According to the opinion of the Head of the Global Interests Center, a political analyst Nikolay Zlobin, the attitude towards Putin is changing although slowly. READ MORE

The ongoing crises in Syria and Egypt have marginalized the conflict in Mali in the Western media. But the French-led military intervention in that country is facing a complex and challenging transitional period. United Nations Special Envoy for the Sahel Romano Prodi recently warned the international community to “not forget the Sahel, or you will have more Malis if you do.” That is a prospect that European countries — including France — will certainly not relish, yet they lack the political will or the capacity to ensure a favorable outcome. Transatlantic actors now, more than ever, need to rethink their cooperation in the region and strengthen their alliances with local powers. READ MORE

Harsh criticism follows US-German talks on NSATrans-Atlantic trade talks not overshadowed by NSA scandal'The EU should grant Snowden the right to stay'Is the Internet too American?US data snooping ruffles German feathers'We need to protect ourselves from our friends''Stop spying, and educate people about the Internet'A call for digital disobedience EU demands explanation over surveillance claimsDoes the NSA go head-hunting at Facebook?New law allows German investigators access to PIN and passwordsOpinion: Watch out! Know your friends!Tapping the world's fiber optic cables'We had no idea about this sort of activity'British G20 espionage no big deal?'Facebook & Co. ignore fundamental rights'Metadata reveal much about what you do online Germans intercept electronic data, too - but not much. READ MORE

Despite economic crisis and the Socialist government’s austerity programme, France’s 500 richest people have seen their wealth rise by a quarter in a year, a business magazine reports. A rival journal says some of the fortunes have been overestimated but still features 47 billionaires in its top 50. READ MORE

Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva threw the bailed-out eurozone country into disarray yesterday (July 11) after rejecting a plan to heal a government rift, igniting what critics called a "time bomb" by calling for early elections next year. READ MORE