Heavy storms hit parts of Europe, killing six and injuring scores of people and damaging houses, according to reports today.

Any hopes for survivors of a deadly mine explosion in Poland vanished today after rescuers recovered the bodies of all 17 men who had been missing, bringing the final death toll to 23.

Fear of a second gas explosion was slowing efforts to find 15 Polish coal miners missing 3,300 feet underground after a blast that killed at least eight of their colleagues.

Pope Benedict XVI today prayed for the victims of the roof collapse in Poland and said he was joined spiritually to their families.

AUSCHWITZ survivor Arno Lustiger brought the German parliament to its feet yesterday with a vivid speech describing his trip through “hell” in the waning weeks of World War II and his emotional rescue by US troops.