Berlin  - The work of German-born composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) is being celebrated in a major way in Europe this year with concerts and music festivals marking the anniversary of his death in London 250 years ago.

Handel, who was born in Halle, Germany, spent the last 36 years of his life in London composing a prolific array of operas and oratorios, the most famous of which is The Messiah with its rousing Hallelujah chorus.

Kunduz, Afghanistan  - A German military base in Afghanistan came under rocket fire shortly after a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.

Two missiles were fired at the facility in the northern city of Kunduz, just 20 minutes after the chancellor left, a government spokesman said in Berlin.

The missiles landed outside the perimeter fence and caused no casualties or damage.

Washington - A US judge on Monday cleared the way for John Demjanjuk, a war-crimes suspect from the Nazi era, to be deported to Germany.

The US Immigration Court in Arlington, Virginia, lifted a stay on the deportation that it had issued Friday.

The court declaration means Demjanjuk could be deported as early as Wednesday, but his lawyers were expected to seek a further stay.

Washington  - A US judge on Monday cleared the way for John Demjanjuk, a war-crimes suspect from the Nazi era, to be deported to Germany.

The US Immigration Court in Arlington, Virginia, lifted a stay on the deportation that it had issued Friday.

The court declaration means Demjanjuk could be deported as early as Wednesday, but his lawyers could still seek a further stay.

London  - Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will pay a visit to Germany and Italy later this month, the royal palace said Monday.

The couple will go to Berlin and Potsdam, the historic Prussian seat of power just outside the German capital. They will also visit the Neue Museum, recently-restored by a British architect, and the Allied Museum in Berlin to mark the 60th anniversary of the Berlin airlift by western wartime allies.

Berlin  - German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent her condolences to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, following Monday's devastating earthquake.

Merkel said she was shocked to learn of the disaster in central Italy that "left many dead and injured as well as rendering countless people homeless."

The chancellor extended her "deepest sympathies" to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.