All Europe
In Europe, preventing gun violence often starts with mental healthIn Germany and Switzerland, stopping shooters isn't just about strict gun laws. They also have extensive networks – social, governmental, and medical – to watch for and treat those who become unstable and may threaten public safety.
First LookFrance proposes new sexual harassment laws, on-the-spot finesIn the wake of the #MeToo movement, French Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa says 'There can be no lawless zones.' A new French bill will extend the deadline for reporting sexual assault, and establish fines for public harassers.
Finland's homeless crisis nearly solved. How? By giving homes to all who need.After many years of limited success against long-term homelessness, Finland decided to adopt the US 'Housing First' model on a national scale. And despite a significant up front investment, the program has paid for itself, advocates say.
- No, the Irish were not slaves in the Americas
Despite efforts to debunk the falsehood, the notion of 'Irish slaves' continues to circulate online, clouding discussions about racism and further complicating relations between Irish-Americans and African-Americans.
For Putin, an election win will be easy. The next six years, a lot harder.After Sunday's election, Vladimir Putin will have to address geopolitical crises and economic reforms he has been putting off – and find his successor – before he likely leaves the Kremlin for good in six years.
First LookRussian mayor urges boycott of upcoming presidential electionYevgeny Roizman is the mayor of Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, and one of the country's only politicians to speak out against the Kremlin. Mr. Roizman argues that President Vladimir Putin's power consolidation has undercut the mayor's ability to govern.
To revitalize poor suburbs, Paris taps underused resource: women entrepreneursHafida Guebli is one of a growing number of women from France’s most deprived communities who are throwing themselves into the start-up world. France hopes creating small businesses there will help both the economy and the community.
First LookEnglish town 'keeping calm and carrying on' after Russian spy incidentThe residents of Salisbury, England, are adjusting to a new normal as chemical weapons experts and international news crews descend upon the town. Daily life 'is just surreal,' as one resident puts it, after the poisoning of a Russian spy and his daughter.
Russia eyed in UK spy poisoning case. But why would the Kremlin do it?British Prime Minister Theresa May said today that the agent used to poison Sergei Skripal and his daughter was of Russian manufacture. But plausible motives for Kremlin action are in shorter supply.
For Russians, Pyeongchang was a success. But doping's shadow still hard to escape.The Olympic ban made Russian athletes' victories in Pyeongchang that much more dramatic for the Russian public. But the underlying issues over doping remain unresolved with fewer than 100 days until Russia hosts the 2018 World Cup.
First LookGermany will revise social media censor lawWestern democracies are watching Germany as the country revises an ambitious law to remove hate speech from social media sites. Critics say the law overreaches, blocking content that should not be removed.
Switzerland has lots of guns. But its gun culture takes different path from US.For many Swiss citizens, guns are as central to their identity as the Alps. But their attitude toward weapons – and the laws by which their guns are governed – are built on consensus that gets beyond the polarization that paralyzes the American debate.
Italy's vote: what's really behind the surge in support for populist partiesNo clear winner has emerged from Sunday's election. The vote drove home the message that migration has become a dominant issue in Western politics, even if it's not the root cause of popular discontent. A biweekly column on patterns in diplomacy.
First LookItaly emerges from vote with rise of euroskeptic parties, but no majorityTwo anti-European political groups gained ground in Italy's parliamentary election, but neither earned enough support to govern alone. The rise of these parties are examples of a surge in populist, right-wing eurosceptic forces sweeping across Europe.
Italian town that models migrant integration feels national election's biteSchio, located among the heartland of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, has long welcomed foreigners. But migration, a highly charged issue in this year's parliamentary election, is beginning to become divisive even here.
First LookNonprofit group builds tiny homes for refugees in Parisian private gardensFinding accommodations is a major issue for the more than 220,000 refugees living in France. An architecture nonprofit is tackling the issue by building tiny houses that Parisians can use to host a refugee on their property.
First LookVatican magazine denounces nuns' treatment as 'indentured servants'The March edition of the monthly women's magazine of the Vatican Newspaper is exposing the underpaid labor and unappreciated intellect of nuns, placing itself at the forefront of the Catholic Church's #MeToo movement.
Why the Kremlin publishes uncensored translations of Western newsThe state-sponsored InoSMI gets hundreds of thousands of Russian readers each day, who generally seem to view Western coverage of Russia as selective and simplistic. But the site also highlights how important cultural context is to understanding the news.
Cover StoryCan schools help rid the world of sexual harassers and abusers?From Iceland and Israel to Mexico and South Korea, schools around the world increasingly see rooting out sexism as their domain, before it takes hold and expresses itself in workplace abuse or domestic violence. Part 8 of Reaching for Equity: a global series on gender and power.
Grand coalition? Why some in Germany prefer polarization to a mushy middle.The center-left Social Democrats are deciding whether to join Angela Merkel's party in government. Many SPD rank and file believe that Germany – and Europe – would be better off in the long term if they did not.
