All Europe
First LookSteve Bannon hopes to unite Europe's populists under 'The Movement'Following his exit from the Trump White House, Steve Bannon is heading to Europe to forge a coalition among Europe's right-wing to take control of the European Parliament and challenge the future of the EU.
First LookWho will rule in Sweden? Election results bring uncertainty.Preliminary elections results from Sweden show no single party winning a majority, making it unclear who will govern the country. Meanwhile, the far-right Sweden Democrats won more than 17 percent of the vote, an increase from the 13 percent it gained four years earlier.
Finland used the swastika before the Nazis. Why do they still?The swastika was introduced to the Finnish military in 1918, before the rise of the Nazi party in Germany. The symbol is still used in the official emblem of the Finnish Air Force, and Finns are generally just fine with that.
First LookTrans students return to schools ill-prepared to support themTransgender students around the world are struggling to receive an education amid a backdrop of bullying and misunderstanding. While some schools choose to accommodate these pupils through updated policies, such as gender-neutral bathrooms, others refuse to adapt.
First LookThe rise of the imama: women-led mosques are growingNegative stereotypes abound of how women are treated under Islam. But there's a new movement of women-led mosques who are challenging this, and making both Muslims and non-Muslims think differently about the faith.
First LookUK indicts two Russian spies in Salisbury poisoningAfter months of mystery and diplomatic rancor – Britain now claims to have identified those responsible for the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter last March. While Russia denies any involvement, the indictment marks a first step toward transparency.
Brexit and North Korea: Why 'breakthroughs' falter
First LookFar-right party in Sweden finds traction in anti-immigrant voteSunday's general election will be the latest test for European populist far-right forces. Some voters are turning to the Sweden Democrats, which has its roots in a neo-Nazi movement, because of worries that Muslim immigrants threaten Sweden's egalitarian ethos.
With summer's end, France's annual 'fresh start' truly arrivesFrench life does not match the calendar year. The annual cycle begins with the rentrée: literally “the return,” but colloquially the end of the summer holidays and nothing less than a national fresh start.
At Asia's heart, Lake Baikal stirs Russians to protect natureEnvironmental protections are often reactive, coming only after pristine areas have succumbed to pollution and degradation. But on Siberia's Lake Baikal, care for nature has always been a way of life. Fifth in a five-part series.
Why Russia isn’t flinching at snowballing US sanctionsSanctions are often seen as an effective tool for encouraging nations to change their behavior. But when it comes to Russia, the United States may soon learn that too many sanctions can have an opposite effect.
The Kremlin pushes pension reform, but the Russian public pushes backAfter years of avoiding it, the Kremlin finally has decided to grasp the third rail of Russian politics: pension reform. The plan to raise retirement ages is stirring deep public resistance.
Once banished by czars, a centuries-old sect finds new life in modern RussiaIt sounds like fiction: a religious group exiled to Siberia in the 1600s and later persecuted by the Soviets. But that’s the history of Buryatia’s Old Believers, who are now being welcomed back into Russian society. Fourth in a five-part series.
First LookBritain details plan to maintain stability in case of no-deal BrexitThe government is preparing for all scenarios if Britain leaves the European Union in seven months without a deal. The plan reveals the scope of potential disruption to the British economy and daily life.
First LookMerkel, Putin will discuss Trump worries at meetingGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Saturday to discuss worries about President Trump's foreign relations strategy as well as Syria's civil war, the conflict in Ukraine, and a gas pipeline – criticized by Mr. Trump as Russian control over Germany.
Russia takes a new look at an old enemy: Genghis KhanIt isn't easy for the conquered to see the contributions that a conqueror made to their country. It's even harder when that conqueror is Genghis Khan in Russia. But in the republic of Buryatia, the view is indeed shifting. Third in a five-part series.
Can tourist meccas beat the heat?A heat wave in Europe this summer has given vacationers pause for thought about whether they want to broil while traveling. How can the world's tourist destinations stay attractive in the face of global warming?
First LookItaly bridge collapse serves as a cautionary tale on older bridgesWhile investigators don't yet know why the Morandi Bridge in the Italian city of Genoa collapsed on Tuesday, killing at least 39 people, the disaster brings to the fore issues with aging bridges.
First LookKosovo president wants to redraw border with Serbia to ease tensionsKosovo – which is not recognized by nations including Serbia and Russia – is calling to "correct" its border with Serbia, incorporating part of Serbia. The Balkan nations have made little progress on normalizing relations since agreeing to do so in 2013 as a prerequisite for EU membership.
First LookDeaths of African laborers highlight dire working conditions in ItalyWithin three days, 16 migrant laborers were killed in two separate car crashes while returning home from grueling harvesting jobs in Italy's tomato fields. The tragic accidents have shed light on the perils migrants face while employed by Italy's farming industry.
