A Bangladesh court sentenced 26 people, including three senior officers from the country's elite security force, to death on Monday after convicting them of murdering seven people who were abducted outside a cricket stadium.

Russia says it views the arrival of more than 3,000 US soldiers in Poland as a threat to its own security. The troops are part of President Barack Obama's response to reassure Nato allies concerned about a more aggressive Russia.

Russia is starting to withdraw forces from Syria and its aircraft carrier group will be the first to leave, the Russian armed forces chief has said. The announcement comes days after Russia and Turkey negotiated a ceasefire in Syria which is largely holding, according to the UN.

An Israeli military court convicted an Israeli soldier, Elor Azaria, of manslaughter Wednesday in the fatal shooting of a wounded Palestinian man last March.

Britain's ambassador to the European Union, Ivan Rogers, has resigned less than three months before the UK begins formal negotiations to leave the bloc, drawing a mixed reaction from pro-EU and eurosceptic politicians.

Police have detained two Moroccans who tried to smuggle migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta - two hidden in a car and one in a suitcase.

The manhunt continues for a gunman who killed 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub as Turkey marked the start of the new year. The unknown assailant opened fire at Reina nightclub early on Sunday, before managing to flee amid the chaos.

An individual charged in connection with an ongoing Serious Fraud Office (SFO) bribery and corruption investigation was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday of two destruction of evidence offences, contrary to section 2(16) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 in the United Kingdom.

Media reports that a German school in Turkey has banned Christmas celebrations are causing political furore in Germany, despite a partial denial from the school administration.

According to reports, staff at the bilingual Istanbul Lisesi were told Christmas traditions and carol-singing would no longer be allowed.

Police in Spain have arrested more than 200 Chinese nationals in a €16m ($17m, £13m) fraud investigation involving call centres run from luxury Spanish villas, officials say.

The group is alleged to have convinced Chinese families to deposit money in bank accounts by pretending to be police officers.

Italy's new Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni has taken office and announced his new cabinet.

Mr Gentiloni, 62, succeeds Matteo Renzi, who resigned after losing a referendum eight days ago.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni has been asked to form a government by the country's president.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has resigned after suffering a heavy defeat in a referendum over his plan to reform the constitution.

Austrians are voting in a re-run of a presidential election which pits far-right Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer against former Green Party head Alexander Van der Bellen.

Francois Fillon is to be the conservative candidate in next year's French presidential election after his rival Alain Juppe admitted defeat.

Pope Francis has named 17 new cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church from around the world, many of whom will help choose his successor.

French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been knocked out of a primary to choose the presidential candidate of the centre-right Republican party.

Admitting defeat, Mr Sarkozy endorsed Francois Fillon, a moderate who finished first in Sunday's first round, according to near-complete results.

Germany's centre-right Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced that she will run for a fourth term in office.