European news

Iran Offers to Resume Nuclear Talks, Rein In Enrichment

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:20:46 GMT

Iran has said it could suspend a part of its uranium-enrichment program and is ready to resume nuclear talks with the major powers, a possible sign that Tehran has been rattled by the scale of international sanctions launched against it.

New footage of Russian spy Anna Chapman reveals social tactics

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:17:44 GMT

Anna Chapman, the Russian spy, infiltrated herself into Americans society by using networking skills, newly uncovered video footage shows.

Sanofi Likely to Make Formal Bid to Genyzme's Board

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:15:06 GMT

Sanofi-Aventis is likely to make a formal takeover offer to Genzyme's board in coming days, in an effort to win enough support from Genzyme directors for a deal that could eventually be valued at about $20 billion.

Aldi Co-Founder Dies at 88

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:10:16 GMT

Theo Albrecht, one of two reclusive brothers who founded Aldi, the German discount supermarket giant, and helped revolutionize shopping world-wide, died Saturday, the company said.

Emotional Maradona lashes out at 'treason', 'lies'

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:48:21 GMT

Diego Maradona has accused Argentina football chief Julio Grondona of lying and team manager Carlos Bilardo of treason in a bitter tirade against the two men he believes plotted his sacking as national coach.

"Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me," said an emotional Maradona in his first news conference since his colourful and controversial reign as Argentina coach came to an abrupt end on Tuesday.

French police arrest couple after eight dead babies found

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:47:38 GMT

French police detained a couple after the bodies of eight new-born babies were found in a house and in the garden of another home in a northern village, officials said Wednesday.

If the details of the case are confirmed, it could make it the worst such case in France for more than 25 years.

Police with sniffer dogs were continuing their search in Villers-au-Tertre, in the north of France, after arresting the pair, both in their mid-40s, on Tuesday.

RIM shares up on reports of new BlackBerry

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:47:26 GMT

Shares in Canada's Research in Motion surged Wednesday on reports the BlackBerry maker plans to release a new smartphone next week to rival Apple's iPhone.

RIM shares gained 4.19 percent in New York to close at 55.41 dollars.

The Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM is holding a press event in New York on Tuesday but has declined to specify what it is about.

Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya said, however, RIM is likely to unveil the new BlackBerry 6 mobile operating system and a BlackBerry 9800 touchscreen smartphone.

Cameron Warns Pakistan on 'the Export of Terror'

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:44:47 GMT

For the second time in as many days, British Prime Minister David Cameron has uttered blunt criticism of a country formed when Britain withdrew from empire six decades ago.

London Begins Two-Year Countdown to 2012 Olympics

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:34:19 GMT

Despite cost concerns, British authorities say they are ahead of schedule and IOC indicated its satisfaction with the progress

Former Nazi Guard, 88, Charged in Mass Murder of Jews

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:26:23 GMT

Samuel Kunz is accused of aiding in the murders of 430,000 Jews at the Belzec death camp during World War II, and with shooting 10 people himself during his time there.

Georgian Minister Rues Nightclub Photo

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:18:27 GMT

The former Soviet republic's 28-year-old minister for economic development insists that a photograph posted online does not show her dancing at a strip club in Canada five months ago.

Hackers deface Nazi camp website

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:11:18 GMT

Neo-Nazis hack into the website of Germany's Buchenwald concentration camp, defacing it with fascist slogans and symbols.

Champions League Losers Are Financial Winners

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:10:40 GMT

For a collection of clubs from European football's most far-flung outposts the UEFA Champions League doesn't begin a couple of months from now—it begins much earlier.

Facebook launches 'Questions,' get answers from other users

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:07:26 GMT

Facebook launched a trial version on Wednesday of a much-anticipated new service which allows members to pose questions to other users of the 500-million-strong social network.

"Facebook Questions," as the beta, or test, product is called, lets members "tap into the collective knowledge" of other members, Facebook's director of product management Blake Ross said.

Ross noted that Facebook members routinely pose questions to their network of Facebook friends.

El Salvador hospitals overwhelmed by respiratory diseases

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:07:18 GMT

Hospitals in El Salvador have been overwhelmed by an unexpected rise in respiratory diseases including pneumonia and dengue fever, health authorities said Wednesday.

"We've got our hospital network and neighborhood health clinics working at full capacity... with a huge increase these past few weeks in patients with respiratory ailments and possible dengue," Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Espinoza told reporters.

Leaked Reports Heighten European Doubts on Afghan War

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:55:02 GMT

Revelations in the documents prompt parliamentary demands in Berlin and London for expanded inquiries that some analysts say could increase pressure in Europe for accelerated troop withdrawals.

Lending Tightened in Quarter for European Businesses

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:40:57 GMT

Banks had trouble raising money to lend in the aftermath of the sovereign debt crisis, the European Central Bank said.

George Clooney's girlfriend implicated in sex and drugs scandal

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:39:05 GMT

Elisabetta Canalis named in scandal involving high-class prostitutes.

Sarkozy orders illegal Roma immigrants expelled, their camps dismantled after violence

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:23:40 GMT

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday ordered authorities to expel Gypsy illegal immigrants and dismantle their camps, amid accusations that his government is acting racist in its treatment of the group known as Roma.

Uncertainty in Senate Over Hearing on Russia Treaty

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:20:55 GMT

Senator John Kerry put the New Start arms control treaty with Russia on his panel’s schedule for next week but then backed off and said he might not call a vote after all.

ECB Releases 'Haircut' Details

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:54:41 GMT

The ECB set big increases to the discounts it will impose on low-rated and illiquid bonds when it accepts them as collateral for its lending operations.

Ukraine church blast kills woman

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:42:07 GMT

An explosion at an Orthodox church in southern Ukraine kills an 80-year-old woman, officials say.

Russia's DST Plans IPO

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:40:47 GMT

Russian Internet firm Digital Sky Technologies has hired investment banks to organize an initial public offering in 2011, a person familiar with the plans said.

Moscow Toasts Suspected Spies

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:04:06 GMT

Russia's spies get star treatment and heroes' welcome behind the scenes

French police arrest couple after 8 dead babies found

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:45:36 GMT

French police detained a couple after the bodies of eight new-born babies were found in a house and in the garden of another home in a northern village, officials said.

Russian Court Bans YouTube for Extremist Content

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:28:18 GMT

Court in the city Komsomolsk-on-Amur ordered ban in response to government lawsuit against Internet provider Rosnet

Nazi suspect charged in Germany

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:22:28 GMT

A suspected former Nazi death camp guard is charged over the killing of 430,000 Jews in World War II, German prosecutors say.

Theo Albrecht, 88; Built Grocery Chain That Owns Trader Joe’s

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:20:50 GMT

Mr. Albrecht, with his brother Karl, used lessons learned in the lean years of postwar Germany to build an international grocery empire, died Saturday in Essen, Germany.

Hacker Suspected in Huge Scam Arrested in Slovenia

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:16:10 GMT

Suspect was arrested as part of a joint US-Slovenian probe into the Mariposa virus

Russia Moves to Sell Shares in State Companies

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:10:01 GMT

The government plans to sell only minority stakes in the companies, retaining control while letting investors share a larger part of the risks and profits.

Smog at 10 times the safe level chokes Muscovites

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:01:27 GMT

The worst smog to hit Moscow in almost a decade has sent pollution soaring 10 times above safe levels, an air monitoring service said on Wednesday, as firemen reported success extinguishing peat fires causing the smoke.

Nazi guard, 90, charged with killing 4.3L Jews

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:54:02 GMT

A former Nazi death camp guard has been charged with participating in the murder of 430,000 Jews and other crimes during the Third Reich.

Spain's Catalans won't fight bulls

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:48:47 GMT

Lawmakers in Catalonia outlawed bullfighting, making it Spain's first major region to ban the deadly, centuries-old ballet between matador and beast after heated debate that pitted animal rights against a pillar of traditional culture.

French police find dead newborns

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:42:40 GMT

French police arrest a couple after the bodies of eight newborn babies are found in a village in northern France, officials say.

Catalonia Votes to Ban Bullfighting

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:39:39 GMT

The Northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia has outlawed bullfighting, becoming the country's first mainland region to do so after a heated debate that pitted animal rights against the idea of preserving a pillar of traditional culture.

Scientists investigate Stendhal Syndrome - fainting caused by great art

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:27:07 GMT

Italian scientists are to try to establish whether there really is such a phenomenon as 'Stendhal Syndrome' - the giddiness and confusion supposedly caused when one looks at great works of art.

Bodies of eight newborn babies found in French house

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:21:17 GMT

Couple arrested after the bodies of eight babies are found in a house and garden in a village in northern France.

Vatican accused of hypocrisy over short skirts dress code

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:21:10 GMT

The Vatican has been accused of hypocrisy after Swiss Guards launched a crackdown on tourists wearing skimpy clothing.

Cameron Urges Trade Links With India

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:31:28 GMT

The U.K. prime minister asked India to lower barriers to foreign investment and pushed to further expand trade relations to create jobs in both countries.

Serbia Submits Kosovo Resolution to UN General Assembly

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:30:32 GMT

Resolution seeks new dialogue on Kosovo, but does not call for reopening of status talks on its former province

Half of France's illegal Gipsy camps to be dismantled

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:16:00 GMT

Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered authorities to expel gipsy illegal immigrants and dismantle their camps amid accusations the government is acting in a racist manner.

Cyber mastermind arrested, questioned in Slovenia

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:13:47 GMT

A cyber mastermind from Slovenia who is suspected of creating a malicious software code that infected 12 million computers worldwide and orchestrating other huge cyberscams was arrested and questioned, police said today.

BAT Says Taxes Weigh on Sales

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:50:34 GMT

Cigarette maker BAT beat expectations with its first-half results and forecast another year of good growth in both profit and dividends despite expecting a tougher second half.

Europe's banks, Europe's crisis

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:25:05 GMT

BRUSSELS - Europe continues to constitute the epicenter of Act II of the global financial crisis, which has now mutated into a sovereign-debt crisis within the eurozone.

Moscow smog 'worst in decade'

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:22:14 GMT

Moscow is engulfed by the worst smog in almost a decade, as the Russian capital swelters in a record heat wave.

German football star's estranged wife demands breast reduction

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:02:57 GMT

The former German football captain, Lothar Matthaeus, is fighting demands from his estranged wife that he pays for a breast enlargement reversal.

Russia in $30bn asset sale plan

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:00:34 GMT

Russia announces plans for its biggest privatisation since the 1990s - which it hopes will raise about $30bn.

Rate Swings Sting Europe's Borrowers

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:15:06 GMT

Households and small businesses across Central and Eastern Europe are sinking under the weight of foreign-currency debts.

Europe's banks, Europe's crisis

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:14:35 GMT

BRUSSELS - Europe continues to constitute the epicenter of Act II of the global financial crisis, which has now mutated into a sovereign-debt crisis within the eurozone.

City High orchestra takes on Europe

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:17:45 GMT

Rebecca Rethwisch's three older sisters had all traveled to Europe with the school's orchestra in past years.

AIDS spreading in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:32:09 GMT

Experts and activists are warning that AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is on the rise.

Poland Hosts Post-Communist Europe's First Gay EuroPride Parade

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:26:12 GMT

Thousands march in Europe's largest annual gay pride parade in Warsaw, Poland

Europe Earnings Sidestep Economic Pain

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:38:49 GMT

Second-quarter earnings per share for constituents of the Stoxx Europe 600 index are projected to grow 26%, despite a tumultuous spring in Europe.

IMF Head: Europe Faces Years of Weak Growth

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:08:09 GMT

Europe's economy risks several years of weak growth which threaten to drive up unemployment and weaken...

OSS: Europe vs. The United States

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Neelie Kroes is IT Chief for Europe and a staunch proponent of Open Source Software. A previous Linux Journal...

International railways to Europe by Russian Railways Company

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:08:25 GMT

Routs, time of travel and ticket prices for international railways from Russia to Europe.

Poll: London Has 'Worst Food In Europe' [Polls]

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:48:00 GMT

It's official: London serves up "the worst food in Europe." More »

Europe's Renewables Unfazed by Recession

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT

The financial crisis in Europe is unlikely to derail Brussels' clean power vision.

'Twilight' star dating former Miss Europe

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:13:00 GMT

Australian Twilight actor Xavier Samuel is dating a former Miss Europe beauty queen.

Essential Europe: Must-See cities

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:53:53 GMT

For its small size, Europe has it all. Many people love Europe for its accessibility and immense variety.

'The 3rd Birthday' confirmed for Europe

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:07:00 GMT

Square Enix confirms that Parasite Eve spinoff The 3rd Birthday is to be released in Europe.

Possenniskie leads AETN in Europe

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:33:59 GMT

TV News: Exec segues from BBC Worldwide -- A&E Television Networks has tapped Dean Possenniskie as managing director, Europe.

Possenniskie leads AETN in Europe

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:15:44 GMT

Exec Shuffle: Exec segues from BBC Worldwide -- A&E Television Networks has tapped Dean Possenniskie as managing director, Europe.

Council of Europe Urges Switzerland to Lift Minaret Ban

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:14:47 GMT

Parliamentarians at the Council of Europe urged Switzerland on Wednesday to lift its controversial ban...

Europe's Real Problem

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:00:29 GMT

This World Cup has become an almost daily succession of embarrassments for Western Europe, the supposed vanguard of international soccer.

Sarkozy: Russia, Europe Must be Strategic Partners

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:56:23 GMT

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday made an impassioned plea for Europe and Russia to work...

Gates says Iran could unleash hundreds of missiles on Europe

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:13:09 GMT

United States intelligence sources have determined that Iran could shower Europe with scores of missiles.

Europe protects British pig breed

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:01:06 GMT

A celebrated British breed of pig became the latest food brand to have its name protected by Europe.

Foreigner, Europe headline iTunes gig

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:23:00 GMT

80s rock bands Foreigner and Europe confirm iTunes festival slots.

Iran could attack Europe with mighty force says Gates

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:04:10 GMT

United States intelligence sources have determined that Iran could shower Europe with scores of missiles.

Illegal bushmeat 'rife in Europe'

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:32:06 GMT

About 270 tonnes of illegal bushmeat could be passing through one of Europe's busiest airports each year, a study says.

Illegal bushmeat 'rife in Europe'

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:32:06 GMT

Some 270 tonnes of illegal bushmeat could be going through one of Europe's busiest airports each year, a study shows.

Action On Genocidaires in Europe Slow-UK Envoy

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:55:49 GMT

Taking action against Genocide fugitives in Europe is slow and taking longer than expected.

Afghan children smuggled to Europe

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

MORE than 5,900 Afghan children were smuggled into Europe last year.

Romanian dance beats prove a hit throughout Europe (Reuters)

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:18:37 GMT

Reuters - Never mind Ibiza -- Romania is emerging as a new center for Europe's dance scene.

Hewitt on Europe

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:18:23 GMT

Wilders rise shows Europe's identity anxiety

Europe Needs to Look Beyond Obama

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:23:13 GMT

Excitement among Obama's fellow leaders in Europe has long since faded. What is left is a sense that the president cares little for Europe.

Europe's ugliest tourists?

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:36:00 GMT

With a love for sandals and socks, who are the worst-dressed tourists in Europe?

UK to be 'assertive over Europe'

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:15:59 GMT

Britain's new coalition government will be "assertive" in its dealings with Europe, Foreign Secretary William Hague says.

Climate wiped out Europe's apes

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:15:41 GMT

Great apes were wiped out from ancient Europe when their environment changed drastically nine millions years ago.