Topic: Eastern Europe

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Top 5 ways to save on your summer vacation

If you're pining for a summer vacation but worried about costs, consider how Wayne and Pat Dunlap of Del Mar, Calif., managed to tour 51 countries over two years, marvel at the Egyptian pyramids, scale a New Zealand glacier, and visit Laotian Buddhist monks all for less than $100 a day. "We often stayed at guesthouses and hostels, ate at local family restaurants, took public transportation, and in some cases, traveled on cruise ships offering reduced rates," says Mr. Dunlap, author of the travel book "Plan Your Escape." This year amid price worries and higher summer airfares, especially to Europe such ingenuity could prove essential. Here are five cost-cutting strategies that can help:
Quadrantid meteors and 11 other big skywatching events of 2012

What lies ahead sky-wise for 2012? Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist, selected what he considers to be the top 12 "skylights" for this coming year,
Top 10 most nuclear-dependent nations

Japan’s earthquake and tsunami has pushed 11 of its 52 nuclear reactors offline. If they don’t power up soon, Japan will be hard-pressed to provide power to its people, since the reactors provide 30 percent of its electricity. As dependent as Japan is on nuclear power, 12 nations are even more reliant it, according to the World Nuclear Association. Using 2007 data, here are the Top 10 most nuclear-dependent nations:
How 5 revolutions got their names

Questions are cropping up about the appropriateness of calling Tunisia's uprising the "Jasmine Revolution" – stemming from the fact that the term has been used in reference to Syria in 2005 and even the path that brought ousted Tunisian President Ben Ali to power. But the moniker could stick, at least partially because it's become a tradition of sorts to name the revolutions of the 2000s after colors and flowers and even household items. Here's an overview of some of the popular revolutions – and their nicknames – that preceded Tunisia's ... whatever you want to call it:
Quirky Christmas traditions around the world

Christmas cheer is widespread in the days leading up to Dec. 24 and 25, but it manifests itself in many different ways, from predicting the future to trying not to choke on a hidden coin. Below are just a few of the many unusual Christmas traditions around the world.

All Content

START treaty: Obama confident new nuclear pact with Russia will pass Senate muster

START treaty is being considered for ratification by the US Senate. President Obama feels confident the START treaty will be approved.
E-mail spam: Will it abate with arrest of alleged master spammer?

Russian Oleg Nikolaenko is in US custody on charges of mail fraud and violating a law governing online marketing. His network is believed to account for one-third of global e-mail spam.
Russia World Cup 2018: Another score for powerful Putin?

Russia's sports minister likened the geopolitical impact of Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.
PepsiCo to buy stake of Wimm-Bill-Dann for $3.8B

PepsiCo now has access to the healthier drinks consumers are increasingly clamoring for, as Wimm-Bill-Dann produces dairy and juice products including Chudo, J7 and Lubimy Sad.
NATO tries to reinvent itself at Lisbon summit

NATO leaders are expected to approve a new blueprint for the next 10 years when they gather at a summit in Lisbon on Friday. The 'strategic concept' is long overdue, but will it suffer from defense budget cuts among alliance members?
By admitting its human rights problems, the US helps other nations admit theirs

When the US had its own human rights record reviewed by the UN, the usual repressive regimes took the opportunity to condemn others while glossing over their own abuses. But history shows that human rights reporting can and does advance the cause of human rights worldwide.
Africa Monitor
Nigeria's anti-corruption figurehead runs a campaign of ideas

Nihu Ribadu, Nigeria's former 'anti-corruption czar', is running for president. While he has little chance of winning, his campaign could be a sign that a more idealistic brand of politics is rising in Nigeria.
The Entrepreneurial Mind
When culture matters: Brits and the entrepreneurial spirit

American youth need their entrepreneurial enthusiasm channeled; British youth need to be talked into it. But there's progress.
Guitars, Google, and guns: a new view of Western power

As the West gears up for a NATO summit, free nations must consider how to be smarter about their tools of influence.
Editor's Blog
Why you should care where your dinner has been

When you plop down your money for bananas or fish sticks at the supermarket, you are buying into an increasingly global supply chain. That raises questions about food-safety laws.
Global doors slam shut on immigrants

While Arizona's anti-immigrant law gets all the attention, countries around the world are pursuing tough immigration polices on a scale rarely seen in history.
IMF downgrades predictions for US economy

The IMF's latest forecast downgrades US growth for the year from 3.3 percent to 2.6 percent. China and others will offset that, lifting the world economy to a nearly 5 percent expansion.
France unusually rattled as reports of Europe terror plots emerge

Reports of a possible Al Qaeda terror plot in Europe that would involve Mumbai-style strikes in Britain, France, and Germany come as France is on alert for unrelated threats.
The Reformed Broker
Wal-Mart’s African adventure begins. Pay attention.

Wal-Mart offers $4 billion for South African retailer Massmart, a sign of confidence in a growing market.
Obama, at UN, urges nations to support Middle East peace drive

In his second address as president to the annual opening of the UN General Assembly, Obama urges supporters of Palestinians to back their pledges with deeds, and asks Arab states to normalize ties with Israel.
7 most controversial UN speeches, from Ahmadinejad to Khrushchev

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, slated to speak to the UN General Assembly today, is not the only world leader to have delivered infamous remarks.
Chapter & Verse
Interview with China Miéville, author of 2010 Hugo Award-winner "The City & The City"

China Miéville talks about "The City & The City," his sci-fi/fantasy/detective novel which shares the 2010 Hugo Award for best novel.
The Vote
Arizona governor debate: Was Jan Brewer really that bad?

The Jan Brewer gaffe in the Arizona governor debate Wednesday was one for the history books. But there have been plenty of cringe-worthy moments in debates – and they don't always matter.
The Vote
Hungry for debate, two California congressional hopefuls stop eating

Is a hunger strike the way to push an incumbent to agree to more debates?
The Long Ships

This lively tale of 10th-century Viking exploits can best be described as a Scandinavian swashbuckler.
Hacker's extradition for cyber heist: sign US is gaining in cyber crime fight

US investigators may be gaining ground in the fight against international cyber crime. Recent extradition of an alleged hacker from Estonia is latest victory in prosecuting such cases.
Pharaoh's Daughter lead singer mines her ultra-Orthodox roots for melodies

Basya Schechter, lead singer of Pharaoh's Daughter, draws on her ultra-Orthodox childhood to craft songs for the band.
Nicolae Ceausescu, former Romanian dictator, and wife exhumed

Nicolae Ceausescu ruled Romania for 25 years with an iron fist before being ousted and executed during the 1989 anti-communist revolt in which more than 1,000 people were killed.
Russia-US spy swap in the works? Three famous swaps

Russia and the US reportedly are working out a deal to swap spies, according to the brother of a nuclear researcher convicted of spying in Russia. It's a tactic honed during the cold war.
'Twilight Saga', 'True Blood': New twist on old vampire love tale

Vampire tales have been told for centuries, and this summer Hollywood is launching 'True Blood' and 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.' Why does the iconic figure never seem to fall out of favor?