http://www.mail.com/locations/64-western-europe.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/locations/64-western-europe.html http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1764830-bode-miller-wont-race-until-february.html VAL GARDENA, Italy (AP) — Bode Miller likely won't start his season until February as part of his cautious return from left knee surgery. There's also a chance he might sit out the entire season. Meanwhile, Miller is taking care of his new wife, who he hit in the eye with a golf ball Wednesday. Miller's knee first bothered him last winter when he was comp... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1764830-bode-miller-wont-race-until-february.html 2012-12-13T17:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1764822-baseball-backs-merger-with-softball-olympic-bid.html LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The International Baseball Federation has formally approved a merger with softball's governing body in a joint bid to return to the Olympics. IBAF says the creation of a single international federation received unanimous approval in a mail-in vote of its members. The International Softball Federation approved the move in Octob... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:42:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1764822-baseball-backs-merger-with-softball-olympic-bid.html 2012-12-13T17:42:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1764128-lawyer-killed-kremlin-critic-worked-uk-spies.html LONDON (AP) — Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian agent-turned-Kremlin critic, was a "registered and paid" agent working for Britain's foreign intelligence agency when he died after being mysteriously poisoned, a lawyer representing his widow told an official hearing Thursday. Another lawyer said the U.K. has evidence the Russian government was behind Litvinenko's death... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:42:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1764128-lawyer-killed-kremlin-critic-worked-uk-spies.html 2012-12-13T17:42:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1763378-maya-moore-leaving-mark-chinese-basketball.html Maya Moore has excelled everywhere she's played, winning championships from college to the WNBA and Europe. Now she's leaving her mark on the Chinese women's basketball league. Averaging 45 points a game for the Shanxi Flame, Moore has helped bring new fans to the women's game in a basketball crazed nation. "They show maybe five NBA games a week here," Mo... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1763378-maya-moore-leaving-mark-chinese-basketball.html 2012-12-13T17:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764772-sp-puts-uks-aaa-rating-negative-watch.html LONDON (AP) — The Standard & Poor's rating agency has put Britain's AAA long-term credit rating on negative watch because of fears that economic growth over the next two years could be weaker than forecast. S&P said Thursday that it believed that many of the factors that have held back UK economic growth will persist. The agency added, "we continue to bel... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:29:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764772-sp-puts-uks-aaa-rating-negative-watch.html 2012-12-13T17:29:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763806-german-real-estate-booms-people-seek-security.html BERLIN (AP) — Buying a home in Berlin is widely viewed as one of the safest investments a German, or any European, can make. That is why some real-estate experts are worried the market could get overheated. Home prices in Germany's largest cities are booming. Building permits and home ownership rates are climbing fast. And the percentage of foreigners sna... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763806-german-real-estate-booms-people-seek-security.html 2012-12-13T17:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763424-market-enthusiasm-fed-stimulus-fades.html LONDON (AP) — Upbeat U.S. economic figures failed to restore strength to stock markets Thursday as investors monitored the progress of budget discussions in the U.S. On Wednesday, stocks had gained ground on hopes of another monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve, but once it was delivered investors refrained from any further buying. "As we've seen on... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763424-market-enthusiasm-fed-stimulus-fades.html 2012-12-13T16:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1763450-inquest-nurse-british-royal-hoax-hanging.html LONDON (AP) — A nurse was found hanging in her room three days after she had been duped by a hoax call from Australian DJs about the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, a U.K. inquest was told Thursday. The case is being treated as an apparent suicide. Coroner's officer Lynda Martindill said nurse Jacintha Saldanha was discovered hanging by a scarf from a ward... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:48:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1763450-inquest-nurse-british-royal-hoax-hanging.html 2012-12-13T16:48:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1764620-study-people-worldwide-living-longer-sicker.html LONDON (AP) — Nearly everywhere around the world, people are living longer and fewer children are dying. But increasingly, people are grappling with the diseases and disabilities of modern life, according to the most expansive global look so far at life expectancy and the biggest health threats. The last comprehensive study was in 1990 and the top health ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:47:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1764620-study-people-worldwide-living-longer-sicker.html 2012-12-13T16:47:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764648-financial-crisis-explained-to-queen-elizabeth-ii.html LONDON (AP) — In 2008, Queen Elizabeth II asked academics why no one saw the financial crisis coming. On Thursday, she finally got an answer. Sujit Kapadia from the Bank of England's Financial Services Committee gave the queen three reasons as she visited the central bank in London. He told her that financial crises are like earthquakes — rare and difficu... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:32:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764648-financial-crisis-explained-to-queen-elizabeth-ii.html 2012-12-13T16:32:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1763868-watson-returns-ryder-cup-captain.html NEW YORK (AP) — The Americans are bringing back Tom Watson as Ryder Cup captain with hopes of ending two decades of defeats in Europe. "We're just really tired of losing Ryder Cup," PGA of America President Ted Bishop said Thursday during a news conference at the Empire State Building. Watson faces a tall order. The Americans have lost seven of the last n... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/other/1763868-watson-returns-ryder-cup-captain.html 2012-12-13T16:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763892-top-central-banks-extend-dollar-lending-program.html FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Major central banks acted Thursday to try to shore up confidence in the global financial system by extending a program that makes it easier for banks to borrow U.S. dollars. Thursday's move renews for a year a program that was expanded in November 2011 in response to Europe's debt crisis. It had been set to expire in February. Th... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763892-top-central-banks-extend-dollar-lending-program.html 2012-12-13T16:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764616-glance-eus-key-decisions-2012.html In a whirlwind of decision-making, ministers from the European Union's 27 countries agreed Thursday on the foundation of a fully-fledged banking union and approved billions of euros in bailout loans for Greece that will prevent it from going bankrupt. Both decisions are vital in bringing calm to crisis-hit Europe and strengthening the region against any further financial sho... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:15:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764616-glance-eus-key-decisions-2012.html 2012-12-13T16:15:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1763560-european-court-condemns-cia-landmark-ruling.html PARIS (AP) — A European court issued a landmark ruling Thursday that condemned the CIA's so-called extraordinary renditions programs and bolstered those who say they were illegally kidnapped and tortured as part of an overzealous war on terrorism. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that a German car salesman was a victim of torture and abuse, in a l... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1763560-european-court-condemns-cia-landmark-ruling.html 2012-12-13T16:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1760584-eu-backs-banking-supervisor-greece-bailout.html BRUSSELS (AP) — In one whirlwind morning, the European Union nations agreed Thursday to two key measures vital to the financial security of the region. As well as laying the groundwork for a full-fledged banking union, Greece's euro partners approved billions in bailout loans that will prevent the country from going bankrupt. The measures, approved by Eur... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:08:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1760584-eu-backs-banking-supervisor-greece-bailout.html 2012-12-13T16:08:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1764452-huge-dna-code-christmas-tree-revealed.html NEW YORK (AP) — To millions of people, the Christmas tree is a cheerful sight. To scientists who decipher the DNA codes of plants and animals, it's a monster. We're talking about the conifer, the umbrella term for cone-bearing trees like the spruce, fir, pine, cypress and cedar. Apart from their Yuletide popularity, they play big roles in the lumber indus... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1764452-huge-dna-code-christmas-tree-revealed.html 2012-12-13T16:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1763798-man-jailed-2-years-defacing-rothko-work.html LONDON (AP) — A Polish man who defaced a Mark Rothko painting in London's Tate Modern gallery with black ink to promote an obscure artistic creed was sentenced Thursday to two years in jail. Wlodzimierz Umaniec, also known as Vladimir Umanets, was arrested after visitors discovered a scrawl across the bottom of Rothko's "Black on Maroon" on Oct 7. The 26-... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:47:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1763798-man-jailed-2-years-defacing-rothko-work.html 2012-12-13T15:47:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1764352-oscars-academy-honors-pedro-almodovar-london.html LONDON (AP) — Director Pedro Almodovar is being hailed by Hollywood at an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences retrospective in London. The iconoclastic Spaniard is due to receive tributes at Thursday's event from colleagues and admirers, including fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, screenwriter Peter Morgan and fellow directors Stephen Frears an... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1764352-oscars-academy-honors-pedro-almodovar-london.html 2012-12-13T15:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1764276-discovery-channel-close-to-deal-eurosport.html PARIS (AP) — The parent company of the Discovery Channel is close to buying a stake in Europe's leading sports network, Eurosport. TF1, the Paris-based media group that owns Eurosport, says Discovery Communications could pay €170 million in cash for a 20 percent stake in Eurosport. The planned deal gives Discovery the option of lifting its stake in Eurosp... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1764276-discovery-channel-close-to-deal-eurosport.html 2012-12-13T15:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763480-new-found-tale-hans-christian-andersens.html COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — For years, the somber fairy tale about a lonely candle who wanted to be lit dwelt in oblivion at the bottom of a box in Denmark's National Archives. Its recent discovery has sent ripples through the literary world because it is believed to be one of the first tales ever written by Hans Christian Andersen. The famed Dane wrote ne... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:17:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763480-new-found-tale-hans-christian-andersens.html 2012-12-13T14:17:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763578-us-airlines-to-lead-industry-recovery-profits.html GENEVA (AP) — U.S. airlines will lead a recovery in the global sector's profits next year, mainly thanks to cost cuts and restructuring measures taken to address weak economic growth, the industry's trade group forecast Thursday. Carriers in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America will also enjoy an improvement in earnings, while those in Europe are expec... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763578-us-airlines-to-lead-industry-recovery-profits.html 2012-12-13T13:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763736-vatican-austerity-donated-nativity-scene.html VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican has happily accepted a donated Nativity scene for St. Peter's Square this Christmas after a previous setup costing €550,000 ($717,000) was exposed by the embarrassing scandal over leaked Vatican documents. Monsignor Giuseppe Sciacca, the No. 2 administrator of the Vatican city state, told reporters Thursday that the Vatican... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1763736-vatican-austerity-donated-nativity-scene.html 2012-12-13T13:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763920-protesters-slam-turkish-coup-plot-trial.html ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish police on Thursday used pepper spray and water cannons to push back hundreds of protesters trying to enter a courthouse where prosecutors were to deliver final arguments in a trial against nearly 300 people accused of plotting to overthrow the government, Turkish media reported. Inside the courthouse, a panel of judges was forced t... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:07:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763920-protesters-slam-turkish-coup-plot-trial.html 2012-12-13T13:07:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763936-airasia-orders-100-a320s-airbus.html PARIS (AP) — Airbus says AirAsia, southeast Asia's top budget carrier, is ordering 100 additional A320 single-aisle jets in a deal that greatly increases the Malaysian-based carrier's orders for the European aircraft. In a statement Thursday Airbus says the deal brings the total number of A320 aircraft ordered or already delivered to AirAsia to 475. AirAs... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763936-airasia-orders-100-a320s-airbus.html 2012-12-13T12:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763554-italy-raises-cash-easily-berlusconi-vacillates.html MILAN (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi's vacillations over whether or not to run for Prime Minister of Italy failed to dent investor demand for the country's debt, leaving borrowing costs steadfastly low in a bond auction on Thursday. Italy easily raised €3.5 billion ($4.5 billion) in the sale of 3-year bonds Thursday that saw interest rates, or yields, drop to t... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763554-italy-raises-cash-easily-berlusconi-vacillates.html 2012-12-13T11:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763678-spanish-botched-fresco-artist-sells-work-ebay.html MADRID (AP) — The 80-year-old Spanish artist who became famous because of her botched restoration of a Christ fresco in a small-town church is auctioning one of her works on eBay for charity. Celia Gimenez's oil painting "Las Bodegas de Borja" ("Borja's Wine Cellar"), was fetching €620 ($808) Thursday, doubling its starting price after 31 bids. The sale c... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763678-spanish-botched-fresco-artist-sells-work-ebay.html 2012-12-13T11:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1763598-pennies-patriotism-stars-move-to-tax-havens.html PARIS (AP) — France's Socialist government is introducing a 75-percent income tax on those earning over €1 million ($1.3 million), leading some of the country's rich and famous to set up residency in less fiscally demanding countries. Here's a look at some big names in France and elsewhere whose changes of address over the years have meant lighter taxes. ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1763598-pennies-patriotism-stars-move-to-tax-havens.html 2012-12-13T11:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1763664-uk-govt-approval-to-resume-fracking.html LONDON (AP) — Britain's government has given the go-ahead to resume fracking — the controversial practice of drilling for gas trapped in shale — in the U.K.. Shale gas exploration had been suspended in Britain last year after a series of small tremors near an exploration site in Lancashire in northwest England. Edward Davey, the energy and climate change ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:44:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1763664-uk-govt-approval-to-resume-fracking.html 2012-12-13T10:44:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763648-french-mobile-operators-hit-with-antitrust-fines.html PARIS (AP) — France's competition watchdog has slapped €183 million ($239 million) in fines on the country's two top mobile operators for anti-competitive pricing policies between 2005 and 2008. The Autorite de Concurrence said Thursday that Orange and SFR had abused their dominant market positions and hurt the country's number three operator, Bouygues Te... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763648-french-mobile-operators-hit-with-antitrust-fines.html 2012-12-13T10:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1763606-review-meyerbeers-rare-robert-staged-london.html LONDON (AP) — Degas painted it. Chopin wrote variations on it. Balzac and Dumas mentioned it in their fiction. The Paris Opera performed it 100 times in just three years. For more than a half-century after its premiere in 1831, Giacomo Meyerbeer's "Robert le Diable" was everywhere. Then, as its composer's reputation plummeted, it all but disappeared. Now ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1763606-review-meyerbeers-rare-robert-staged-london.html 2012-12-13T10:23:00Z