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Friday

International Debt Inspectors Return To Greece

In Greece, financial inspectors returned Thursday to review whether the government was complying with the terms of a $150 billion bailout that it agreed to last year. But the inspectors were met with loud demonstrations protesting further wage and pension cuts, public sector layoffs and higher taxes.

International Debt Inspectors Return To Greece

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Thursday

French Feminists Say 'Non' To 'Mademoiselle'

In France, feminists are trying to do away with the word "mademoiselle," which they see as separating women into two categories — married and unmarried — in a manner men aren't subjected to. In this photo from 1955, ballerina Christianne Gaulthier, a dancer at the Moulin Rouge, dances through the deserted streets of Paris at the crack of dawn. But was she a mademoiselle or madame? Serge Berton/Getty Images hide caption

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Serge Berton/Getty Images

Opinion

French Feminists Say 'Non' To 'Mademoiselle'

Spurred by the Dominique Strauss-Kahn scandal, French feminists are taking on what they see as one of the most entrenched and subtle barriers to gender equality in France: the word "mademoiselle." They say the term is irrelevant and insulting.

French Feminists Say 'Non' To 'Mademoiselle'

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German Lawmakers Pass Expanded Euro Bailout Fund

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou speak during talks Tuesday in Berlin. Germany's lower house of parliament voted 523-85 to bolster the European bailout fund, which is designed to help Greece and other troubled countries. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption

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Sean Gallup/Getty Images

German Lawmakers Pass Expanded Euro Bailout Fund

The global financial community has been looking to Europe to act decisively with its debt crisis. German political leaders praised the 523-85 parliamentary vote as a victory for Europe and an important step toward solving the sovereign debt crisis. But most economists say the bailout fund needs to be even larger and stronger.

German Lawmakers Pass Expanded Euro Bailout Fund

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British Leaders Object To EU's Proposed Tax

Plans by European politicians to introduce a tax on financial transactions are getting a cold reception in Europe's main financial center, London. On Wednesday the head of the EU executive branch said banks and other financial institutions should contribute to fixing Europe's economic problems ... but 80 percent of any income would come from London, and many British leaders reject the idea.

British Leaders Object To EU's Proposed Tax

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Wednesday

Bullfighting Alive In Spain Despite Local Bans

Tomas performs for the last time at the Monumental bullring in Barcelona. Since the end of the military dictatorship of Francisco Franco, Catalan nationalists have sought to cast off all things Castilian — referring to Spain's heartland. Manu Fernandez/AP hide caption

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Manu Fernandez/AP

Bullfighting Alive In Spain Despite Local Bans

Spain's northeast region of Catalonia held its final bullfight last weekend, after voting to ban the practice last year. But elsewhere in the country, many Spaniards say the ban is more about politics than bullfighting — and they expect the tradition to continue.

Bullfighting Alive In Spain Despite Local Bans

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Cast Of Characters Compete In Irish Elections

Melissa Block talks to Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy about the interesting mix of candidates in this year's presidential election in Ireland. Among those in the race: a gay rights campaigner, a former IRA commander and a singer who won the Eurovision song contest back in 1970.

Cast Of Characters Compete In Irish Elections

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Trouble In Greece Ahead Of Debt Inspections

A Greek pensioner burns his emergency tax bill during a protest Wednesday outside the Ministry of Finance in the center of Athens. Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

Trouble In Greece Ahead Of Debt Inspections

Athens is hit by another wave of protests as international inspectors are due to return to Greece to weigh whether it has done enough to secure crucial bailout funds. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel hints that a second Greek bailout package might have to be renegotiated.

Will U.S.-Russia Reset Survive Putin Presidency?

Russia's leading political party, United Russia, called for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (left) and and President Dmitry Medvedev to effectively switch jobs when Russia holds elections next year. Putin previously served as president from 1999-2008. Yekaterina Shtukina/AP hide caption

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Yekaterina Shtukina/AP

Will U.S.-Russia Reset Survive Putin Presidency?

President Obama has invested heavily in a "reset" of relations with Russia. But some believe those ties could be strained if Vladimir Putin again becomes Russia's president.

Will U.S.-Russia Reset Survive Putin Presidency?

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The Dream Of Europe And The Bailout Of Greece

Peace symbol Michael Probst/AP hide caption

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Michael Probst/AP

Planet Money

The Dream Of Europe And The Bailout Of Greece

For many Germans, the debate over the Greek bailout gets at what it means to be German, and what it means to be European.

The Dream Of Europe And The Bailout Of Greece

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Tuesday

Greeks Protest Austerity Measures

Greeks have taken to the streets to protest the latest round of austerity measures there. The Greek parliament approved a new tax Tuesday — to be collected through every household's electricity bill. That allows the government to bypass its slow and inefficient tax system and meet the bar for a vital new injection of bailout money.

Greeks Protest Austerity Measures

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Greece OKs New Property Tax To Boost Revenue

Demonstrators hold a banner protesting a new property tax, in front of the Greek Parliament building on Sunday. Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

Greece OKs New Property Tax To Boost Revenue

Before the vote, the finance minster stressed that the government had no choice but to impose the tax as it fights to reduce the deficit. The tax will be charged through electricity bills; those who refuse to pay it risk having their power cut off.

World

Eurozone's Looming Financial Crisis

For a long time, much of the world saw the eurozone sovereign debt crisis as Europe's problem. Now world leaders, including the United States, realize a eurozone meltdown could have dire consequences for everyone. They are working up a massive rescue plan whose contours are beginning to emerge. Although Britain does not use the euro, that nation's politicians are using their party conventions to issue dire warnings about the euro's fate. And one eminent economist is proposing a novel solution to limit the impact of the European debt crisis.

Eurozone's Looming Financial Crisis

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Greek Parliament Weighs Property Tax Amid Protests

The Greek government hoped to pass a new tax law in Parliament on Tuesday, despite wide opposition to the move by a Greek public already suffering under a policy of strict austerity. Ministers said the new property tax, which would be added to people's electricity bills, was needed to persuade the IMF and EU to release more bailout funds to prop up the Greek economy.

Greek Parliament Weighs Property Tax Amid Protests

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Monday

Turkey's Erdogan Blasts Syria, Israel

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images

World

Turkey's Erdogan Blasts Syria, Israel

The Turkish prime minister says Syria's Bashar Assad has become "increasingly aggressive and violent." Recep Tayyip Erdogan also reiterates his demand that Israel apologize for the deadly raid at sea that killed nine Turks last year.

Turkey's Erdogan Blasts Syria, Israel

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