All Europe
First LookIn Ukraine, comedian who plays president on TV leads real raceIn a popular TV series in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy plays a high school teacher propelled into the presidency after a video of him blasting official corruption goes viral. In reality, he is now the leading candidate for the country's upcoming presidential election.
To take Spain left, prime minister digs up civil war’s legacyAt the heart of Pedro Sánchez’s government is a dramatic appeal to unresolved issues around the fascist era. But it may not be enough to bolster his party for the challenges of the present.
In uncertain post-INF world, Russia may opt for talks over armsAs the US pulls out of “the treaty that ended the cold war,” what’s next for Russia? Probably a diplomatic attempt to split the US and its European allies in an effort to prevent a return to nuclear standoff.
First LookThird of UK firms consider move abroad as Brexit date nearsThe bulk of Brexit negotiations has sidelined smaller businesses across Britain. Several firms stockpiled goods at a record rate in January to brace for a possible trade disruption.
First LookForeign secretary: Brexit may need to be delayedIf the divorce deal negotiations drag on, then so might Britain's exit from the European Union, says a top government official. Economic concerns are front and center, as “no deal” would mean that trade agreements with the EU will vanish overnight.
First LookRecession returns to Italy, darkening outlook for EuropeThe eurozone's third largest economy slips back into recession as the region still recovers from the previous debt crisis. European lawmakers urge the country to rein in its spending.
A China-controlled internet? Why tech giant Huawei roils Western fears.The next generation of wireless networks will help power the 'internet of things,' with links to everything from home thermostats to critical national infrastructure. That sets up a tussle over who should be trusted to build it.
Russians embrace Soviet ideals – by not paying their gas billsFrustration with present economic woes is leading many Russians to turn to the ideals of a rose-colored Soviet past. And for some, that means an unusual ethical stand: refusing to pay their utility bills.
Brexit puts EU nurses – and British health care – on rocky roadFor many proponents of Brexit, the core of the effort is about protecting Britishness from diffusion in the European project. But what if Europe is needed to keep alive one of the most British of institutions: the NHS?
Europe is trying to make the internet more fair. How that may backfire.Europe is trying to redistribute copyright profits: from the Facebooks and to little publishers. But the law of unintended consequences looms large. The proposed directive could well make things worse.
Welcome to Oodi: Helsinki’s new ‘living room’The new Helsinki Central Library, known as Oodi, doesn't just lend out books. It hosts community spaces, a theater, toolshops, and even a restaurant, all in an effort to promote Finnish civil society.
First LookTaxi drivers in Spain stage their own 'yellow vest' protestsSpanish taxi drivers in Madrid and Barcelona have blocked streets to demand stricter regulations for app-based ride-hailing companies, which compete for their customers.
First LookBid to prevent no-deal Brexit gathers steam among British lawmakersAn amendment proposed by a British lawmaker, which is likely to be supported by the Labour Party and a handful of Conservative MPs, could prevent the disastrous scenario of a no-deal Brexit.
New Russian order: After presidency, yet another role for Putin?Russia faces a looming question: What follows Putin's current, likely final presidential term? An answer is beginning to take shape – and may involve a new position for Putin and a reshaped political landscape.
In ticking of ‘The Clock,’ a parallel to Brexit's relentless grindWhether you're observing it from afar, reporting on it, or living it, Brexit can seem endless. And the Monitor's Brexit correspondent finds echoes of the Brexit experience in an exhibit not far from Westminster.
First LookSharp uptick in Iranian migrants attempting Channel crossing by boatLast year saw a spike in the number of migrants, many of them Iranians, trying to cross the English Channel to reach Britain by boat. The re-imposed sanctions by the United States have hurt the Iranian economy and made life hard for ordinary Iranians, causing some to flee.
With May’s monumental defeat, no end in sight for BrexitThe vote on Theresa May’s Brexit plan was perhaps the most important in Britain’s modern era. Parliament’s sweeping rejection almost assures that Brexit will require an extension beyond its March 29 deadline.
As Brexit racks Parliament, British democracy feels the strainThe stakes of the Brexit process aren't solely in the outcome of Tuesday's vote. They also lie in whether Britain's venerable democratic system can handle the stresses that the debate is putting upon it.
For some migrants in Spain, hope springs from a soccer fieldSpain’s welcome mat is still out, but many newcomers are jobless. All dreams need some kind of support: what should be government’s role?
Russia’s GMO debate looks a lot like America’s – with more geopoliticsRussians tend to be just as concerned as their Western peers about how genetic modification might affect food products. But Russia's bans on GMOs have become a bone of East-West ideological contention.
