All Europe
Swiss museum vows new standard in handling of Nazi-looted artCornelius Gurlitt, the son of one of Adolf Hitler鈥檚 main art dealers, bequeathed the collection to the聽Kunstmuseum Bern, which has said it will thoroughly research the provenance of each piece of art and promises a transparent process.
As their leaders spar with Russia, Poles press for a bit of pragmatismPoland and Russia expelled each other's diplomats this week and canceled cultural exchanges. But many Poles, driven by longstanding ties as well as business interests, want more dialogue. Will the new PM deliver?
UKIP wins 2nd seat in British Parliament. How big a blow to Cameron?UKIP candidate Mark Reckless defeated the candidate from Prime Minister Cameron's Conservative Party in a special by-election. UKIP's anti-immigration, anti-EU platform is putting pressure on mainstream parties ahead of May 2015 elections.
Google loses ground in fight against Europe's 'right to be forgotten'The search giant is campaigning against a ruling that gives Europeans the ability to hide their histories on the Internet. But it鈥檚 facing a Continent determined to reassert its right to privacy.
Russia, China plan war games, arms sales. Could alliance be in the cards?With Russia alienated by the West and China eager to buy high-end weaponry, a joint military pact 鈥� though still a long way off 鈥� looks increasingly seductive to both.
Greek dilemma: Are new jobs created by gold mine worth the ecological risk?A billion-dollar project in the Halkidiki peninsula could bring thousands of jobs to struggling Greeks. But the trade-off might be serious damage to flora and fauna in the tourist region.
Has EU鈥檚 anti-corruption mission been corrupted itself?Allegations of bribery have shaken the European Union's rule of law mission in Kosovo, further diminishing the public trust in the organization meant to curb widespread graft in the country聽鈥� not contribute to it.
Mysterious burst of light over Russia leaves scientists, locals guessingOn Friday evening, a yellow flash filled the skies over Russia's sparsely populated Urals region. Was it a meteor? A rocket launch? No one seems to know.
Unusual Russian orbiter has stargazers wondering: Is it a satellite killer?Object 2014-28E, a Russian satellite, has been scooting across the skies in an odd fashion 鈥� and stirring speculation that Russia has reignited its space-weapons program.- Ukraine takes economic swing at rebels 鈥� but might hit pensioners insteadPresident Poroshenko canceled a 'special status' law for Donetsk and Luhansk, effectively cutting off the regions' hospitals, schools, and pensioners from state money. Many worry that it will hurt defenseless locals.
Cameron plans to bar British jihadis from coming home. Is that legal?Prime Minister Cameron announced a raft of new laws meant to prevent British citizens returning from Syria and Iraq from radicalizing. But observers say the plan is likely to run afoul of preexisting human rights laws.
Can gold deflect Western economic attacks? The Kremlin thinks so.Russia's Central Bank has been buying up huge quantities of gold 鈥� 55 tons in the third quarter alone 鈥� as a means to pad the economy against Western sanctions' bite.
Is the Dutch 'Black Pete' racist? Legally, not yet.As the Christmas season begins, many people dress up as Santa Claus helper 'Black Pete' by donning blackface and curly wigs. Opponents were disappointed when a Dutch court refused to rule on whether that violates antidiscrimination laws.
Nuclear curve ball? Russia inks deal with Iran for new reactorsThe agreement, which could see Russia build eight new civilian reactors in Iran, comes just weeks before a deadline for Iran to accept curbs on its capacity to make nuclear weapons.- In Denmark, a new tactic for returning European jihadis: counselingPolice in Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city, offer mentoring and assistance in finding jobs to those returning from fighting in Syria's civil war.
Falling ruble doesn't hit Putin 鈥� at least, not yetRussia's ruble has lost half its value against the dollar this year 鈥� 10 percent in just the past week. But most Russians still support President Putin in the sanctions and counter-sanctions battle with the West that has hurt the Russian currency.
The ExplainerWhy is everyone in Britain wearing a red poppy?The centennial of the start of World War I has captured the imagination of Britons and others across Europe. Why has the poppy become a test of patriotism?聽
25 years since fall of the Berlin Wall, tracing a winding historyGermans and foreign tourists traced the route of the Cold War relic today, remembering a divided history and a wound that still figures prominently in the German psyche.
From the Monitor archives: After the fall of the Berlin Wall, what's next?Twenty-five years ago today, the fall of the Berlin Wall was welcomed by the West, but many worried about what it meant for Germany and for East-West relations. 海角大神 reported as it happened.
From the Monitor archives: Joy in Berlin as the Wall fallsTwenty-five years ago today, the Berlin Wall came down, paving the way for the end of the cold war and the reunification of Germany. 海角大神 reported as it happened.
