Latest from Europe

<i>Deborah Hill Cone</i>: No thanks Nanny - whoever you are

Whether it's the boss or the bureaucrats, the answer's the same: mind your own business.

Siena: There goes the neighbourhood

Head directly west of Siena's glorious main square and you're in a district of rhinos.

The truth behind the horrors of two eras

Convict's release causes alarm in Ireland

The release of a man suspected of several abductions of young women in Ireland has caused a frenzy of fear among locals.

Stephen Fry's Twitter fans to script big London show

Faithless embark on radical road trip

Tennis: Williams sisters to play Fed Cup

<i>David Leggat:</i> No turning back the clock - but a quiet word would be nice

Soccer: England pip Hungary in friendly

Russians fear worst as fires reach Chernobyl fallout zone

Experts have been warning for more than a week that the fires that have blanketed much of western Russia in thick smoke could stir nuclear debris.

'Poms' not a Kiwi insult, Brits told

Brits shouldn't be offended if visiting Aussies or Kiwis make jokes about "Poms", according to new UK tourism cultural tips.

World shares slump on US growth downgrade

<i>Gwynne Dyer</i>: Celebrity diamonds are rule of law's best friend

Silk Road: Tracing the path of ancient footsteps

Jim Eagles travels a well worn path through a historic landscape and finds plenty of remnants from its fascinating past still in place.

Bridging the gap

Case study: Denmark

Efficiency at the flick of a switch

Many countries are moving ahead with smart-grid technology, but New Zealand is lagging a little way behind.