All Europe
First LookAfter sex-abuse scandal, protesters demand change on Nobel literature prize boardSara Danius was the first woman to lead the secretive board that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature. Her removal from the academy, amid criticism from male members for her handling of the scandal, has sparked protests across Sweden.
Kremlin cyberpower? How fight over messaging app is showing its limits.The Russian government is trying to block popular messaging app Telegram from domestic users. But its creator, Pavel Durov, is easily winning the fight, ensuring Telegram stays up even as the Kremlin clumsily causes collateral damage online.
How an activist who helped transform postwar Germany views its newest challengesGesine Schwan ran for president of Germany, led the German-Polish Viadrina University, and is one of the few remaining political activists of the generation whose lifespan parallels that of democratic Germany. Now, she keeps a keen eye on the crises that have blown up in both the European Union and Germany.
Russia wants US military out of Syria. But it still needs US to help bring peace.Russian and US-allied forces avoided conflict during Friday's airstrikes on alleged Syrian chemical weapon sites. But Moscow sees the US's ongoing involvement in Syria as nothing more than spoiler. Still, analysts say, Russia needs the US to help diplomatically.
Russian consumerism may be poisoning this town. But nascent civil society is pushing back.Locals in Volokolamsk say the massive garbage dump outside of their town is poisoning their children. The dump is a byproduct of Russia's transformation from communist to capitalist society – but the locals' lawsuit to move it shows that civil society is growing too.
How Fukushima turned a nuclear advocate into an antinuclear championNaoto Kan, Japan's former prime minister, was devoted to the idea of nuclear power. But after his country's nuclear disaster in 2011, he turned into an improbable activist against atomic energy. Can he persuade the pro-nuke French?
FocusAn old beast re-awoken, anti-Semitism stalks Europe, US once moreBritain, France, the US, and Hungary have seen upticks in anti-Jewish invective and assaults in recent years. The resurgence of overt anti-Semitism stems from both an awakening of repressed prejudice and a byproduct of anti-Zionism.
Anti-Semitism stains Labour, Corbyn again. Why does this keep happening?Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has been at the center of protests over Labour's apparent tolerance for anti-Semitism within its ranks. But the controversy seems to be sparking new soul-searching about old and deeply ingrained attitudes and traditions within the party.
First LookPro-migrant groups targeted after Hungary's electionPrime Minister Viktor Orban and his right-wing party promised to limit the ability of civic groups to help migrants and refugees. His victory in the elections is the latest iteration of right-wing parties with an anti-immigrant rhetoric coming to power in Europe.
Cover StoryIs Germany’s bold new law a way to clean up the internet or is it stifling free expression?In the struggle to deal with the explosion of abusive and hateful content on social media sites, Germany is staking out one of the most aggressive and far-reaching positions of any country in the world – and is being closely watched as a result.
FocusAs Hungary votes, memories of a mythical past loom largeAhead of Sunday's parliamentary election Sunday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is framing Hungary as a homogeneous Christian nation standing against a migrant tide. But the country's national identity may be proving hollow and fragile. Part of an occasional series on Finding 'Home.'
France's wolves are back. Now, can it protect its farmers?Wolves' numbers are growing across France. But they are taking their toll on the livelihoods of French farmers, who cannot kill the protected animals nor receive reimbursement for major losses the wolves cause to their livestock.
With Russians feeling besieged, some give Putin a loaded title: vozhdVozhd literally means leader, but in politics it is inextricably linked with the personality cult of Joseph Stalin. Now, with many Russians feeling their country is under attack from the West, some are invoking the term in solidarity with Putin and defiance of his critics.
First LookSmall British soccer clubs fight to keep home turfIn Britain, small soccer clubs are facing eviction as developers vie to buy inner-city fields. Supporters say these clubs bring their communities together, with smaller ones in particular,doing so by providing an affordable experience for many.
First LookNetherlands turns food waste into new productsA supermarket in the Netherlands is stocking its shelves with food waste – that is, products, including soaps and chutneys, made from discarded food items. The supermarket and 18 Dutch companies aim to tackle food waste through a new national program.
In Slovakia, children of the Velvet Revolution lead fight to be 'normal'A youth-fueled movement has already brought down Slovakia's prime minister. But the tens of thousands of protesters taking to the streets aren't stopping until they see evidence that the changes in Bratislava are not just cosmetic.
First LookVienna integrates young migrants with free collegeIn Vienna, the left-leaning capital of the only western European country with a far-right party in power, welcoming immigrants can be a delicate balancing act.
Post-poisoning, Russian expats feel London heatBling-laden Russian billionaires have captivated British tabloids for years. Now they may be catching the attention of the police as London retaliates for the poisoning of a former spy. What's it like to be a Russian in 'Moscow-on-the-Thames'?
Why this round of expulsions may bring US, Russia to breaking pointThe expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats from the US and the anticipated retaliation in kind from Moscow is expected to fuel hostile narratives and heighten public suspicions, leaving dwindling channels of communication. Allegations of espionage seem likely to lengthen the rupture.
First LookSpanish booksellers deploy 'Don Quixote' in free speech battleBooksellers in Spain are using a digital tool built with 17th century 'Don Quixote' to recreate a banned book and protest censorship. In the digital age, banning books is 'ridiculous and anachronistic,' the Madrid Booksellers's Guild says.
