All Europe
First LookJust say no. European parents band together for smartphone-free childhoods.Parents across Europe are uniting to delay smartphone use in children, citing safety and mental health concerns, with support from grassroots movements, schools, and government initiatives.
First LookBeneath an offshore wind farm in Denmark blooms seaweed and mussels for harvestingThe largest wind farm off Denmark’s east coast opened in 2023 and delivers energy to Denmark and Germany. But researchers realized it has other potential, too: an underwater seafood farm growing seaweed and mussel crops.
First LookThere were only 62 mature Iberian lynx in 2001. Now, there’s over 2,000 of them.The International Union for Conservation of Nature said on June 20 the brown feline species is no longer endangered, after numbers rebounded from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to more than 2,000 adults and juveniles now.
Working-class ‘red wall’ voters decided the last UK election. How do they feel now?In 2019 elections, Britons living in “red wall” constituencies helped lift the Conservatives to victory. Now, they may decide the election again.
First LookClimate activists vandalize jets and Stonehenge as summer travel soarsTwo activists from Just Stop Oil were arrested at London Stansted Airport for spray-painting private jets orange, following a similar incident at Stonehenge. The group aims to end fossil-fuel use by 2030, using nonviolent protests.
French athletes avoided talking politics. The rise of the far right changed that.Kylian Mbappé and other top French athletes, many of them Black, are breaking a taboo against talking politics to urge fans to vote against the extreme right.
If the far right wins France’s elections, what would that actually mean?Emmanuel Macron’s call for snap elections has flustered the French, as the prospect of a far-right government is now real. What is actually at stake?
In Pokrovsk, Ukraine, a rose is a rose – and a sign of resilience and hopeAmid the trials of a long and ugly war, where can people turn for the tranquility and beauty that restores their spirit? Sometimes the solution is right at hand, in parks and private gardens, as the rose lovers of Donetsk, Ukraine, can attest.
Germans can now be dual citizens. But will society treat them like they belong?Those born in Germany of foreign descent have had to choose between their heritage and their native land. Now Berlin is addressing that dilemma.
Almost no one recognizes the Taliban. But Russia appears set to start.Much of the world regards the Taliban as outlaw rulers of Afghanistan. But Russia appears set to recognize them, in the interest of domestic security.
Difference MakerFor this housewife-turned-commander, the Ukrainian battlefield is the place to beWar is often portrayed as a man’s world. But in Ukraine, women like drone commander Ananda are providing leadership with their own unique expertise.
European elections were supposed to be the far right’s day. But the center held.Going into European Parliamentary elections, most expected big gains for the far right. But it didn’t gain that much, and continuity ruled the day.
The Soviets stifled volunteerism in Russia. Torrential flooding may be reviving it.The idea of volunteers organizing to help in a crisis is not new in the West. But when it happened amid recent massive flooding in Russia, it was a surprise.
First LookRishi Sunak vows tax cuts as UK Conservatives fight to close polling gapPrime Minister Rishi Sunak is urging UK voters to support the Conservative Party in the upcoming July 4 election, promising tax cuts. Despite trailing Labour in polls, Mr. Sunak is emphasizing the party’s economic policies to regain voter confidence.
Where the wildflowers grow ... in a Ukrainian war zoneWhen a Ukrainian dam blew up a year ago, floods destroyed homes and farmland across swathes of the south. But nature is reclaiming its rights.
First LookKey takeaways from the 2024 EU parliament electionsThe European Parliament elections June 6 through 9, saw major shifts. President Emmanuel Macron’s party in France faced a defeat, Germany’s ruling coalition lost ground, and Italy’s far-right gained influence.
In Ukraine’s south, marines are waging a grueling battle that could decide the regionInitially seen as a launching point to reclaim Crimea, the east bank of the Dnieper River is now a bastion against Russian incursion into Kherson.
First LookAs EU elections near, migrants surge again at Poland-Belarus borderPoland accuses Belarus and its ally Russia of pushing migrants toward the EU, sometimes as many as 400 a day. Poland claims that this is part of Moscow’s plan to disrupt the EU just before the elections.
The ExplainerEurope is set to pick a new Parliament. Here’s why the far right will likely do well.The far right has been making political gains across Europe. This weekend’s European elections could set a modern high-water mark for its influence.
First LookItaly and Albania have an unusual agreement to shelter migrants. Could it inspire other nations?Albania is building two migrant centers to shelter asylum-seekers rescued from international waters each month, giving Italy time to review their cases. The agreement is based on gratitude for Italy’s role in protecting Albanians after the fall of communism.
