All Europe
- Land of KGB shrugs over US-British G-20 spying claims
Russians say few surprises in Guardian revelations; that tapping was aimed at Dmitri Medvedev not Vladimir Putin lessens impact in Moscow.
- Changing times: G8 leaders head to bucolic Northern Ireland
As recently as five years ago it would have been unthinkable to gather the world's most powerful leaders in Northern Ireland. The two-day G8 conference opens tomorrow.
- With tax evasion on G8 agenda, Cameron eyes Britain's own havens
Ahead of next week's G8 summit, the UK prime minister hopes to convince leaders of British overseas territories like Bermuda and the Cayman Islands to end their tax-sheltering policies.
- Another US-UK 'special relationship' - between intelligence services
Edward Snowden's leaks about the NSA's PRISM program have drawn attention to the extraordinarily tight partnership between the US agency and GCHQ, its British counterpart.
- Could French flicks derail a US-EU free trade pact?
France is worried that without an 'exception culturelle,' the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership would allow Hollywood to overwhelm the French movie industry.
- A new title for soccer star Lionel Messi: tax cheat?
Messi, who is accused of using foreign shell companies to avoid paying 4.1 million euros to the government, is just the latest high-profile target of Spanish tax authorities.
- Taking page from East Germany, Putin launches new 'Popular Front'
The new organization, which experts say is likely modeled on East Germany's National Front, gives Putin a grassroots extra-parliamentary machine aimed at consolidating his popularity.
- Hungary under Orban moves to restrict freedom of information
The European Union member is limiting its Freedom of Information Act.
- Without warning, Greece shutters its public broadcaster
The shock closure of ERT, which leaves some 2,600 journalists out of work, is Greece's first mass layoff as it tries to cut costs as demanded by its European creditors.
- Hollande says debt crisis is 'over.' But is France really out of the woods?
Experts say that, despite Hollande's comments this past weekend, France could join Southern Europe's economic crisis if it does not introduce urgent reforms.
- Do you know Chechnya? Take the quiz
When Chechnya made headlines in April 2013 as the ancestral land of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, the news dredged up memories of terrorist attacks in Russia orchestrated in the name of Chechen independence. How much do you know about Chechen-Russian relations – about the years of war with Russia and heavy-handed policies of a Moscow-installed strongman? And what else do you know about this small stretch of land, long billed as a volatile backwater to Russia?
- In tweak to US, Russia would 'consider' asylum for Snowden
The NSA whistleblower's revelations let the Kremlin criticize Western 'double standards,' say experts. But the Russian government has shown little tolerance for its own whistleblowers.
- UK did not use PRISM to dodge British law, says Hague
The British foreign minister told Parliament today that all data used by British intelligence complied with the law, even that supplied by the controversial NSA surveillance program, PRISM.
- Russia's growing NGO crackdown turns to environmental, cultural groups
The Kremlin has been targeting 'political' NGOs that receive foreign funding for some time. Now it is eying nonpolitical groups too, like an LGBT film festival and a group trying to save Siberian cranes.
- Estonian believers shop a spiritual 'marketplace'
Though often cited as one of Europe's most agnostic countries, Estonia is not so much a nation of atheists as a place where seekers can explore traditional and non-traditional beliefs equally.
- Will Putin's divorce have political fallout in Russia?
With divorce quite common in Russia, experts say Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin's split is unlike to hurt the president politically – but that could change if he remarries.
- English Defence League back in the limelight after Woolwich murder
The killing of a British soldier last month by professed Muslim extremists has given new life to the anti-Islam EDL. But experts say the group's rejuvenation will only go so far.