Central and eastern European countries have escaped most of the turmoil that has recently lashed emerging economies as they have been shielded by the recovery in the neighbouring eurozone.
Smartwatches look set to dominate this year's IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, which opens Wednesday, stealing the limelight from smart phones and tablet computers.
An Italian local politician has alleged the Doge's Palace in Venice was damaged to install an air-conditioning system demanded by a French museum for a rare Manet exhibition.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Romania on Sunday to protest against shale gas exploration and a controversial Canadian gold mine project using cyanide.
The Socialist government's plans to reform France's debt-ridden pension system , to be presented to ministers this month, fail to address the core problems and could spark fresh tensions with Brussels.
The Venice film festival descended briefly into chaos Sunday as screaming "Harry Potter" fans stampeded across the seafront after British star Daniel Radcliffe, in town to present his new film.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel hit out at Russia and China over their stance in the Syrian crisis, saying in an interview published Saturday that their action weakened the United Nations.
Michael Douglas was the big name star on the red carpet as the 39th Deauville film festival opened on Friday night with a screening of the actor's latest movie, "My Life with Liberace".
Kazakhstan football club Shakhter of Karaganda has failed to prevail over Scottish Celtic in the second leg match of the final qualification round of the Champion League.
The dangers of shark attacks are no secret for Georges, who as a kid was repeatedly warned to beware of the large predators lurking in the tropical waters off his native Reunion island.
Leadership is an innate quality, said a fish study Wednesday that predicted trouble in animal social groups, also human ones, when natural roles are reversed.
The Venice film festival kicks off Wednesday with the arrival of movie stars on water taxis for a dark line-up flush with fiendish tales of abuse, betrayal and survival.