All Europe
First LookNo Brit born after 2009 will ever be able to smoke legally, if bill passesBritain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hopes to pass a youth smoking ban along in a show of bipartisanship. Fellow members of his conservative party, however, are not supportive of what they deem an overreach by government into the lives of everyday Brits.
First LookThese Russian soldiers refuse to fight Putin's war. But escape is nearly impossible.Asylum claims from Russians have surged in the U.S., France, and Germany as growing numbers of Russian soldiers seek to escape the war in Ukraine. Few claims have been granted as countries consider the threat to national security.
Terrorists attacked Moscow. Now Russia’s migrants are feeling the backlash.Russia’s migrants have long been tolerated by both authorities and the public. But when several Tajiks became suspects in the March 22 terror attack in Moscow, the whole community came under withering scrutiny.
First LookUkraine, short of soldiers, passes controversial new conscription lawTwo years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine is in dire need of more soldiers. Yet lawmakers dragged their feet for months over the new, likely unpopular law, which goes into effect a month after President Zelenskyy signs it – if and when he does.
Ukraine aid deadlock could threaten peace in Europe. Does Congress care?Ukraine must convince Americans that its fate matters, and that a Russian victory would threaten European security and American interests.
First LookMost abortions in Poland happen unofficially. A new law could change things.Poland has one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. Now, that law is up for a long-awaited debate.
How Portugal has largely avoided racism and Islamophobia amid a migration boomHistorically a country of emigrants, Portugal has seen an influx of arrivals from Asia and Africa in recent years. And despite recent political gains by the far right, the public and the newcomers are largely getting along.
Difference MakerIn post-quake Turkey, kids struggle. A school principal named ‘Hope’ steps in.After the devastating earthquakes in Turkey over a year ago, the best of humanity surfaced. But some have met the challenge in a time of need with special determination.
Estonians trust their government. That’s why it can offer advanced services.Few rank either government or technology as trustworthy. But then there are Estonians, who are deeply invested in their country’s e-government programs.
A sidewalk telescope in Madrid offers a glimpse into the night sky’s unknownThe stars have inspired wonder and contemplation from time immemorial. On Madrid’s sidewalks, one man is helping locals experience them today with a glimpse through his telescope.
First LookOne year in, Evan Gershkovich’s time in Russian prison has no clear endWall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia a year ago on accusations of espionage that the U.S. says are baseless. No one knows when he might be released, leaving his family to lean on letters from prison and hold on to hope.
Russia has long worried about terrorism. The Moscow attack showed it may not be prepared.While many Russians are trying to link Friday’s deadly terrorist attack to Kyiv, the more likely suspect is an older enemy: radical Islamists. Russia has diverted attention from them amid its war with Ukraine.
First LookIslamic State group claims Moscow attack as death toll rises to 133The U.S. says it has evidence backing up the claim that an Islamic State group affiliate carried out the attack on a Moscow concert hall.
Why Spain is trusting trans teens on their gender, rather than restricting themIn some U.S. states, changing one’s gender identity is seen as too weighty a decision for those under the age of 18. But Spain has taken a different approach, based on trusting transgender teens’ choices.
Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán acting in the West as Moscow’s man on the insideHungarian leader Viktor Orbán predicts that under Donald Trump, Washington will cut all aid to Ukraine and that Europe will not make up the shortfall.
Difference MakerThere was no medicine, so this Ukrainian nurse sang lullabies to wounded soldiersAmong their many duties, nurses are relied upon to comfort, to soothe. Amid the stresses of Ukraine’s war, as she deals with wounded soldiers, Oksana Sokhan recalls a moment’s resourcefulness that still makes her smile.
First LookKremlin aims for high voter turnout to legitimize Putin's war in UkraineDespite the certainty of President Vladimir Putin's extended rule, Russian opposition has called on voters to head to the polls. The election that began Friday has no real alternatives to Mr. Putin, and no public criticism of him or his war in Ukraine.
The ExplainerRussia’s presidential election begins today. Here are 3 reasons Putin will win.Russia’s opposition once featured an array of political parties, and even some limited space for genuine critics of Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin. What remains of it amid Russia’s 2024 presidential election?
How Russian elections became a futile exercise for Putin’s oppositionRussia’s presidential election appears largely a rote exercise, as a popular, unchallengeable leader faces only nominal competition from three “systemic” opponents. The Kremlin has worked for years to make it this way.
Ukrainians along front: Digging deeper, and waiting, waiting ...In a tour along the long eastern Ukraine war front with Russia, one consistent and clear sign of the impact of a lack of US weapons and ammunition supplies is the defensive posture the Ukrainian army has been forced to take.
