Paul Ames

Europe’s ‘Apartheid’? Muslims Struggle For Normalcy After Paris Attacks

Extremist threats and the rise of far-right politicians have put many Muslims in the position of defending their place in European communities.

Paul Ames
By Paul Ames
France Attacks Courage

LISBON, Portugal — Muslims are everywhere in Europe. They are driving cabs in Amsterdam, reading the news on French TV, cooking pasta in Roman restaurants. They are surgeons operating in Brussels' hospitals, businessmen making millions in London, shopkeepers selling beer to late-night revelers in Lisbon. Across the European Union there are

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Head Of World’s Biggest Economic Bloc Facing Calls To Resign Over ‘Magical Fairyland’ Tax Deals

Just days into his tenure as president of the European Commission, document leaks put Jean-Claude Juncker in the hot seat.

Paul Ames
By Paul Ames
Jean-Claude Juncker

LISBON, Portugal — No one who follows Europe's economy was surprised to hear that Luxembourg helps multinational companies dodge taxes any more than celebrity gossip fans were surprised to see Kim Kardashian has a shapely backside. Nevertheless, the sudden, very public revelation of the shape and size of it — we're talking about Luxembourg's

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The West Is Raising The Stakes Over Ukraine

France halts warship sale to Russia, the EU is poised to impose more sanctions and NATO is boosting its defenses. But will it deter Putin?

Paul Ames
By Paul Ames

LISBON, Portugal — France's decision on Wednesday to halt the delivery of an advanced helicopter assault ship to Russia even at the risk of jeopardizing a $1.6 billion contract shows just how exasperated Western countries are becoming by the chaos Vladimir Putin's followers are sowing in Ukraine. "Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine contravene

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EU Summit Fails To Pick Top Leaders

But does move to enact tougher sanctions against Russia.

Paul Ames
By Paul Ames
Angela Merkel

LISBON, Portugal — There's some irony that a European Union summit derailed largely by divisions over how to handle Russia ended up clearing the way for what are likely to be the EU's hardest-hitting sanctions on Moscow. Disputes among the 28 EU presidents and prime ministers over how tough candidates for new leadership posts should be toward

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The Return Of Radical, Far-Right Europe

Sunday’s elections to the European Parliament may be a big yawn for most voters, but they’re set to provide a dramatic boost to far-right parties across the continent.

Paul Ames
By Paul Ames

HENIN-BEAUMONT, France — This former coal-mining town of 26,000 languishing in the economic badlands along the border with Belgium is about as far as you can get from the postcard image of this country as a land of wine and romance. Street after street of red-brick row houses lie in the shadow of mountainous spoil tips left behind by long-dead

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The EU Hesitates To Act Over Ukraine

Although Europe has the economic power to hurt Russia, here’s why it’s reluctant to use it.

Paul Ames
By Paul Ames
Ursula von der Leyen, Gerald Klug

LISBON, Portugal — As tension mounts in eastern Ukraine, Europe's declarations of a strong and united response are starting to sound as credible as Russia's claims not to be involved in fomenting the unrest. On Monday, foreign ministers from the 28 European Union countries filed out of a day-long meeting in Luxembourg to assure journalists that

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Obama Calls For Trans-Atlantic Unity To Isolate Russia

Key policy speech says Moscow poses historic threat to international order.

Paul Ames
By Paul Ames
Barack Obama

BRUSSELS, Belgium — US President Barack Obama made a rallying call Wednesday for countries around the world to defend the international order, which he says has been profoundly challenged by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and ongoing threat to the rest of Ukraine. “Russia’s violation of international law, its assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty and

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