All Europe
With cry of ‘enough,’ Portugal’s far right challenges the establishmentAfter long resisting Europe’s rightward political creep, Portugal looks set to join the trend in Sunday’s elections. Critics worry that the populist Chega party is giving new life to the ideology of Portugal’s bygone dictatorship.
First LookIrish Constitution says women belong in the home. Will that last?An International Women’s Day referendum is asking Irish voters to consider two revisions to constitutional language about families and the role of women. But some opponents are concerned about the wording of the proposed changes.
Europe divided over how far to push PutinRussia’s Putin will win reelection. But who will win the argument in Europe over how to defend Ukraine and guard against future Russian aggression?
First LookCongress talks big game about reining in Big Tech. Europe is doing it.The European Union’s Digital Markets Act goes into effect March 7, forcing tech companies to show choices of search engines and where to download apps, as well as increased personal data privacy. Europe has been a global leader in reining in tech giants.
First LookIn the alleys of Paris, a mysterious Invader turns street art into sportThe elusive street artist Invader has created more than 4,000 mosaics dotting cities and towns on six continents. Fans can even download a Pokémon Go-style game that rewards users for hunting down the installations.
Amid Western aid cuts, Ukraine families wonder how they’ll get byWith billions in U.S. aid to Ukraine held up in Congress, the impact is being felt not only by soldiers at the front, but also by civilians displaced by war and dependent on generosity.
Moscow plans its own mini-Olympics. Will Russians be satisfied?Isolated by the West, Moscow has hustled to create alternatives to global commodities. But with Olympic-level athletic contests, Kremlin proxies may not satisfy Russia’s public.
First LookEU slaps Apple with nearly $2 billion fine over streaming serviceThe European Commission says Apple broke EU antitrust laws by not allowing fair competition with other music streaming apps. The commission slapped the tech giant with a €1.8 billion fine. Apple says it will appeal.
‘Expecting goodness to prevail,’ journalists clean up Poland’s state mediaHow do you restore faith in a public broadcaster that had been a tool of government spin? That’s the challenge facing Polish journalists at TVP, the state TV channel, after eight years of polarized coverage.
First LookHow a tech worker and hacker team aims to save migrants lost at seaThe Mediterranean is the most dangerous route for migrants – nearly 28,000 have died or gone missing en route. Enter the tech activist Nik Zimke of One Fleet, whose app will assist search and rescue missions, pinpointing lost migrant ships.
First LookTower of London has a new ravenmaster. His mission is unflappable.Legend has it that the Kingdom of England will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London. There’s one man standing between Britain and certain peril – and it’s Michael “Barney” Chandler’s first day on the job.
Why Europe’s ambitious Green Deal hinges on farmersFarmers in Europe demand slower shift to climate-friendly agriculture. Can they halt the green transition?
In France, a new prescription for mental health: Museum visitsCan going to a museum be therapeutic? A partnership of therapists, health care workers, and educators in France is creating pathways for doctors to “prescribe” museum visits and art interactions to those needing mental health care.
French cinema has a sexual abuse problem. Why is it persisting?Auteurs and actors are held in high esteem in France. That may be in part why the country is still wrestling with sexual abuse scandals involving some of its cinematic leading lights.
The ExplainerWhat has two years of war cost Ukraine and Russia?The war in Ukraine has tallied massive costs in lives, money, and materiel not just for the combatants, Ukraine and Russia, but for much of the world. It will take years before restoration is even within reach.
Ukraine: After two years of war, the abnormal is the new normalHow has Lyman, a battered community in eastern Ukraine, endured two years of a war that never feels far away? Children need a secure routine. Services need to be restored. Yet everywhere, still, is uncertainty.
First LookWith fighter jets in hand, Hungary ready to approve Sweden’s NATO bidA new defense deal between Hungary and Sweden marks an easing of tensions between the countries. Their cooperation comes at a critical moment as Sweden is poised to join NATO.
After two years of war, Russia finds itself frozen, but transformedBetween Alexei Navalny’s death and the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia is in transition. The public may be going along with the war, but the country’s space for expression is shrinking.
First LookHelp at the border: Albania agrees to receive Italy’s asylum seekersOnce a haven for Albanian émigrés from communism, Italy will send new asylum seekers to Albania while they await visa approval. Albania’s parliament approved Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s plan to stem the migrant crisis.
Outgunned, Ukrainians watch Congress while facing RussiansIn the midst of a grim third winter of a grinding war, Ukrainian soldiers voice mixed emotions: gratitude for U.S. support so far, but concern that Americans unsure of their global role won’t supply the ammunition the soldiers need to stop Russia.
