All Europe
- After Christchurch, Muslims ask: Are we safe in the West?
The Christchurch attack has shaken Muslims around the world. It was preceded by increasingly Islamophobic rhetoric and hate crimes.
- First LookUK scrambles to break 'political paralysis' over Brexit
After two failed attempts by Prime Minister Theresa May to get Parliament to vote on her proposed exit from the European Union, the speaker of the House of Commons is now requesting something "fundamentally different," and more time to make a deal.
- Lonely life in the middle for Britain’s newest political movement
Britain’s breakaway “Independent Group” has been earning an outsized share of polls. But even so, it faces a battle to become a player in Parliament.
- First LookManhunt underway as Utrecht tram shooting leaves three dead
The city's mayor said a "terror motive" was the most likely theory. Reacting to the shooting, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said, "If it is a terror attack then we have only one answer: our nation, democracy must be stronger than fanaticism and violence."
- To make Russia great again, Putin is building roads and bridges
Why does Vladimir Putin remain so popular among Russians? One key reason: He is overseeing the construction of a better Russia in the form of new roads, rails, bridges, and other much-needed infrastructure.
- May’s Brexit plan rejected again. Is UK running out of options?
The deadline for Brexit is not even three weeks away, and Britain still hasn’t agreed on what comes next. With time dwindling away, the path forward for Theresa May’s government and Parliament is narrow.
- As Britain plans its exit from EU, Ireland proves a sticking point
Most of the talk in Britain amid the Brexit debate has been about how the fate of the Irish border will affect the United Kingdom. But no less important is the way in which Brexit could change the island of Ireland.
- As politics around the world pull apart, can the center rally?
Amid the polarization of the world today, some are increasingly calling for a return to the moderate middle. But centrism’s definition, popularity, and practicality all depend on where you are standing.
- Can you pay an 18-year-old to be ‘cultured’? France gives it a try.
It’s a centuries-old idea, that in France the government has a key role in promoting culture. President Macron’s attempt to make art more accessible means meeting young people where they’re at – on their mobile phones.
- First LookItaly's Mormons get their first temple in Catholic Rome
Italian Mormons will no longer have to trek to Switzerland after Italy’s first Mormon temple opens this month. The new house of worship in the heart of Christianity is a comforting sign of acceptance for the country's 25,000 Mormons.
- First LookInspired by #MeToo, Serbian woman speaks out against harassment
After her boss sexually harassed her for two years, Marija Lukic publicly accused him and has since become a rallying symbol for women across Serbia. It is another example of the #MeToo movement going global, this time in a country that hadn't criminalized sexual harassment until 2017.
- First LookMacron calls on voters to support pro-EU candidates in May elections
French President Emmanuel Macron is pulling hard for a strong European Union. In a column published Tuesday, he outlines his vision for "European renewal" based on freedom, protection, and progress, while bashing nationalist parties that "offer nothing."
- In Russia, getting arrested isn’t personal. It’s just business.
The vicious nature of Russia’s business world is usually hidden. But the arrest of a US investment firm founder has drawn back the curtain on how cutthroat and corrupt the Russian business environment can be.
- First LookFar-right election gains complicate Estonia coalition talks
A surge of support for an anti-immigrant and nationalist party in Estonia's general election will likely upend the typical governing coalition, continuing the trend of far-right parties gaining popularity and power in countries across Europe.
- The ExplainerWhy protests are roiling Serbia anew, 20 years after Milošević
In the ex-Yugoslav state, threats mount to press freedom and political dissent. The ongoing “1 of 5 million” protests nationwide signal to the government that Serbs have had enough.
- First LookBrexit uncertainty pushes 'preppers' to stockpile seeds, goods
Britain is scheduled to leave the EU in less than a month, but its departure terms are still unknown, turning easygoing Brits into “preppers” who are stockpiling vegetable seeds and other goods in anticipation of potential trade disruptions.
- Specter of new arms race has Russia recalling Soviets’ fate
With new weapons development and the end of the INF treaty, a new nuclear arms race seems all too possible to Russians. Lessons from the last one, which ended in the USSR’s collapse, may prove critical.
- Reading, writing, and…Rousseau? Why Philosophy 101 starts young in France
The idea that philosophy is a suitable subject for children is a hard sell. But in France, where educators recognize the value of helping children understand a complex world, the practice is catching on.
- First LookBritish PM says Parliament will get to decide between no deal and delay
With barely a month to go before Britain is due to leave the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May told lawmakers that if her deal with the EU is defeated, they will then be able to vote on whether to leave the bloc without an agreement.
- Back out in the open, Europe’s anti-Semitism kindles new response
Public figures harassed and cemeteries defaced in France. MPs in Britain abandoning a party they say is ignoring hatred against Jews. Old libels given new life by the far right. Why is anti-Semitism growing bolder?