Western Europe
Spanish police arrested three people on Tuesday in connection with the theft of five paintings by the Irish-born artist Francis Bacon that were worth 25 million euros ($26.88 million), the Interior Ministry said.
Rising inflation in the euro zone is primarily being driven by fluctuating energy prices and there are no signs it is sustainable, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said on Thursday.
French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on January 23 to outline his plans for a Europe which he said should focus on defense, security and a tighter euro zone.
Germany's insistence on austerity in the euro zone has left Europe more divided than ever and a break-up of the European Union is no longer inconceivable, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Der Spiegel magazine.
A sharp rebound in euro zone inflation and a better-than-expected business outlook are certain to fire up demands from some hardliners for the European Central Bank to choke off it ultra-generous monetary policy.
Euro zone stocks opened 2017 by climbing to their highest in more than a year on Monday after data showed manufacturers in the currency bloc ramped up activity at the fastest pace in more than five years.
Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Thursday defended Athens' plans to pay out one-off benefits for low-income pensioners ahead of Christmas.
When French tycoon Vincent Bollore backed out of a deal to buy the pay-TV business of Italian broadcaster Mediaset (MS.MI), and instead proposed to take a large slice of the parent company itself, investors feared he was plotting another stealth raid.
