Politics

Politics - Germany
Precarious power
Germany's conservative coalition escaped further embarrassment after its candidate for president narrowly won office. Still, Chancellor Angela Merkel remains in a tight spot as her government pushes through a massive austerity package amid plummeting popularity ratings and growing concern over a double-dip recession in Europe's largest economy.
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Politics - Spain
Down with the bulls
Bullfighting in Barcelona is history because of political friction and a culture clash between Catalonia and Spain. A petition to change Catalonia's animal cruelty law has forced the region's parliament to take on banning the "sport" in the autonomous Spanish state: The motion, which calls for a repeal of the exclusion of bullfighting from animal protection laws, passed in a move that many say is more about Catalonian independence than the bulls and animal cruelty.
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Morocco
Going dry?
A political battle is brewing in Morocco over a long-standing law that bans the sale of alcohol to Muslims. The decree may have been on the books for nearly half a century but has rarely been enforced. But now, Fes wants to become the country's first city to enforce the ban and has sparked a national debate over the country's image and identity.
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Italy
The unsinkable
Silvio Berlusconi is the man at the center of ongoing sex scandals, allegations of corruption and a violent attack in December that opponents accuse him of orchestrating to win public sympathy. Yet the colorful and widely mocked Italian leader remains surprisingly popular at home. What is the secret of his success?
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EU-US
Transatlantic blues
After more than a year in office, President Obama has transformed the image of America among previously disenchanted Europeans. But disputes over such difficult issues as climate change, the war in Afghanistan and the handling of the financial crisis highlight how thorny the transatlantic relationship remains.
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European Union
'Fortress Europe'
The EU's policy of refugee resettlement was intended to stem the tide of asylum seekers trying to reach Europe. But while the EU considers more resources for the program, individual member states are taking matters into their own hands.
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