Silvio Berlusconi hosted a "prostitution system" at his villa near Milan, where he paid women for sex with cash and favours, a prosecutor at the former prime minister's trial said.

Queen Elizabeth II smiled as she left a London hospital on Monday following a 24-hour stay, having been assessed for gastroenteritis symptoms.

Queen Elizabeth II was spending Monday in hospital suffering from the symptoms of gastroenteritis, having been admitted for the first time in 10 years.

Britain's 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth II has spent the night in hospital after being admitted for the first time in 10 years as a precautionary measure against the symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Britain's 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was admitted to hospital for the first time in 10 years as a precautionary measure, after struggling to shake off a bout of gastroenteritis.

Eurozone finance ministers meet Monday against the backdrop of a weak economy and increased political uncertainty after inconclusive polls in Italy, the group's third largest economy.

Queen Elizabeth II was admitted to hospital for the first time in 10 years as a precautionary measure, after struggling to shake off a bout of gastroenteritis.

Britain's 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was admitted to hospital for the first time in 10 years on Sunday as a precautionary measure, after struggling to shake off a bout of gastroenteritis.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, suffering from gastroenteritis, was admitted to hospital on Sunday, a Buckingham Palace spokesman told AFP.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was resting up at Windsor Castle on Saturday, after the 86-year-old monarch fell victim to a bout of gastroenteritis.

Beppe Grillo, whose anti-establishment party unexpectedly captured a quarter of the vote in Italy's inconclusive elections, wants to renegotiate his crisis-hit country's debt, according to a German report on Saturday.

Beppe Grillo, whose anti-establishment party unexpectedly captured a quarter of the vote in Italy's inconclusive elections, wants to renegotiate his crisis-hit country's debt, according to a German report on Saturday.

Queen Elizabeth has cancelled a planned visit to Wales on Saturday due to a bout of gastroenteritis, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled a planned visit to Wales on Saturday due to a bout of gastroenteritis, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

Fitch on Friday warned political deadlock in Italy following elections this week in which no party won an overall majority added downward pressure on its sovereign credit rating.

Italian leftist Pier Luigi Bersani on Friday held out the prospect of forming a minority government but was turned down by the rogue party whose votes he most needs, after elections that shocked Europe.

Italian left-wing leader Pier Luigi Bersani on Friday held out the prospect of forming a minority government based on a loose alliance in parliament following inconclusive elections, as Europe puts on pressure for a quick solution.

Russia said on Friday that decisions made at a Friends of Syria meeting in Rome this week, which saw the United States pledge direct aid to Syrian rebels, encouraged "extremists" who want to seize power by force.

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday appealed to the Syrian opposition to reconsider their decision to boycott talks with foreign powers in Rome this week.

The United States on Thursday pledged $60 million in "non-lethal" assistance for the Syrian political opposition to President Bashar al-Assad as well as the first direct US aid to rebel fighters in the form of food and medical assistance.