... to increase living standards, stability and economic growth. Soon after, the global economic crisis hit, and the measures France and Germany employed to overcome the crisis resulted instead in the economic collapse of Greece and Spain. Few people doubt that socialist Francois Hollande will become the new French president in May. His rival, incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy, came to power five years ago promising to increase living standards, stability and...

... observers as a snub to the U.S. Putin justified his absence by saying he needed to conduct interviews with candidates for Cabinet posts. The president's trip comes amid an ongoing crisis in the eurozone, with a possible messy exit from the economic union by Greece threatening to trigger unpredictable consequences for European economies. A study released Thursday ordered by former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said things could spiral down into violence and chaos in Russia if the economy slows or dips in the...

... or Buranovo Grannies, won the right to contend in the finals with their song Party for Everybody, whose title is sung in English as the song transitions from a traditional village song to an upbeat disco tune. They competed against Iceland, Hungary, Greece, and others in the semifinal round. In the final round, the group will face the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Azerbaijan, and the victors of the next semifinals, scheduled for Thursday. The competition between the 20 finalists will be held...

... about the G8 summit, saying that besides discussions on nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea, support of Afghanistan’s economy and the conflict in Syria, the meeting focused on world economics, with special attention placed on the situation in Greece. He said the G8 members had reached a consensus that its exit from the euro zone was impermissible. “[The] Russian prime minister noted that we are not going to cut the share of the euro in our reserves in order not to send wrong signals...

... investors to be concerned," Slynko said in a Friday telephone interview. The MICEX stock index has declined almost 16 percent since March 11, while European investors have been kept on the edge of their seats by the daily updates on bailout news for Greece. In a statement Thursday night, O1 Properties said it was canceling the launch of its IPO "due to adverse market conditions." It had planned to raise about $425 million on the London Stock Exchange with a price range of $11 to $13 per...

... cheap flight, Skype your mother from the airport, and if you don't like the place, fly home again. That's why emigration is the right option for tens of millions today. About a fifth of young people in Western countries are unemployed. In Spain and Greece, about half are. They could stick around at home, perhaps eventually find work and then spend their careers paying for the previous generation's pensions, health care and debt. Or they could emigrate. It is hard to make a start in Brazil, Canada...

... deficit crisis in Europe has been wrapped up in politics for many months, with governments cautious of imposing even stricter budget spending curbs for fear of an escalation of public protests. Following the election results in France and the stalemate in Greece, governments elsewhere will be even more wary of imposing strict austerity measures. But, at the same time, it is very clear that the problems in Europe can only be solved with political unity and joint actions across the region. Whether that unity...