The scale of criticism is unprecedented in the four years of Benedict's pontificate.

Spectre of nepotism rears its head as president meets Daewoo boss before shipping pact is inked.

Elisabeth Fritzl, the Austrian woman who was held hostage in a cellar by her father for 24 years, has begun to tell her story to prosecutors.

Germany's politicians are locked in a heated debate after the defence minister signalled his readiness to shoot down hijacked planes at the risk of killing innocent civilians in order to avert a wider disaster. The comments of Josef Jung of the Christian Democrats have unleashed a passionate debate across the parties and led to calls for his resignation this week in an emotional session in the Bundestag, the German Parliament.

Jewish and Muslim leaders have united in their condemnation of a German court's decision to in effect outlaw the circumcision of boys.

An innovative suit gives medical students an idea of what the elderly experience in their daily lives, writes Kate Connolly.

The scale of criticism is unprecedented in the four years of Benedict's pontificate.

Spectre of nepotism rears its head as president meets Daewoo boss before shipping pact is inked.