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Saturday

Socialist Campaigns Against Sarkozy, 'Big Finance'

French voters go to the polls in three weeks to cast ballots in the first round of their presidential election. Current President Nicolas Sarkozy is fighting for his life in a close race against a man who has never held national office and is virtually unknown outside of France. Eleanor Beardsley profiles socialist candidate Francois Hollande.

Socialist Campaigns Against Sarkozy, 'Big Finance'

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Friday

Rome Drives Away Photogenic Gladiators

Performers in Rome who dress like the ancient combatants earn money by posing in photos with tourists. As of Friday, they've been driven away from the Colosseum. Roman officials say gladiators will no longer be able to peddle pictures outside their classic arena.

Rome Drives Away Photogenic Gladiators

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French Killings Spark National Soul-Searching

Hundreds of people gather on March 23 on the main public square in Toulouse, France, to pay homage to the seven victims of self-proclaimed al-Qaida militant Mohamed Merah. Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images

French Killings Spark National Soul-Searching

The killings of three Jewish children, a rabbi and three soldiers of North African descent by an Islamic extremist came during a presidential campaign in which immigration dominated election rhetoric. While some Muslims say they fear a backlash, and Jews have been shaken by the tragedy, there has also been an outpouring of outrage and solidarity.

French Killings Spark National Soul-Searching

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Thursday

Austerity Measures Prompt Spanish Workers To Strike

Workers walked off the job in Spain on Thursday, halting public transport, closing schools and leaving hospitals with emergency staff only. The general strike was called by unions in response to the conservative government's labor reforms, which let companies opt out of collective bargaining agreements and fire workers more cheaply. But more punishing austerity could still be to come, as Spain tries to whittle down its budget deficit under pressure from Brussels.

Austerity Measures Prompt Spanish Workers To Strike

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Like The U.S., Europe Wrestles With Health Care

A patient is treated at the Nord Hospital in Marseille, France, in February. European countries have also been engaged in intense debates on the future of their health care systems, where universal coverage is the norm. Anne-Chrisine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Anne-Chrisine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Like The U.S., Europe Wrestles With Health Care

As the Supreme Court weighs the fate of President Obama's health care law, several European countries are also debating the future of their health care systems.

Vatican Leaks Raise Questions Over Finances

Italian financial police officers talk in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Recently leaked Vatican documents have raised questions about the Vatican's financial transactions. Angelo Carconi/AP hide caption

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Angelo Carconi/AP

Vatican Leaks Raise Questions Over Finances

An archbishop who complained of corruption was sent to the United States, and the Vatican is carrying out a rare criminal investigation to see who leaked documents purporting financial misdeeds.

Vatican Leaks Raise Questions Over Finances

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Business

EU Deal Expected To Lower Mobile Roaming Fees

European officials have agreed to overhaul mobile roaming fees. That would allow consumers to pay less for calls, texts and mobile web services when traveling abroad. Consumer advocates are urging the EU to go further, and eliminate roaming fees altogether.

EU Deal Expected To Lower Mobile Roaming Fees

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Tuesday

Romney, GOP Pounce On Obama's Russia Comment

President Obama's remarks about missile defense to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev were meant for his ears only. But they were picked up by a microphone, and have drawn sharp criticism from Mitt Romeny and other Republicans. Obama and Medvedev are shown here on Monday at a nuclear summit in Seoul, South Korea. Jewel Samad/Getty Images hide caption

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Jewel Samad/Getty Images

National Security

Romney, GOP Pounce On Obama's Russia Comment

President Obama might have thought he was getting a break from domestic politics when he traveled to South Korea. But one remark to the Russian president, which wasn't meant for public consumption, has given Republicans fodder to criticize Obama on foreign policy.

Romney, GOP Pounce On Obama's Russia Comment

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Monday

New Scandal Haunts Britain's Conservatives

A new political scandal has hit Britain's ruling Conservative Party. A senior official has resigned over an influence-peddling scheme uncovered by a British newspaper.

New Scandal Haunts Britain's Conservatives

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Fake Movie Anthem Played For Kazakhstan Winner

Kazakhstan's Maria Dmitrienko took gold at the Arab Shooting Championships last week in Kuwait. As she stood to hear her national anthem, out blared the parody anthem from the movie Borat. Organizers apologized. They got Serbia's anthem wrong, too.

Fake Movie Anthem Played For Kazakhstan Winner

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Should Big Ben Be Renamed Big Beth?

Britain's Big Ben is technically the giant bell inside St. Stephen's Tower at Parliament. Some members of Parliament want it renamed the Elizabeth tower, in honor of the queen. Jokingly, some suggested the name: Big Beth.

Should Big Ben Be Renamed Big Beth?

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Friday

Europe's Mixed Record On Animal Antibiotics

Pigs take a mud bath at the De Jofrahoeve pig farm in Esch, Netherlands. Dutch farmers treat their animals with almost three times the antibiotics that their Danish neighbors use. Robin Utrecht/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Robin Utrecht/AFP/Getty Images

The Salt

Europe's Mixed Record On Animal Antibiotics

Yesterday, a federal judge ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a 1977 plan to outlaw the use of certain antibiotics as growth promotion drugs for livestock. American farmers are unsure about how this could impact their industry, but there's a real-world example that provides some answers: Europe, and specifically Denmark.