All Europe
First LookEurope toughens up on restrictions as COVID-19 cases soar againGovernments across Europe are imposing strict travel restrictions as coronavirus infections hit a record high. Authorities are urged to be “uncompromising” in controlling the virus this time around.
First LookAs coronavirus cases rise, Europe avoids total lockdownsEuropean countries are introducing more targeted interventions in a bid to keep their economies open while tamping down on a rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The goal is to avoid wide-sweeping lockdowns and their economic and social side effects.
Russia losing its influence? Nagorno-Karabakh fighting tests limits.Russia is seeing its “near abroad” neighbors being tugged from its influence, with fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh being the latest example.
Refugees find welcome, warmth at German hearthGermany has defied skeptics, finding jobs for half the 1.2 million refugees who arrived in 2015. Thousands of volunteers have helped them integrate.
First LookWhose art? Theft case forces France to confront colonial past.An activist from Congo is being prosecuted for removing an African artifact from its display in a French museum. The museum insists that the artwork belongs to France, but the case raises broader questions around colonial-era wrongdoings.
Would Trump's $750 tax bill be a scandal in other countries?In many countries, paying taxes is about social bonds and trust in government. So a $750 tax bill like that of President Trump would be a scandal.
Behind the masks, teachers and students struggle to communicateBack to school in France: How teachers are adapting for deaf students, young children going to school for the first time, and foreign language learners.
First LookCalls for diplomacy as Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict enters day 3Armenia and Azerbaijan continued fighting in the disputed separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Europe, Russia, and the U.S. have called for a cease-fire and diplomacy, while Turkey supports Azerbaijan in the conflict.
First LookWhy Swiss voters rejected plan to limit jobs for EU citizensVoters in Switzerland on Sunday defeated a nationalist party plan to limit the number of European Union citizens allowed to live and work in their country.
First LookArmenia and Azerbaijan clash again over disputed regionOn Sunday, the heaviest clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 2016, reignited concern about stability in a corridor of oil-and-gas pipelines.
For Estonian women, military service increasingly attracts as a careerWomen in Estonia are opting for professional soldiering in increasing numbers, despite being excused from mandatory service. Why?
First LookEU proposes migration policy reforms for more equal distributionThe European Union is hoping to overhaul its migration policies and distribute the costs and responsibility of taking in migrants more evenly across the bloc. Those rescued at sea would be relocated in the bloc, rather than being sent back.
First LookAs COVID-19 cases resurge, will the UK learn from its mistakes?Britain's poor handling of the coronavirus pandemic has exposed inefficiencies in the government and public health care system. As cases rise again in the U.K., critics are skeptical that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will do anything differently this time.
Why does Germany make so little room for working moms?When it comes to working mothers, German society retains a conservative view that keeps women from workplace success.
First LookBelarus president takes oath of office in surprise ceremonyBelarus President Lukashenko was sworn in during an unannounced ceremony after weeks of mass protests. Critics say the secrecy of the event was “telling” and his election has been denounced by regional and opposition leaders as illegitimate.
Once struggling, Britain’s corner shops give comfort to UK shoppersCorner stores, a business once threatened by the internet and big-box stores, have seen business boom amid the pandemic in Britain.
First LookThe surprise victor in a pandemic-defying Tour de France raceTadej Pogacar won the 2020 Tour de France, cycling’s biggest race Sunday. The rookie is the first Slovenian to win the race, and also the second-youngest winner ever.
Why Russian aid for Lukashenko doesn’t end Belarus crisisAlexander Lukashenko, the disputed president of Belarus, has won new backing from Russia. But no solution to the nation’s political crisis in in view.
Internet slowness: Is it hampering the pandemic recovery in Britain?Britain’s internet speeds lag smaller nations. That could be a real problem as more remote parts of the country try to recover from the pandemic.
With or without Lukashenko, ‘Belarus will never be the same again’A month of protest against Alexander Lukashenko has reshaped Belarusians’ vision of what their country should be.
