All Europe
Wanted: A humane and sustainable policy on refugeesRising numbers of refugees seeking comfort in the United States and Europe are prompting a political backlash. Can a humane policy be politically sustainable?
First LookParis turned into real-life Mario Kart as bikes take over the cityThe cycling revolution is transforming France’s capital. On some boulevards, bikes outnumber cars at peak times as growing numbers of Parisians are discovering that biking can rekindle love for the city’s charms.
First LookKarabakh dissolves separatist government amid exodus, crackdownsThe breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh government will cease to exist by next year, after Azerbaijan’s invasion last week. Ethnic Armenians are fleeing Karabakh in fear of civilian reprisals, raising concerns of ethnic cleansing.
To forge bonds, Ukraine tries to bring kids back into schools – safelyAnother academic year is starting amid war in Ukraine, and some students are going back into classrooms. Schools have to fortify their facilities, but educators and parents view the in-person experience as worth the risk.
Armenians flee victorious Azerbaijani troops in Nagorno-KarabakhEthnic Armenians are fleeing their historic homeland in Nagorno-Karabakh, mistrustful of Azerbaijani promises to treat them fairly in the wake of Baku’s military victory.
First LookKosovo and Serbia were on the brink of detente. Why is it unraveling?A standoff between ethnic Serbs and Kosovo police left four dead on Sunday, including a Kosovar police officer, threatening to sink negotiations between the two neighbors. Kosovo split from Serbia in 2008, a decade after it endured a bloody civil war.
Cover StoryLong in Russian orbit, Georgia tilts WestSunny Georgia’s freedoms and quest for EU membership attract Russian exiles but risk provoking Vladimir Putin’s imperial designs.
First LookNew independence for Niger? France ends military presence after coup.Niger’s junta sees the withdrawal of 1,500 French forces as a step toward sovereignty. The decision will likely hurt France’s policy in Africa since President Emmanuel Macron has recently removed troops from other countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso.
First LookAfter cease-fire, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan discuss their futureThe Azerbaijan government has held talks with separatist officials from Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan claimed full control of the region after a military offensive. Local Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to a cease-fire.
Dutch universities teach in English. It’s making them too popular.Dutch universities are having to balance their desire for international students against their need to protect limited resources – by using tools generally wielded by nationalists.
First LookUkraine warns of food crisis after four EU states ban grain importsPoland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Croatia have banned grain imports from Ukraine, which in turn lodged a protest with the World Trade Organization. The ban widens a rift between war-torn Ukraine and several of its nominal allies in the fight against Russia.
With world distracted, Azerbaijan tries to stamp out Karabakh separatistsRussia has long maintained the status quo in the Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. But Moscow no longer appears willing to do so, and Azerbaijanis are taking the region back by force.
Putin meets Kim Jong Un, looking for arms – and friendsVladimir Putin is often accused of trying to restore the old Soviet Union. But his meeting with Kim Jong Un suggests he might be focusing on restoring ties with like-minded former Soviet allies instead.
First LookItaly struggles with record migration as 5,000 arrive in one dayThe Sicilian island of Lampedusa saw more than 5,000 people arrive in a single day this week, raising alarms about humanitarian conditions. Italy’s right-wing government has vowed to crack down on migration, but Mediterranean crossings continue to rise.
Chinese, Iranian automakers woo Russians after Western brands leaveThe auto market is one of the few areas in Russia where Western sanctions had an immediate effect. Today, Russia’s car industry has been transformed, with new players, foreign and domestic, stepping to the fore.
First Look‘It's over’: Spain’s soccer chief steps down in wake of unwanted kissLuis Rubiales, who kissed a player without her consent at the Women’s World Cup, resigned after weeks of pressure. Spanish soccer officials, bidding to host the 2030 Men’s World Cup, hope that his exit will put the controversy behind them.
How a volcano prepared Tenerife to fight wildfiresAmid changing climate, much of the world is struggling with wildfires. But in Tenerife, locals have managed to contain blazes without fatalities or loss of homes, thanks to experience learned from previous natural disasters.
Can Ukraine avoid a ‘forever war’ against Russia without talks?Ukraine needs battlefield success to give it dominance in any negotiations with Moscow that Kyiv’s allies might propose to avoid a “forever war.”
How a Buddhist-inspired high school is boosting Hungary’s RomaIn a Hungarian high school, members of the long-oppressed Roma community are taking inspiration from the way the Dalits in India set their sights on reform and took control of finding a better future.
First LookPutin dashes hopes of new Ukraine grain deal after talks with ErdoğanThe Russian president says a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain amid the war won’t be restored until the West meets Moscow’s demands on its own agricultural exports.
