NATO said it had tracked and intercepted four groups of Russian warplanes "conducting significant military manoeuvres" in European airspace over the past two days.
Russia announced it will recognise separatist polls in Ukraine next weekend, sparking an angry reaction from Washington and Kiev's newly elected pro-Western leaders.
Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved hundreds of Jewish children in Prague from the Nazis in the run-up to World War II, was given the Czech Republic's top honour.
The Spanish central government said it will challenge in court plans by Catalonia to hold a symbolic vote on whether the wealthy region should be independent.
Estonian Finance Minister Juergen Ligi announced his resignation after he caused a furore with Facebook comments seen as insulting to the education minister.