Europe

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- The United States and European Union have begun formal negotiations on an agreement to protect personal information they exchange while fighting crime and terrorism.  But the talks in Hungary also underscored that differences remain over how far the information exchange can go.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/PRAGUE (BosNewsLife)-- Official results from the Czech Republic's general election indicate a left-leaning Social Democrats party narrowly won the country's general election. The Social Democrats received less votes than expected, prompting its leader to resign. Analysts say that despite the victory, the country appears headed to a center right government.

Listen to this BosNewsLife News report via Vatican Radio:  By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Uzhhorod, Ukraine UZHHOROD, UKRAINE (BosNewsLife)-- Ukraine’s detained former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has launched a hunger strike to protest alleged vote rigging in Sunday's parliamentary election. Western observers have also expressed concerns about the ballot, in which the ruling Party of Regions claimed victory, while a far-right party entered the political arena for the first time.

By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- The mortal remains of Czech Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, a devoted believer who washed windows and ministered underground during communism, were placed in a tomb at St Vitus’ Cathedral in Prague Saturday, March 25, following a funeral service.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- New revelations show the late designer of the world's most famous rifle feared he was guilty for the many deaths caused by his weapon. Mikhail Kalashnikov expressed his concerns shortly before he died in a letter to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. His iconic AK-47 rifle, better known as Kalashnikov, has been the weapon of choice for guerrilla forces, terrorists and military groups in the Balkans and around the world.

Listen to this BosNewsLife News  report via Vatican Radio:  By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent  BosNewsLife TBILISI, GEORGIA (BosNewsLife)-- Georgia's parliament has approved a billionaire as the former Soviet nation's new prime minister and endorsed his government, following the recent October 1 parliamentary elections. Bidzina Ivanishvili began his first official full working day Friday, October 26, after lawmakers voted 88-54 for his cabinet.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Tatárszentgyörgy, Hungary TATARSZENTGYORGY, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Hungary has asked the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, to help solve a series of deadly attacks against the country's gypsies, who prefer to be known as Roma. At least seven people have died and many more injured in what rights groups describe as Hungary's worst anti-Roma violence in recent years and the most serious in Eastern Europe.

By BosNewsLife News Center JERUSALEM/COPENHAGEN (BosNewsLife)-- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged European Jews to move to Israel after a Jewish man was killed in an attack outside Copenhagen's main synagogue, warning anti-Jewish violence will likely continue amid rising anti-Semitism.

By Stefan J. Bos at BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest with BosNewsLife's Johan Th. Bos reporting from the Netherlands BUDAPEST/ERMELO (BosNewsLife)-- The "persecution of Christians with a Muslim background" has "drastically" increased around the world, according to a report released Tuesday, February 3, by a leading Christian advocacy group.

Listen to this BosNewsLife News report via Vatican Radio: Listen...   By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent reporting from Budapest, Hungary BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- The Conference of European Churches (CEC) began operating Tuesday, July 9, under a new but controversial Constitution that includes moving its original offices from Geneva to Brussels to improve ties with the European Union and between denominations.