EU foreign ministers are set to impose a travel ban and asset freeze on the UK-born wife of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, diplomats say.

Asma al-Assad is among 12 Syrians to be added to a number of figures, including the president, who are already subject to sanctions.

More deaths have been reported from the cold snap across Europe, which has already claimed more than 200 lives.

Ukraine continues to be hardest hit, with another nine deaths overnight. Officials say 131 have now died, most of them homeless people, and 1,800 people have been taken to hospital.

Rescue crews have blasted holes in a stricken cruise ship in order to gain easier access as hopes fade of finding survivors among the 29 people missing.

Six people are known to have died after the Costa Concordia crashed into rocks off Italy's west coast on Friday night.

Tens of thousands of people have been protesting in Budapest over Hungary's controversial new constitution, a day after it came into force.

The country's governing Fidesz party pushed the law through parliament in April after winning a two-thirds majority in parliamentary elections.

At least seven die after 5.6 magnitude earthquake near city of Van, two weeks after quake killed hundreds in the region.

ERCIS, Turkey - A relative says a 13-year-old boy used a rock in a desperate attempt to dig a hole and free himself from the rubble of a collapsed building following a massive earthquake that killed at least 550 people.