All Europe
First LookNew fears of Russia politicizing Interpol and targeting dissidentsRussian prosecutors this week laid criminal charges against British financier Bill Browder, a Kremlin critic and key backer of sanctions against Russian officials. The move comes as Russia bids for Interpol's presidency.
Why Brexit compromise hasn’t defused political tensions in BritainReactions to Theresa May’s deal on Brexit, which sought to balance national sovereignty and economic interdependence, raise the question of whether that’s even possible in today’s Britain.
In Sweden, conscription and a leaflet on how to prepare for war – just in caseSince its intervention in Crimea and Ukraine, Russia has been a growing concern for its neighbors in the Baltics and Scandinavia. But is it moving Sweden to truly step away from a longtime pacifist, neutral stance?
First LookMay's ministers resign over Brexit, new fears of no confidence voteAs the divorce deal Britain negotiated with the European Union gains approval and heads to the British Parliament for a vote, Pro-Brexit ministers unhappy with the outcome are resigning. The future of Prime Minister May's government hangs in the balance.
From nationalism to 'fake news,' legacies of World War I still relevantWorld War I may have ended a century ago, but many of the issues that swirled around it remain highly relevant even now. Monitor writers took a look at nine of those topics and how they still reverberate today.
US midterms make Putin’s rocky road to Trump even rockierAmericans weren’t the only ones closely watching US midterm results. Much of the world was too, including Russia. A Democratic House will complicate Vladimir Putin’s efforts to cut deals with President Trump.
First LookHolocaust survivor looks back on 'Night of Broken Glass' 80 years laterAs Germany holds memorial events for the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Walter Frankenstein returned to the site of the orphanage where he witnessed the beginning of the wave of violence that terrorized Jews in Germany and Austria.
First LookMother to challenge Northern Ireland's abortion laws in courtA woman who bought abortion pills for her teenage daughter in 2013 faces up to five years in prison after her doctor reported the case to the police. But she is choosing to challenge her prosecution in an attempt to reform the country's strict anti-abortion laws.
First LookTrial for former concentration camp guard begins in GermanyThe trial of a former SS official began on Nov. 6, charging the now 94-year-old man with accessory to murder for serving as a guard at the Nazi Stutthof concentration camp for two years. Because he was under 21 at the time of his crimes, he is being tried in a juvenile court.
Germany's political middle falls apart. Will Europe's center hold?For several years, voters across Europe have been breaking with familiar centrists in favor of often radical newcomers. Germans had resisted the phenomenon – until now. And that could shake the continent up.
First LookBritain's poor to see little change with the 'end of austerity'Britain's Treasury chief has announced an end to austerity, and with it billions of pounds have been newly designated for health services, transportation, and small businesses as the nation prepares for Brexit. But those who provide for the poor see a different story.
First LookMerkel to step down as party leader, promises last term as chancellorSetbacks for Chancellor Merkel's party in Hesse regional elections has led her to publicly begin the process of choosing new leadership for Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU), as the far right makes gains.
Russia wrestles with a US-style school massacre in CrimeaThe Russian public reaction to Wednesday’s massacre by a lone shooter at a school in Kerch, in the Russian-annexed Republic of Crimea, will look hauntingly familiar to Americans.
First LookDisagreement over Northern Ireland could prolong Brexit, angering many in UKAt the EU summit in Brussels, Prime Minister May suggested the UK could remain in the EU's trade bloc months after Brexit. The prolonged delay over finalizing the deal has been met with skepticism across Britain's political spectrum as the March exit draws near.
Russia's once shadowy spies cast into the light. Why now?If a growing body of reports are to be believed, the GRU has been caught red-handed carrying out a range of reckless and aggressive operations against Ukrainian and Western targets. The scandal has directly touched the Kremlin.
First LookAt a Brexit summit, EU leaders search for solutions – slowlyEuropean Union leaders met with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Brussels on Wednesday to continue Brexit negotiations. After a failure to address border concerns between Ireland and Northern Ireland, a new sense of "non-urgency" has taken hold among leaders.
Migration roils global politics, even as it ebbsNever before have so many people – 70 million – been forcibly displaced from their homes. Millions more have chosen to leave in search of a better life. And traditional politics have been thrown into disarray. Part 1 of On the Move: the faces, places, and politics of migration.
First LookIceland seeks closure 10 years after financial crashTen years ago, the Icelandic krona lost almost half of its value overnight after the collapse of Iceland's three major commercial banks. The final prosecution of financial officials deemed responsible began this month with more than 30 people sentenced to a combined 99 years of prison.
An end to the dollar's global hegemony? The Kremlin sees an opportunity.The dollar has long been the world's reserve currency. But some countries, angered by sanctions, are challenging that status, potentially undermining one of the US's most influential tools for shaping global policy.
First LookRussia quietly expands influence in Balkans, exacerbating sectarian tensionMilorad Dodik won the Serb seat in Bosnia's three-member presidency last weekend after he appeared in footage alongside President Vladimir Putin. Analysts point to Russia's rising influence among Bosnian Serbs and efforts to undermine Western policies of Balkan integration.
