All Europe
- FocusA new, unlikely 'nation of immigrants': Germany
In a world where immigrants are often met with hostility, Germans are taking a pragmatic approach – turning the country into the world's second largest recipient of immigrants after the US.
- Could Dublin tax protests break the dam of Irish politics?
Tens of thousands of Dubliners took to the streets yesterday to express anger over the proposed water tax. It's just the latest in a string of austerity moves that have put voters on edge.
- Want to 'live' abroad, but not move? Estonia has an offer for you.
Estonia is accepting applications for 'e-residency' in the Internet-savvy Baltic state. The government hopes the initiative will strengthen investment and community with Estonia's diaspora, but just how it will work is still unclear.
- Google News shutdown in Spain: Does anyone win?
As of January, Spanish law would have required Google to pay for content from Spanish news organizations.
- CIA torture: How much did Poland know, and when did it know it?
The US Senate's report on CIA torture has put an uncomfortable glare on Poland's role as host of one of the CIA's secret prisons – and forced a former president to finally admit he knew about the prison, if not the prison's conduct.
- Putin goes to India: Can he win over Modi?
Vladimir Putin will be seeking to keep India's Narendra Modi onside with cheap oil and diamond deals, as India diversifies its weapons purchases away from Russia.
- Pirate Bay raid: Has Sweden dealt a knockout blow to file-sharing site?
The Pirate Bay file-sharing site allows users to download music and movies in defiance of copyright laws. Its founders have been forced on the run by a series of legal setbacks.
- Breaking into song: How France is tapping its toes to American musicals
'American in Paris,' a musical adaptation of a 1951 film, has its official world premiere tonight in France before transferring to Broadway next spring.
- Is the Nobel Committee too political? Outgoing director suggests 'yes'
Even as Pakistani teen Malala Yousafzai and Indian child labor activist Kailash Satyarthi receive their Peace Prizes today, there's debate behind the scenes over whether former Norwegian political leaders should be on the Nobel Committee.
- Russian scientist spies mountain-sized asteroid heading our way
In a video posted online Sunday, astrophysicist Vladimir Lipunov says the newly discovered asteroid could collide with Earth during its three-year orbital cycle. A giant meteor exploded over a Russian city in 2013.
- In Germany, a Christmas market of a different sort
The gay and lesbian Christmas market in Cologne may feature more hot pink and blue than red and green, but many say it is here that the true Christmas spirit remains alive.
- Stasi-linked party is back in power. Is Germany ready?
Leftist party Die Linke today took the top seat in the German state of Thuringia, its first governorship since reunification. But many say the party that once used its Stasi spies to control East Germany has yet to atone for its history.
- Shrouded by myth, Ukraine's past proves an obstacle to its future
Ukrainian historians say that to forge a common identity among eastern and western Ukrainians, both sides must better understand history. The UPA, a WWII-era nationalist militia lionized in the west but feared in the east, is a key example.
- Can small business help Russia bear West's sanctions? Putin hopes so.
The Russian president rolled out a series of liberal economic reforms in his state-of-the-nation speech today, saying that clearing away bureaucratic red tape and offering tax breaks to small business would soften sanctions' bite.
- From Russia, with joy? Christmas tree gift from Kremlin puzzles Parisians
The rector of Notre Dame said the cathedral couldn't afford its annual 80,000-euro tree, prompting Russia to come to the rescue. The gift comes amid particularly poor relations between Paris and Moscow.
- Healthcare reform brings protesters to the streets – in Russia
Thousands marched in Moscow on Sunday over the city's shuttering of 28 hospitals and firing of up to 10,000 medical personnel. Proponents say the move, part of a national reform, is necessary to improve healthcare, but critics don't see how.
- French vote on Palestinian statehood takes bumpier route to 'oui'
The National Assembly's non-binding vote to urge recognition of a Palestinian state passed 339 to 151, a significantly smaller margin of victory than in similar recent votes elsewhere in Europe.
- Putin says Europe killed South Stream pipeline. Did oil play a role too?
The Russian president blamed European intransigence for his decision to end the gas pipeline, which would have circumvented Ukraine via Bulgaria and Serbia. But the decision also comes as dropping oil prices put the squeeze on Russia's budget.
- Britain jumps on board the #GivingTuesday movement
In response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday which have jumped the pond, Britons are working to ensure today's online charitable 'event' makes the leap to the UK too.
- Ukraine crisis: West's sanctions target Putin, not policy, Russia insists
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the West's sanctions are aimed at promoting regime change, a view that analysts warn will make compromise over Ukraine even more difficult.