Select Regional Headlines from Europe-Russia

Deutsche Welle

NATO apology falls flat as Afghan Koran protests rage on

At least six protesters have been killed and dozens wounded during clashes with police in Afghanistan. NATO's apology over the inadvertent burning of copies of the Koran failed to quell the unrest.

Foreign journalists killed in Syria regime shelling

Two Western journalists have been killed in regime bombardment of the Syrian flashpoint city of Homs, the French government has confirmed.

Australian PM calls for Labor leadership vote

Australia's Labor-led minority government has been thrown into a leadership crisis after Kevin Rudd resigned his post as foreign minister. Prime Minister Gillard has called for a vote to decide who will lead the party.

African envoy meets Senegalese opposition

The African Union has sent an envoy to help resolve the ongoing political dispute over Senegal's upcoming presidential election. Both the EU and US have criticized the government's ban on demonstrations.

Ex Philippine president pleads not guilty to corruption

The former Philippine president, Gloria Arroyo, has pled not guilty to charges of vote rigging in a trial billed as a test of the current government's commitment to fighting corruption. Arroyo could face life in prison.

Le Monde Diplomatique

Mad, passionate love — and violence

When you fall in love, it's all about what you have in common, and you can hardly imagine that there are differences, let alone that you will quarrel over them, or weep about them, or be torn apart by them — or if all goes well, struggle, learn, and bond more strongly because of, rather than despite, them. The Occupy movement had its glorious honeymoon when old and young, liberal and radical, comfortable and desperate, homeless and tenured all found that what they had in common was so (...) - Open page

The imperial way

In the years of conscious, self-inflicted decline at home, “losses” continued to mount elsewhere. In the past decade, for the first time in 500 years, South America has taken successful steps to free itself from western domination, another serious loss. The region has moved towards integration, and has begun to address some of the terrible internal problems of societies ruled by mostly Europeanized elites, tiny islands of extreme wealth in a sea of misery. They have also rid themselves of all (...) - Open page

“Losing” the world

Significant anniversaries are solemnly commemorated — Japan's attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, for example. Others are ignored, and we can often learn valuable lessons from them about what is likely to lie ahead. Right now, in fact.
At the moment, we are failing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's decision to launch the most destructive and murderous act of aggression of the post-World War II period: the invasion of South Vietnam, later all of (...) - Open page

The great carbon bubble

If we could see the world with a particularly illuminating set of spectacles, one of its most prominent features at the moment would be a giant carbon bubble, whose bursting someday will make the housing bubble of 2007 look like a lark. As yet — as we shall see — it's unfortunately largely invisible to us.
In compensation, though, we have some truly beautiful images made possible by new technology. Last month, for instance, NASA updated the most iconic photograph in our civilization's (...) - Open page

Midnight in Paris

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” If this year's Academy Awards is any indication, this epigram from Ernest Hemingway's memoir of his Paris years still seems to be true. The feast has moved to 21st century America, where several of this year's Oscar nominations star Paris.
Perhaps the Academy should bestow its next Lifetime Achievement Award on Paris. But not just any (...) - Blog posts / Exclusive

Corriere della Sera

New Scandal at Umberto I Hospital – Man Sleeping Rough in Underground Corridor

Passages have been closed several times by public prosecutor because of risk of explosions. Video shows corridors are now a refuge for homeless

RAI Loses MiTo Case over Annozero Programme

Broadcaster and journalist Corrado Formigli must pay Fiat €5 million in damages for “denigratory” report

Mystery over Warning Shots, Times and Enrica Lexie’s Route

Satellite confirms tanker was in international waters. Italian navy order to ignore Indian authorities and keep marines on board

“Italy Rife with Corruption, Wrongdoing and Malpractice” Says Court of Auditors

Vat evasion among highest in Europe at 36%. “Illegal practices much more extensive than appears on surface”

The Church and Property Tax – Only Places of Worship Exempt

Government informs EU. CEI (bishops’ conference) speaks up for not-for-profit sector. ANCI (local authorities) reckons exemption is worth €500-700 million but ARES (social research) puts figure at €2.2 billion

Spiegel

The World from Berlin: 'EU Has Not Yet Faced the Whole Sad Truth About Greece'

Will the new Greek bailout be enough to save the country from default? The ratings agency Fitch doesn't think so: It downgraded Athens on Wednesday, saying a bankruptcy was "highly likely." German commentators also feel Greece isn't out of the woods yet.

Serbian Thaw: Melting Danube Ice Creates Chaos in Belgrade

The Arctic cold front was long and hard. Yet now that temperatures are warming up across Europe, melting snow and ice are causing chaos as well. Hundreds of boats and barges on the Danube have been crushed by huge chunks of ice and officials are concerned about flooding.

Default Averted: Euro Zone Agrees on 130-Billion-Euro Bailout for Greece

Following marathon talks in Brussels, euro-zone finance ministers have agreed upon a second rescue package for Greece, worth 130 billion euros. The deal saves Athens from having to default in March. As part of the agreement, the private sector will take a 53.5 percent haircut on its holdings of Greek debt.

Stop the Second Bailout Package!: EU Should Admit Greece is Bankrupt

Greece is bankrupt and will need a 100 percent debt cut to get back on its feet. The bailout package about to be agreed by the euro finance ministers will help Greece's creditors more than the country itself. EU leaders should channel the aid into rebuilding the economy rather than rewarding financial speculators for their high-risk deals.

Top German Economist: 'Restructuring Greece Within the Euro is Illusory'

Europe's finance ministers plan to approve a second bailout for Greece on Monday but Hans-Werner Sinn, the head of Ifo, a top German economic think tank, warns that the money will only help international banks -- not the Greeks. He argues that Greece can only solve its crisis if it quits the euro.

Sofia Echo

Slovakia: Real income falls in 2011

The nominal average monthly wage in Slovakia for the third quarter of 2011 was 769 euro, an increase of 2.5 percent from the third quarter of 2010.

Misty start to day as thaw gathers pace

Sofia was 0 degrees Celsius at 10am, as were Burgas and Varna with forecast highs for all three cities expected to be about six or seven degrees Celsius.

Police release Strauss-Kahn after questioning in prostitution probe

Two businessmen with ties to the 62-year-old Strauss-Kahn are accused of running a prostitution ring and misusing funds.

Streep win would end long Oscar drought

On February 12, she won a BAFTA Best Actress award, the British equivalent of an Oscar.

European Commission says will refer ACTA to ECJ

It was not immediately clear when the EC would make a formal referral, nor whether the Commission's decision would alter ACTA's ratification process in the European Parliament.

Hurriyet Daily News

Exposed realities

Two separate developments have exposed some bitter and unfortunate realities of this country. The foremost reality ...

Crisis feeds every segment

Some of my readers will get quite angry today. Since I know they will be cross because I am telling the truth, I am ready to take on all critics.

Libya ruler admits impotency

Libya’s leader admits his transitional government, fails to control militias who do not lay down arms and commit to central governments, as more than 100 people are reportedly killed in tribal clashes in past 10 days

High turnout in Yemen’s presidential elections

Yemeni electoral officials hailed a high turnout in a landmark vote that ended President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year rule, despite boycott calls in the south where violence marred polling.

Abkhaz leader escapes from deadly ambush

The leader of a Russian-backed Georgian breakaway region narrowly survived an assassination attempt yesterday that killed two of his bodyguards, local media reported.

Radio Free Europe

Kyrgyzstan Bans Unification Church

A court in Bishkek has ruled that the South Korean-based Unification Church can no longer operate on Kyrgyz territory.

Nearly 50 Reported Killed In Wave Of Iraq Attacks

Security officials in Iraq say a wave of bombing and shooting attacks has killed at least around 30 people.

At Least 12 Killed By Pakistan Bus Station Bomb

At least 12 people have been killed in a bomb explosion near a bus station in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

War Leaves Half Million Homeless in Afghanistan

In a fresh report, Amnesty International says around 400 people seek shelter in makeshift camps around Afghanistan every day.

Taliban Calls For Attacks On 'Invaders' Over Koran Burnings

The Taliban have urged Afghans to target foreign military bases and "beat and kill" Westerners in retaliation for burnings of the Koran at a NATO base, as deadly protests continue in Afghanistan.

Financial Times

Germany fights eurozone firewall moves

Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Angela Merkel, insisted that Berlin saw no need to increase the size of the €500bn European Stability Mechanism

Stocks edge up from Greek hangover

Region’s shares lower amid lingering concerns about implementation of the country’s rescue package and Europe’s economic outlook

BP and Anadarko liable for Macondo damages

Judge rules that the two companies are both liable for damages and penalties that could run into billions of dollars

Republican hopefuls round on Santorum

Socially conservative former Pennsylvania senator is accused of being fiscally reckless by Mitt Romney and of being a ‘fake’ by Ron Paul

Obama and Romney unveil rival tax plans

The two plans show that there is strong support for reforms to the bafflingly complicated US tax system but division about how much revenue the system should raise

St. Petersburg

Map of Region: Europe/Russia