EUROPEAN UNION

Europe's chronic financial and economic troubles threaten to reach a critical level in May as warning signals emerge from the continent's core and its southern periphery.

China's economic relationships with Eastern Europe are deepening. Although the Asian power's trade with the former Communist bloc often goes unnoticed in the Americas, it has increased significantly in recent years.

Jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko continues a hunger strike to protest prison abuse while doctors say she also suffers from a chronic back condition that is unable to be treated in Ukraine.

A series of at least four explosions shook the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk on Friday afternoon, injuring at least two dozen people in what authorities now suspect are terrorist attacks.

Asian shares rose on Friday, tracking U.S. stocks which jumped overnight on strong U.S. housing data and earnings, but concerns over the health of European banks weighed on investor risk appetite after Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's rating.

Asian shares inched up Friday, tracking U.S. stocks which jumped overnight on strong U.S. housing data and earnings, but concerns over the health of European banks weighed on investor risk appetite after Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's rating.

Both sides of the divided island claim sovereignty of its territorial waters, with Cyprus launching its own search for gas that sparked protests from Ankara and Turkish Cypriots.

Opposition leader Tymoshenko, 51, has been on a hunger strike for nearly a week, after alleging guards punched her in the stomach and twisted her body as they transported her to a local hospital to treat a spinal condition.

Gantz had earlier stated that he believed international sanctions will force Iran to give up its atomic ambitions.

Economic and business sentiment in the euro zone fell in April, according to two widely followed surveys.

Greece will no longer pay benefits to 200,000 fraudsters and dead pensioners; Greek central-bank governor warns of departure from euro zone if budget cuts are not followed

Sarkozy has to walk a fine line between trying not to alienate Le Pen?s supporters, while appearing not to agree with some of their more extremist points of view.

Gantz?s moderate and cautious rhetoric is a far cry from the dramatic statements and belligerent stances of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defense minister Ehud Barak,

The European Union is preparing to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization over Argentina's new import restrictions, and may seek additional action in response to the country's recent nationalization of its largest oil firm YPF. The Argentinian government seized control of the company from Spanish oil major Repsol.

Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Holland faced a crisis, and asked opposition parties to support the ?16 to ?18 billion cuts needed to satisfy the EU, and financial markets, next week.

Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is serving a seven year prison sentence on an abuse of office conviction, went on a hunger strike to protest the “concentration camp of violence and lawlessness” created in her country by current president President Viktor Yanukovych.

Muslims living in Europe face discrimination in employment, education and daily life in general, according to a new report released by Amnesty International.

Indian software giant Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) shares gained 12.4 percent in Mumbai trading on Tuesday morning, piggybacking on the company's robust outlook and a 23 percent surge in fourth quarter profits.

As Europe's first privately owned high-speed train hit 300 kph just outside Naples, Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo smiled at the suggestion that he was addicted to risk and velocity.

Forget hotdogs, pizza, and hamburgers. Russia has entered the competitive eating arena with a new food: caviar.

Even as uplifting news about the suspension of EU sanctions spreads throughout Myanmar, new concerns over the future of the country arise from fresh disputes in parliament.