamas