Europe News Headlines

British utility group Centrica said Thursday that its net profits plunged 78 percent last year, hit by a large one-off charge, weak economic conditions, mild weather and higher wholesale gas prices.

The United States, Europe and Arab nations are preparing to demand that Syrian President Bashar Assad agree within days to a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid into areas hardest hit by his regime's brutal crackdown on opponents.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned against the dangers of foreign influence on Thursday at a campaign rally attended by tens of thousands of people, many of them state workers who were pressured to take part as a show of support for a leader facing his first outburst of public discontent.

LONDON (Reuters) - The head concierge of a London hotel long-favoured by Britain's royal family has been giving staff at Gatwick airport some tips on the finer arts of customer service ahead of this summer's Olympics. John Andrews from the 100-year-old Goring Hotel has been called in as the airport readies for one of its …

International powers called Thursday for urgent action on Somalia, warning at a meeting in London that the world will "pay the price" for failing to tackle political unrest, Islamist militants and pirates.

LONDON (Reuters) - Chancellor George Osborne said he supported steps by the state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland to cut bonus payouts for its staff in its investment banking arm, and praised managers for helping to turn round the bank's fortunes. RBS, 82 percent owned by the government after a state bailout during the 2008 …

LONDON (Reuters) - State-owned Royal Bank of Scotland paid out nearly a billion pounds in bonuses to staff for last year despite posting a fourth-quarter loss of nearly 2 billion pounds after big losses in Greece and Ireland and costly restructuring. RBS, 82 percent owned by the government after being rescued during the …

Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell was the shock inclusion as England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce named a youthful squad for next week's friendly with Holland here Thursday.

England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce said he was ready to lead the country into the European Championships on Thursday after naming a youthful squad for next week's friendly with Holland.

Britain will push for a tightening of the diplomatic and economic "stranglehold" on Syria at a meeting of regional powers in Tunisia on Friday, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel apologized Thursday to the relatives of 10 people, mostly immigrants, believed to have been killed by a neo-Nazi group that eluded German authorities' detection for more than a decade.

State-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland on Thursday said its net losses widened to almost £2.0 billion in 2011, hit by the Greek debt crisis and compensation payments linked to insurance mis-selling.

LONDON (Reuters) - The newly appointed managing director of Argos, the catalogue and store chain, said he has been given a free rein to examine all options for the struggling business, including closing some of its 750 shops. John Walden, a 52-year-old American who started his job at the Home Retail owned business three …

The United Nations has a secret list of top Syrian officials who could face investigation for crimes against humanity carried out by security forces in Syria's crackdown on an uprising, a panel of U.N. human rights experts said Thursday.

A Labour MP has been arrested on suspicion of assault after a late-night brawl in a House of Commons bar, leading to his suspension from the party.

The Syrian regime was not responsible for the deaths of two Western journalists who "sneaked" into the country, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

LONDON (Reuters)) - Early contract wins and a buoyant sales market are making British outsourcing firm Capita confident of better growth prospects this year after a 6 percent profit rise for 2011 that was underpinned by acquisitions. Capita, which runs contact centres and customer services for customers such as BBC TV licensing, …

England interim coach Stuart Lancaster has moved 20-year-old Owen Farrell to fly-half in one of four changes to his starting side to play Wales in a Six Nations international at Twickenham on Saturday.

LONDON (Reuters) - Capital Shopping Centres, Britain's largest mall owner by floor space, said it was not planning to buy more land from its largest shareholder, after a recent purchase sparked accusations of a conflict of interest. CSC shareholders last week approved the purchase of a 74 acre site in Malaga, southern Spain …

LONDON (Reuters) - British utility Centrica expects to deliver improved growth this year helped by higher profits from its upstream oil and gas business, after lower consumption at its supply business pegged back growth in 2011. Centrica, which owns Britain's biggest household energy supplier British Gas, on Thursday said …

Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, has drawn a line under his long-running dispute with Carlos Tevez and insisted the Argentina striker is now available for selection.

The United Nations has a secret list of top Syrian officials who could face investigation for crimes against humanity carried out by security forces in their crackdown against an anti-government uprising, a panel of U.N. human rights experts said Thursday.

Hits from The Beatles have finally joined the chorus of ringtones available for mobile phones.