Tony Blair said Monday that he failed to challenge British tabloids over misconduct because he could not afford to lose their support. The former prime minister was questioned at the Leveson inquiry over his “cosy” relationship with Rupert Murdoch.
Shares in Spanish lender Bankia dropped 28.66% on the Madrid stock market Monday, after the bank sought a record 19 billion euro bailout from the state - the largest in Spanish banking history.
Lazio captain Stefano Mauri was one of several leading football players arrested as part of an investigation into alleged match-fixing in Italian football. The players are suspected of having received money from betting syndicates.
Georgians took to the streets of Tbilisi on Sunday to show their support for French-Georgian billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili – the country’s richest man – who launched his bid to oust President Mikheil Saakashvili this week.
Greece's socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos accused the IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Sunday of trying to humiliate the country. His comments come after Lagarde had urged Greece to "help themselves" by "paying their taxes".
The 2012 Eurovision Song Contest title was claimed by Sweden's Loreen in Azerbaijan on Saturday after wowing voters with her entry "Euphoria". The singer had earlier caused controversy by meeting with local rights activists before the contest.
Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was confirmed as the new leader of the country's ruling party United Russia on Saturday. Medvedev takes over from Vlamimir Putin vowing to make the party "more understandable to the people".
IMF chief Christine Lagarde told Greeks on Friday to pay their dues and help drag their country out the crippling economic crisis. Lagarde said Greeks could "help themselves" by "all paying their taxes".
A gunman clad in camouflage clothing went on the rampage in a Finnish town centre on Saturday killing two teenagers and wounding several others. Police said an 18-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the shootings.
Spain’s troubled bank, Bankia, asked the government for a 19-billion euro bailout on Friday, just hours after credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded Bankia and four other banks to junk status.
