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President Donald Trump says Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to a peace deal, even as Russia launched another round of attacks on Ukraine while Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy flew to the United States.
Trump says Ukraine-Russia peace ‘closer than ever’ after talks with Zelenskyy Read...
 
“Aquarium of Amazing Fishes” in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, allows visitors to dream of worlds beyond a war that has made their city a battle zone.
Near Ukraine’s front line, aquarium offers refuge for kids and soldiers alike Read...
 
Many Ukrainians lament the reminder that a corrupt culture still lurks in the halls of power. Yet many are encouraged that the country’s anti-corruption apparatus proved strong enough to pursue even some of the country’s most powerful.
Ukrainian take on corruption scandal: There’s a problem. The system worked. Read...
 
England appears to be on the edge of a shift away from its traditional Labour-Conservative axis, to more radical parties such as Reform UK and the Greens.
English voters scatter from the center, strengthening extremes Read...
 
The airstrikes on port infrastructure in Odesa come as the Kremlin sends an envoy to Florida to discuss the Trump administration's proposed peace plan. Meanwhile, European Union leaders agreed to provide $106 billion to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
Russia strikes Ukrainian port as peace negotiations continue in US Read...
 
The potential military threat from Russia and the decreasing support from the US have European countries looking to conscript citizens. It's a big ask after decades of peace and prosperity.
With Russia looming, Europe tries to beef up its youth military service Read...
 
Europe struggles to maintain its open, liberal identity, while the U.S. pressures the continent to follow President Trump's path and secure its borders.
Europe’s challenge: Curb migration while preserving liberal identity Read...
 
France is considering adopting a five-day school week. It may seem like the French are late to the party, but it actually highlights how their academic priorities differ from those of the U.S. – and how they are shifting now.
Letter from Paris: France weighs an end to its four-day school week Read...
 
With Europe worried over the threat from Russia, Germany is feeling pressure to lead the way on European defense. Whether Germans themselves are ready to pick up arms is another matter.
Europe wants Germany to arm up. But do Germans want to take up arms? Read...
 
Russia’s Vladimir Putin has vowed to take all of the mostly occupied Donetsk region either through negotiation or militarily. Even as Ukraine resists ceding territory, how is the city of Sloviansk maintaining morale in the face of a forbidding future?
In a region coveted by Putin, how one targeted city carries on Read...
 
Donald Trump’s new national security strategy turns history on its head, dismissing a Europe it says faces “civilizational erasure” and praising far-right parties that Moscow supports.
Trump’s new national security strategy treats longtime allies as threats Read...
 
As U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators continue talks aimed at ending the war, Russia conducted a large drone and missile attack.
Russia launches drone and missile attack on Ukraine amid talks Read...
 
As U.S. and Russian negotiators met, and European leaders scrambled to make a peace deal palatable to Kyiv, Ukrainians were wary bystanders to talks over their future. But their view is firm: Yes to compromise, No to capitulation.
Warily watching US-Russia talks, Ukrainians vow not to surrender Read...
 
It may look like business as usual when Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi meet in Delhi this week, but the Russian and Indian leaders are under pressure to show they won’t be swayed by Donald Trump.
Old friends Putin and Modi meet to do a deal, as Trump leans on both Read...
 
Violence at schools has been a growing problem in Europe. For teachers and officials, the solution is to restrict youth’s access to social media.
With school violence rising, Europe eyes a usual suspect: Social media Read...
 
President Donald Trump's top officials are meeting with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida. Mr. Trump has been trying to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. 
US and Ukrainian negotiators meet as Trump seeks to broker an end to the war Read...
 
Washington’s alliance with its Western allies is under strain from President Trump’s ambiguity over who is responsible for the war in Ukraine.
Differing Ukraine peace plans point to strains in the Western alliance Read...
 
A series of negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, the US, and European powers have brought Russia and Ukraine closer, but peace remains elusive.
US, Ukraine find common ground on peace. Will Russia join them? Read...
 
While Europe has made progress on ending its dependence on Russian energy, the bloc is still impeded by gas needs and foot-dragging member states.
Winter is coming. Is the EU ready to stop buying Russian energy? Read...
 
The winds of reunification are blowing more strongly in Northern Ireland. Traditionally unionist Protestants are starting to look toward the republic, too.
One Ireland? In the north, Protestants weigh a future in the republic. Read...
 
The cause of a unified Ireland has more political oomph in the Irish Republic than its had in years. But how realistic is reunification practically?
One Ireland? In the south, the tide turns toward reunification. Read...
 
Russia has been conspicuously bringing new types of missiles, torpedoes, and submarines online. Experts say the fanfare is all about Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome.”
In Russia’s weapons rollout, a challenge to the global nuclear balance Read...
 
Ukraine has kept Russia at bay through more than 3 1/2 years of war. But stepped-up Russian strikes against cities and relentless advances in battle are proving a challenge for exhausted civilians and soldiers alike.
In the fields and in the streets, Ukrainians fight to stay motivated Read...
 
The Indianapolis Colts play the Atlanta Falcons Sunday in Berlin. Fans have flown in from as far away as Brazil, showing how big U.S. football is now.
‘Now, it’s getting huge.’ How the NFL is making (lots of) fans overseas. Read...
 
Ukraine’s prewar “Defending Ukraine” course featured marching and wooden guns. The new curriculum includes hands-on work with first aid, radios, and drones.
To ‘Defending Ukraine’ curriculum, high schools add ‘How to fly a drone’ Read...
 
For many years, women’s advocates in France have been frustrated by the absence of consideration of consent within the country’s rape and sexual assault laws. That’s finally changed, thanks in large part to Gisèle Pelicot.
France updates rape laws after Pelicot case. But is recognizing consent enough? Read...
 
Every country debates how students should fund higher education. Russia’s new plan is to try a Soviet solution: require graduates to do national service.
How to repay student loans? In Russia, with national service. Read...
 
As China and Russia try to weaken NATO nations through cyberattacks, the alliance is responding with plans for better coordination – including for counterattack.
With Russian cyberattacks on the rise, NATO nations ready to play offense Read...
 
Prosecutors have taken two suspects into custody a week after a heist at the world’s most visited museum shocked Paris. 
Police arrest two suspects over Louvre theft Read...
 
The daylight robbery of jewelry from the Louvre has shocked residents and tourists in Paris. But it has stirred up their imaginations as well.
The Louvre’s jewels were stolen. Parisians are enthralled by the drama. Read...
 
U.S. sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies place new pressure on President Vladimir Putin. But, evidenced by President Donald Trump’s frequently shifting positions, it’s still unclear where he will land on how to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump sanctions Russian oil. His position on ending the war remains fluid. Read...
 
When Donald Trump hiked the cost of H-1B visas, Indian professionals looked to be the hardest hit. But India may also be the beneficiary of the new pool of job seekers.
Why India may be the winner from Trump’s H-1B price hike Read...
 
As immigrants from Muslim nations go north, Denmark and Sweden wrestle with how, or whether, to be a haven for those who are war-weary and vulnerable.
Inside Europe’s most dramatic migration experiment Read...
 
Ukraine is facing a third winter at war, and Russia is targeting energy infrastructure like never before – an apparent bid to weaken morale. But war has taught the Ukrainians how to keep the lights on under almost any circumstance.
As Russia hits energy grid, Ukraine tries to avoid a cold, dark winter Read...
 
With tourists already inside, police say thieves entered a museum window, smashed display cases, and fled with nine pieces from Napoleon’s jewel collection, all in seven minutes.
Napoleon's jewels missing: Thieves strike Louvre in daring heist, closing museum Read...
 
The new French government has survived two parliamentary votes of no confidence, but the battle for approval of next year's budget has only just begun.
France has a government. Why that’s news. Read...
 
President Donald Trump appears to have drawn a lesson from the Hamas-Israel ceasefire: Peace requires leaning heavily on the combatants. Now, he’s applying that to Ukraine.
After strong-arming a ceasefire in Gaza, Trump tries to do it again in Ukraine Read...
 
Knowing the threat Russia poses, all of Estonian society contributes to national defense – including the women who join its volunteer reservist forces.
‘So we prepare’: Estonia’s women volunteer for defense, eyeing Russia Read...
 
European welfare states are finding it increasingly hard to maintain high social spending in the face of pressure to boost their defense readiness.
Will Europe’s rising defense budgets come at the cost of welfare? Read...
 
Despite Ukraine being outgunned and out-resourced by a far larger enemy, the increasing dependence on drones by both sides has largely leveled the battlefield. As Russian forces press forward, Ukraine’s drone operators are exacting a high price.
How Ukrainian drones are slowing Russia’s advance in the east Read...
 
Ireland has traditionally been free of racist violence, but that is changing as violent far-right youths target immigrants – Indians in particular.
In long-welcoming Ireland, racist violence rears its head Read...
 
Throughout the war in Ukraine, Russia has employed scorched-earth tactics. Now Ukrainian civilians near the long front lines are being forced to flee an intensified bombing and drone-strike campaign evoking “bees let loose from a beehive.”
Near the front, more Ukrainian civilians flee Russia’s scorched-earth tactics Read...
 
Two boys in Clichy-sous-Bois, France, died 20 years ago while fleeing from police, leading to weeks of riots. Their memory still inspires immigrant youth today.
Two boys died after they ran from police. 20 years later, this Paris suburb is still healing. Read...
 
The controversy around Jimmy Kimmel resembles the case of “Kukly,” a popular political satire in post-Soviet Russia that ran afoul of Vladimir Putin.
Today, it’s Trump vs. Jimmy Kimmel. In Russia, it was Putin vs. puppets. Read...
 
Venezuelans seeking a haven from their country’s chaos are turning to Spain for safety. And Spain is opening its doors, even amid Europe’s rightward political winds.
Venezuelans seeking safety turn to Spain after Trump’s cold shoulder Read...
 
Russia’s latest effort to build an alternative to Western institutions is Intervision, which looks to be a more international – if less liberal – version of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Russia hopes its Intervision song contest will be Eurovision without the ‘woke’ Read...
 
In Britain, a nationalist flag-waving campaign targeting immigrants and the hotels that house them has become an expression for grievances over housing shortages, the economy, and a sense the government is losing control of its borders.
‘Stop the boats’: Anti-immigration rally in London taps into economic malaise Read...
 
While Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities are facing Russian drone and missile attacks, it’s been a festive summer in Moscow, where war feels far away.
Moscow ignores war in Ukraine to celebrate summer Read...
 
The English flag has become controversial in the United Kingdom, and its public display is under debate as the country wrestles with immigration.
In England, patriots and nationalists wrestle over St. George’s flag Read...
 
Russia says it didn’t plan to fly drones over Poland, but NATO's leader calls it a “reckless” move that will only strengthen the alliance's resolve.
Russian drones, downed over Poland, prompt pushback from NATO alliance Read...
 
Moscow’s defenders argue that the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace on Wednesday might be a Ukrainian conspiracy. Critics say it’s simply the Kremlin testing Western resolve.
Russia waves away blame after its drone incursion in Poland Read...
 
Front-line medics work grueling hours to help Ukrainian soldiers defending their country. Behind them stands a scaffolding of support to help maintain their mental well-being.
Caring for the caregivers: How Ukraine’s medics get help Read...
 
France’s government has collapsed again, forcing President Emmanuel Macron to find a new leader amid concerns over the national debt. 
French prime minister loses confidence vote, toppling government Read...
 
French Prime Minister François Bayrou faces a confidence vote he called to help push through unpopular budget cuts. But the ploy will likely backfire.
Behind France’s confidence vote, a nation at political loggerheads Read...
 
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane landed safely at Plovdiv airport. President Von der Leyen, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow’s war in Ukraine, is on a four-day tour of European Union nations bordering Russia and Belarus.
Russia accused of GPS jamming flight of EU leader von der Leyen over Bulgaria Read...
 
In-person schooling is better, it’s agreed. For students and teachers, the stresses of life in a war zone create even more needs that schools can help address. In-person summer programs in eastern Ukraine did just that.
How in-person summer school in Ukraine helped ease war’s stresses Read...
 
Communities across Europe are struggling to balance industry and the environment. A pulp factory project in Galicia, Spain, may suggest which priority will win out – or if there’s a middle ground to be found.
Industry or environment? One Spanish town wrestles over its future. Read...
 
After a week of summits around peace for Ukraine, Russia is holding firm to its demands. While the White House suggests that progress is being made on a deal, Russian observers say the Kremlin is content to wait Kyiv out.
Why Trump hasn’t seemed to sway Putin on Ukraine peace Read...
 
European leaders head to the White House after President Donald Trump, following the Alaska summit, drops his Ukraine ceasefire demand to back Russia’s conditions for peace.
Europe stands with Ukraine after Trump tilts toward Putin at summit Read...
 
What Moscow’s summer blitz tells us about the irreversible evolution of modern war as inexpensive drones bring the front line directly to the Ukrainian people.
In Ukraine, swarms of Russian drones and missiles are transforming combat Read...
 
French lawmakers are pumping the brakes on an industry they say has gotten out of control. 
Why France is cracking down on ‘ultrafast’ fashion – and other countries could, too Read...
 
In Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, a battle is on over national identity. Russia wants Ukrainians to feel Russian, and teens are the front line. 
‘Who are we?’ Russia aims to strip teens’ Ukrainian identity. Read...
 
London police said 532 people were arrested Saturday when supporters of a pro-Palestinian group recently outlawed as a terrorist organization intentionally broke the law to test the government’s ability to enforce the ban.
U.K. police say over 500 people arrested in pro-Palestinian events over weekend Read...
 
Working-class voters are flocking to Reform UK, a new MAGA-like political party that is disrupting the old guard of Labour and Conservatives.
A MAGA for the UK? These working-class voters feel left behind. Read...
 
Mykolaiv, a port in Ukraine, was a major naval shipyard since the Russian Empire. Russian control of a narrow sandbar nearby has silenced the docks.
Ukraine seeks to revive Russian-blockaded ports near Black Sea Read...
 
As prime minister, Italian far-right leader Giorgia Meloni has worked closely with moderate neighbors. Is she a model for other far-right politicians?
Why Italy’s far-right premier wins plaudits from European neighbors Read...
 
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are visiting the White House in hopes of a peace deal. As power in the region shifts, the U.S. could be key. 
Trump could help solve a long-running conflict Friday. It’s not Gaza or Ukraine. Read...
 
It has been illegal to swim in the Seine in Paris for a century. Now, it's clean enough to allow bathing in three pools. Our correspondent takes a dip.
‘Don’t drink the water!’ Advice from our Paris correspondent as she dips into the Seine. Read...
 
The residents of a La Palma town destroyed in a volcanic eruption, like people worldwide displaced by disasters, must redefine notions of “home.”
These islanders lost their houses to lava. Four years on, do they feel at home? Read...
 
Europeans have been pushing back on overtourism. For many, especially in places like Barcelona, the issue is not just crowds but also pollution. Is there a way for port cities to have needed cruise dollars and cleaner air?
With cruise ships comes pollution. European ports search for ways to clear the air. Read...
 
Kharkiv, one of Europe’s great cultural centers, is regularly pummeled by Russian strikes. Yet its bomb-shelter national opera house serves as a beacon of stubborn faith.
For this inspiring Ukrainian opera, the show must go on – underground Read...
 
For years, Arab states wanted Europe to recognize Palestine; Europe wanted Arab states to rein in Hamas. Now, they have stepped forward together to do something hard for each.
With Gaza suffering, Europe and Arab states take big diplomatic steps – together Read...
 
Finland has ranked the world’s happiest country for years. But Finnish happiness isn’t about joy. It’s based on unusual contentment and reassuredness.
What makes Finland the ‘world’s happiest nation’? In a word, simplicity. Read...
 
Many Europeans feel they came out on the losing end of the new U.S.-EU trade deal. Analysts say it needs to be understood within Mr. Trump’s broader relationship with Europe.
Why Europe’s trade deal with the US is better than it seems Read...
 
USAID funding helped nurture new independent media outlets in Ukraine to play their part in strengthening democracy. Now there are concerns about a return to the days of media dominated by oligarchs, political parties, and the state.
Can independent news outlets in Ukraine survive loss of USAID funding? Read...
 
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with tariffs unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days, but Russia says achieving its goals in Ukraine remains a priority.
Despite Trump's ultimatum, Russia maintains Ukraine goals Read...
 
National security in Finland is a society-wide effort that goes beyond the military. Under the shadow of Russian aggression, Europe is taking a look.
‘It’s everyone’s business.’ In Finland, national security is a shared responsibility. Read...
 
Armenia’s government is facing off against its ancient church as the former tries to sign a peace deal with the country’s long-time enemy Azerbaijan.
As Armenia seeks peace with old foes abroad, civil unrest grows at home Read...
 
Germany’s railways, once an exemplar of national timeliness, are now chronically late to the point of it being a national crisis. What happened?
Germany’s trains are running late. It’s become a national crisis. Read...
 
With Ukraine’s air defense systems overwhelmed by a surge of Russian attacks, mobile antidrone teams have emerged as an indispensable – if insufficient – defensive line against the onslaught.
Facing waves of Russian drones, Ukraine’s defenders fight frustration Read...
 
Ukrainians aren’t entirely sure why Russia has been targeting Kharkiv’s dairies. But over the last three years the region, Ukraine’s third-largest producer of milk in 2021, has lost half its herd of 33,000 cows.
Why is Russia hitting Kharkiv dairies? One Ukrainian theory: Envy. Read...
 
Many Western democracies are worried about far-right parties’ popularity. But some are finding that letting them into government actually brings them back to earth.
How to handle far-right politics? Finland has some suggestions. Read...
 
European nations have pledged more NATO funding partly through a novel redefinition of “defense.” Is it gimmickry or a more holistic approach to security?
When does a bridge count as military spending? Inside NATO’s new defense plans. Read...
 
Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine overnight in the largest aerial assault since the war began. Hours after the barrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he talked with U.S. President Donald Trump about the attack.
Trump, Zelenskyy have ‘productive’ call after massive Russian barrage on Kyiv Read...
 
Europe is not built for the heat. It’s all that residents like the Monitor’s Paris correspondent can do to find ways to keep just a little bit cooler.
Facing blistering heat, the French ponder the unthinkable: Air conditioning Read...
 
Finland is withdrawing from an international treaty banning land mines, putting its fear of neighboring Russia above its commitment to humanitarian law.
Land mine ban was a global triumph. Here’s why Finland is leaving. Read...
 
A refuge for African asylum-seekers in a small Spanish town illustrates the difficulties of integrating immigrants, but some newcomers are fitting in.
This Spanish town welcomed migrants. Integrating them is harder. Read...
 
The strikes targeted several regions, including western Ukraine, far from the front lines. Officials confirmed three deaths and said another two died in Russian shelling.
Russia launches the biggest aerial attack since the start of the war, Ukraine says Read...
 
Officials in suburban Paris have removed benches to promote safety, altering public spaces in the process. Efforts to restore that seating aim to highlight how community and understanding are built.
Nowhere to sit? In France, a debate over park benches and community. Read...
 
Iranian expats in Europe are torn over the conflict between Iran and Israel. While they despise Iran’s regime, they fear for loved ones back home.
For Iranian diaspora in Europe, the war back home is a dilemma Read...
 
In France, criminals generally serve concurrent sentences. That’s frustrating the many, many victims of convicted rapist Joël Le Scouarnec.
After French trial verdicts come down, victims ask: Is 20 years in prison justice? Read...
 
Every year, Europe is among the top vacation spots. While tourists flood in for the summer, locals have taken to the streets. Protesters are unhappy with the pressure that overtourism has put on infrastructure and resources such as water and energy.
Tourists to Europe face another summer of crowds, annoyed locals, and day trip taxes Read...
 
Key dissendent figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski, longtime radio correspondent Ihar Karnei, and 12 others walked free after authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko met with a top U.S. official in Minsk.
Belarus frees 14 political prisoners after rare visit by US envoy. Many more remain. Read...
 
In Ukraine’s border region of Sumy, Russian forces are making very slow progress, but enough to force Ukrainian civilians from their villages.
Civilians flee in Ukraine’s Sumy region, but Russia faces huge losses Read...
 
With the West now inhospitable to them, Russian tourists are finding new holiday opportunities in North Korea, Afghanistan, and other unlikely spots.
Forget Europe, Russian travel agents say. How about a North Korean resort? Read...
 
With emergency vehicles in short supply in Ukraine, volunteers are building armored ambulances to carry medics and soldiers around the battlefield.
In this Ukrainian workshop, ordinary cars become battlefield ambulances Read...
 
Louvre staff launched a strike on June 16 over “untenable” working conditions tied to overcrowding at France’s greatest cultural treasure. Every day, more than 20,000 people squeeze into the museum’s largest room to snap a picture with the Mona Lisa.
‘It’s the Mona Lisa moan out here.’ The Louvre shuts, leaving thousands waiting. Read...
 
Hundreds lined the central square in Graz, Austria, for a minute of silence for the 10 people killed in a school shooting on June. In a search of the shooter’s home, investigators found a farewell letter, video, and a non-functional pipe bomb.
‘I always felt very protected there’: Austria grapples with rare school shooting Read...
 
In the United Kingdom, millennials are bonding over an unusual shared touchpoint: the hymns they sang in their elementary school assemblies. 
Why London’s hot ticket is a sing-along of school assembly hymns Read...
 
Poland has enormous potential within Europe. But it seems to be of two minds of how to realize that potential, which may be hindering its progress.
With new president, Poland’s direction – and its place in Europe – is in question Read...
 
The Russian military has turned to a grim strategy in Kherson: targeting civilians in drone attacks. Still, many local Ukrainians refuse to leave.
In Kherson, Russian drone campaign turns civilians into targets Read...
 
A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia’s territory, Ukraine’s Security Service said on Sunday, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones just hours before a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul.
Ukraine destroys 40 aircraft deep inside Russia ahead of peace talks in Istanbul Read...
 
The latest attempt to hash out an end to the war in Ukraine looks set for Monday, but Russia, Ukraine, and the United States all still seem far apart.
With hope for peace dimming, Russia brings its demands to Ukraine talks Read...
 
An avalanche of mud, ice, and rock forced residents of a picturesque Swiss village to evacuate before it buried around 90% of it. The debris from a collapsed glacier also blocked a nearby river, raising concerns of flooding. 
Homes destroyed, river blocked. A Swiss village is buried by glacier debris. Read...
 
Calin Georgescu, a candidate with a nationalistic bent, has announced his withdrawal from public life. Running as an independent in last year’s election, he unexpectedly led the presidential race’s first round.
A controversial candidate in Romania drops out. What does that mean for populists? Read...
 
Even amid war, Ukrainians are rebuilding their homes. To architects, that reconstruction is a form of resistance against the Russian invasion, too.
Ukraine shows off its reconstruction in Venice – with AI aid Read...
 
The U.K. and EU are seeking security amid global economic and geopolitical shifts. But how far can they roll back their testy Brexit divorce?
The UK and EU have cut a deal. Is it the start of post-Brexit European unity? Read...
 
A few years ago, the French film industry feted male actors and directors accused of sexual abuse by female peers. But now that seems to have changed.
Cannes debuts something different: Lower tolerance for sexual violence Read...
 
While the United States and Russia talk peace, front-line Ukrainian soldiers dismiss the process and feel it’s up to them to safeguard their country.
While US pushes peace, Ukrainian troops focus on keeping their country free Read...
 
Warming relations between Washington and Moscow may mean an end to sanctions against Russia. For some Russians, that isn’t a wholly welcome prospect.
If US ends sanctions on Russia, will Russia welcome back US businesses? Read...
 
The abuse at the Bétharram school has shocked the French public. Survivors of the violence are reclaiming their agency to try to fix the problem.
Their teachers beat them, and no one helped. Now they’re seeking justice. Read...
 
In Germany, government has the power to ban extremist political parties. Should it use that power to outlaw the second-biggest party in the country?
Are Germany’s moves against far-right party a model, or cautionary tale? Read...
 
Crowds of foreign tourists make Florence, Italy, hard to visit. The city government would like to replace some of them with students. Is that a solution?
Could US students help solve Florence’s tourist problem? Read...
 
New Chancellor faces economic stall as the U.S. questions security alliance and stirs a trade war.
Merz wins in vote that reveals the challenges ahead for Germany Read...
 
American investors have scooped up soccer clubs across the English leagues in recent years. It’s paid off this year as U.S. owners sweep the tables.
From Liverpool to Wrexham: US-owned clubs are topping tables in English soccer Read...
 
How Germany processes its Nazi history is an increasingly pressing concern. For many, the question is how to move on without forgetting the past.
Called to lead Europe, Germany weighs its national guilt. Is it time to move on? Read...
 
In the past, most of Ukrainian life was conducted in the Russian tongue. After three years of war, Ukrainians are also fighting for their language and identity.
As war with Russia drags on, Ukrainians wage parallel ‘revolution of dignity’ Read...
 
Last week’s deadly strikes on Kyiv show a shift in Russian strategy: to try to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses as U.S. materiel support ebbs.
‘We must hold on.’ Ukrainians steel themselves amid Russian barrage. Read...
 
President Donald Trump is expressing skepticism that a peace deal is in reach, only a day after saying Kyiv and Moscow were “very close to a deal.”
Peace talk pessimism? Trump says he doubts Putin wants to end Ukraine war. Read...
 
Moscow and Washington seem close to an agreement on a Ukraine peace plan, leaving Russia pleased – even if the talks don’t pan out.
Russia and the US seem near a Ukraine peace deal. Kyiv’s role may be moot. Read...
 
The European Union is the largest single market in the world, yet it is seeing only sluggish economic growth. Why isn’t the EU competitive?
The European Union has wealth and people. Why isn’t it more competitive? Read...
 
As immigrants increasingly fill its pews in Spain, the Catholic Church is advocating more inclusive policies to the broader Spanish public.
In Spain, migrants reshape the Catholic Church – and the country Read...
 
As a Ukrainian chaplain ministered to front-line troops on Easter Sunday, he highlighted their hopes and fears as they fight against Russian invaders.
As bombs fall on Easter, a Ukrainian chaplain ministers to his front-line flock Read...
 
Europe will need to negotiate tariffs with President Donald Trump. But is the best way to do that through one-on-one talks or by bargaining as a bloc?
Italy’s Meloni talks tariffs with Trump. How much can she do for the EU? Read...
 
CO2 levels spiked in La Palma, Spain, after the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption. But a novel network of CO2 detectors is helping keep locals safe today.
Volcanic CO2 threatens these villagers. High-tech sensors are keeping them safe. Read...
 
Amid the Trump administration’s disruptive foreign policy, a post-Brexit United Kingdom and Europe are rebuilding bonds, particularly on defense.
With US on the outs, Europe looks to an old ally for defense: Britain Read...
 
A French court has barred far-right leader Marine Le Pen from seeking the presidency in 2027. Does that square with her voters’ democratic rights?
Justice vs. democracy: Le Pen verdict exposes tensions within France’s system Read...
 
Cavendish bananas are under threat from a fungus that has wiped out other varieties. The island of Tenerife may have the conditions to protect them.
The world’s bananas are at risk. A volcanic island might protect them. Read...
 
Facing American indifference to European security, Germany has launched a major rearmament drive. But without U.S. help, can Europe defend itself?
Can Europe confront Russia without US help? Not yet, but it may have to. Read...
 
Voice of America was rejected by the Soviets and Vladimir Putin. But some in Moscow wax nostalgic about what the state-funded broadcaster meant for them, especially during the Cold War.
‘Connected to another world’: What Voice of America meant to Russians in Cold War Read...
 
Across Ukraine’s minerals-rich region, word of a potential U.S. deal has renewed confidence in the future. Most see U.S. investment as a positive.
In Ukraine mining region, a US minerals deal raises hopes and doubts Read...
 
Vladimir Putin says he agrees in principle with Donald Trump’s proposal for a Ukraine ceasefire, but wants to know the details. They have not yet been decided.
Kremlin says yes to Ukraine ceasefire, but on what terms? Read...
 
European businesses lag behind the United States in employee diversity, equity, and inclusion, but there are no signs they are following Donald Trump’s policy.
Why Europe is still embracing DEI Read...
 
Some Westerners see Russia as a place to build a better, more conservative life. Moscow, facing a demographic crisis, is willing to let them try.
To Russia, with love? Why some in West are heading east to start over. Read...
 
Ukrainians fear that though the lack of U.S. military aid may not be much felt on the battlefield, civilians will suffer badly from Russian bombing.
Near front line, Ukrainians brace for the impact of US aid cuts Read...
 
President Trump’s overtures to Russia and hostility to Ukraine’s leader have undermined the historic US alliance with democratic European partners.
US moves on Ukraine make Europeans wonder: Is America an ally? Read...
 
For Europe to defend both itself and Ukraine from Russia, Europeans will need to agree on what sacrifices they will make and who will pay.
As Trump proves unreliable, Europe rushes to firm up defenses on its own Read...
 
Moscow’s return from the diplomatic wilderness has been sudden. But Vladimir Putin’s attempts to capitalize on it may not match Donald Trump’s expectations.
Russia likes the US turn on Ukraine. But do Putin and Trump share an endgame? Read...
 
Ukrainians were shocked to see Volodymyr Zelenskyy lock horns with a seemingly Russia-aligned Donald Trump. They are now seeking a new way forward.
Ukrainians flock to Zelenskyy’s banner, but hope for solution with US Read...
 
After President Donald Trump’s public rebuke of Ukraine’s president, European leaders are attempting to step up their defense of Kyiv and adjust to shifting security norms.
How will Europe defend itself? 3 ways Trump is forcing the continent to adapt. Read...
 
At a security summit in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged export financing for 5,000 air defense missiles for Ukraine. The prime minister also said that Britain, France, and Ukraine had agreed to work together on a ceasefire plan that they will present to United States.
U.K. pledges new funding for Ukrainian air defense Read...
 
Ukrainian families in front-line regions struggle daily to rebuild their lives amid the destruction of Russia’s invasion. Providing the electricity, phone, and internet needed for online schooling can be frustrating.
Amid war’s ruins, a family grapples with young son’s hunger to learn Read...
 
US President Donald Trump has drawn accusations of appeasement for his rapprochement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, seemingly abandoning Ukraine.
In Europe, Trump’s overture to Putin sets off ‘appeasement’ alarm Read...
 
While much of Europe is wrestling with far-right politics, Serbia is seeing a student-led movement against corruption and its strongman president.
Who will end government corruption? In Serbia, it may be the students. Read...
 
As the U.S. becomes an increasingly unreliable ally, the pressure is mounting on Europe to pay for its own defense. But the transition will be slow.
As its trust in US ebbs, Europe takes hard look at more defense spending Read...
 
In German elections Sunday, voters boosted parties on the partisan poles. Patience with faltering attempts to govern from the center is wearing thin.
German centrists hold the line against right-wing populists – barely Read...
 
Amid recent Russian battlefield gains and a radical shift in U.S. diplomacy, residents of Ukrainian towns occupied three years ago now fight fears and struggle to remain defiant.
Once-occupied Ukraine towns try to stay defiant amid fear over Russia gains Read...
 
Proposing talks with Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine, Donald Trump has freed the Russian president from his diplomatic isolation and confounded U.S. allies.
Trump-Putin summit prospect brings Moscow in from the cold Read...
 
Germany democracy was built to repel the populism now sweeping the West. That makes its elections Sunday a test of whether this bulwark can hold.
Germany’s ‘firewall’ against populism has held so far. Sunday will be its biggest test. Read...
 
The United States appears set to abandon European security as a priority. That has left Europe scrambling to find new ways to protect the continent.
Stuck outside Ukraine talks, Europe begins reassessing its relations with US Read...
 
U.S.-Russia relations have gone from nowhere to close engagement in a week, since Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin ahead of a putative summit.
Beyond Ukraine talks, Putin counts on Trump to open world doors Read...
 
The talks scheduled for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia mark another pivotal step by the Trump administration to reverse U.S. policy towards Russia.
Top Russian and American officials will discuss ending the Ukraine war without Kyiv Read...
 
At Munich Security Conference, Finland's president says Europe should put
Finland urges leaders to rearm Ukraine as U.S. hints Europe excluded from peace talks Read...
 
If Russia’s plan to quickly defeat Ukraine failed, it’s fallback seemed more assured: a war of attrition in which the larger and stronger nation would prevail. With Western help, Ukraine has endured, but fatigue is setting in just as U.S. support is flagging.
Ukraine is exhausted. But it’s still determined to resist Russia. Read...
 
Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers is worrying European nations. It’s not just about sanctions; the vessels also pose environmental and navigational risks.
What is Russia’s ‘shadow fleet,’ and why does it worry Europe? Read...
 
French farmers are protesting a proposed EU trade deal. But a bigger crisis for France’s agriculture is also brewing. Its farmers are aging out.
Farming in France is on the decline. Who will feed the French? Read...
 
Wine has been as iconically French as a baguette or the Eiffel Tower. But for many young French, wine has lost its appeal, especially when it is alcoholic.
Wine at dinner? More young French say, ‘Only if it’s nonalcoholic.’ Read...
 
As the Russia-Ukraine war grinds toward its third anniversary, Ukrainian morale is low amid shortages of military support from European allies and America under Donald Trump.
Facing relentless Russia, Ukraine confronts shortages of men and morale Read...
 
Elon Musk is intervening in European politics with a slew of vitriolic posts supporting far-right parties. European leaders have begun to object.
As Musk amps up his support for the far right, Europe pushes back Read...
 
Western sanctions were meant to crush Russia’s economy. But Russian entrepreneurs have filled many of the gaps left by departing Western brands.
No more Western haute couture? Russian designers say no problem. Read...
 
Long considered the epitome of German engineering, Volkswagen has struggled to keep up with shifts in consumer and societal demands.
How Volkswagen slid from German engineering icon to innovation laggard Read...
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made Ukraine’s book publishing industry a target of the war. But the industry and Ukrainian readers are keeping books alive as a source of Ukraine’s resilient culture, and of solace and distraction.
War worries heavy? Internet out? In Ukraine, books are the balm. Read...
 
Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s “only legitimate president,” warned at a Monitor Breakfast that American interests would be at risk should her country fall under Russia’s sway.
Monitor BreakfastFrom the Republic of Georgia, a president’s plea to the West: Stop Russia here Read...
 
Ukrainians hope that Mr. Trump’s planned peace initiative will not let Moscow prevail, warning the U.S. leader not to trust his Russian counterpart.
Ukrainians urge Trump to back peace bid with arms Read...
 
Many assume Donald Trump’s policies mirror those of Vladimir Putin. But there is a yawning gulf between the two men’s outlooks for the war in Ukraine.
Trump promises a quick end to the war in Ukraine. Russia is not convinced. Read...
 
Donald Trump’s suggestion that he’d use force to acquire Greenland may just be bargaining. But for Denmark and Europe, it’s a possibility too serious to ignore.
When Trump hints at Greenland military action, Europe can’t ignore it. Here’s why. Read...
 
What’s more important, the freedom to mock, or protection of what many hold sacrosanct? After the Charlie Hebdo massacre, France opted for the former. But that may be shifting.
Ten years after Charlie Hebdo attack, France honors – and debates – the art of satire Read...
 
Russia’s war of depopulation is worsening Ukraine’s demographic crisis; the population has fallen from 52 million in 1991 to 35 million today.
Quiet streets, ghost towns: How Russia is changing Ukraine Read...
 
Elon Musk’s efforts to influence European politics raise questions about the degree to which he speaks for himself or President-elect Donald Trump.
Elon Musk aims his digital megaphone at Europe. Why? Read...
 
The “Repair Café” movement has spread to more than 40 countries across six continents, with nearly 3,200 Repair Cafés in operation.
The ‘Repair Café’ movement has become a powerful force for a fix-it culture Read...
 
Both Russian and Ukrainian official confirmed the fresh offensive into the Kursk region on Sunday. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said that Russian forces had pushed back Ukrainian troops, though online bloggers said Moscow faced major pressure.
Ukraine presses new attacks in Russia’s Kursk region Read...
 
Ukrainians are uncovering their country’s culinary history – and how its distinctive features were suppressed during Soviet rule.
Ukrainian chefs rediscover their country’s cuisine – after Soviets tried to destroy it Read...
 
National flags were lowered across Azerbaijan, traffic across the country stopped at noon, and signals were sounded from ships and trains as the country observed a nationwide moment of silence.
Cause of plane crash remains uncertain, as Azerbaijan observes day of mourning Read...
 
The city of Berlin pays half the cost if you repair electronics and don't throw them away. That sounds better than it worked out in practice.
Waste not that broken vacuum. Berlin will pay you to repair your stuff. Read...
 
Recent dramatizations about the British Post Office scandal are making it seem that entertainment is a better way to relay news than reported stories.
Post Office scandal, the musical? In the UK, news and entertainment blur. Read...
 
Over a century ago, a Ukrainian choirmaster wrote what became known as the “Carol of the Bells.” Our writer sought out its birthplace in Pokrovsk.
A reporter hunts for ‘Carol of the Bells’ birthplace – in Ukraine Read...
 
Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov was killed by Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, on Dec. 17. The SBU had opened an investigation linking him to the use of banned chemical weapons, which Russia has deployed more than 4,800 times since the war began, says the SBU.
A Russian general was killed by a bomb in Moscow. Ukraine claims responsibility. Read...
 
The detention of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria shows how the shadows of colonialism continue to haunt the world of French letters.
The ‘Voltaire of the Arabs’ is beloved in France, but imprisoned in Algeria Read...
 
Mikheil Kavelashvili’s victory is still challenged by the opposition who claim the election was rigged with Russia’s help. “There is no legitimate parliament and thus no legitimate election,” said Georgia’s outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili.
Georgia elects pro-Russia president as EU hopes dim Read...
 
What better way to tell a true holiday story than with singing – and knitting? In Sweden, an island choir comes together to celebrate community.
Move over, Vikings. Sweden’s new seafaring heroes are knitting grannies. Read...
 
François Bayrou, the fourth new French prime minister in one year, faces a deepening political crisis. The veteran politician’s appointment is intended to bring stability to the bitterly split parliament.
Emmanuel Macron taps François Bayrou as the next French prime minister. Who is he? Read...
 
Russia kept Syria’s Bashar al-Assad in power over the last decade. Now he’s gone. But setbacks in the Mideast are familiar to the Kremlin.
With Assad’s ouster, Russia’s Mideast influence collapses. What will Moscow do now? Read...
 
After fire ravaged the Notre Dame cathedral, few believed the Parisian icon could be quickly restored to its former glory. But only five years later, it is set to reopen – lighter, brighter, and better protected from disaster than ever.
Five years after fire, a shining Notre Dame is ready to reopen its doors Read...
 
In the German region of Thuringia, where Nazis had their first electoral wins, the extreme right-wing AfD is now ascendant.
Where Nazis first won office, Germans are voting for right-wing extremists Read...
 
France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers have joined together to vote on a no-confidence motion that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet to resign. Mr. Barnier pushed through a contentious 2025 budget without parliamentary approval.
No confidence: French lawmakers oust prime minister over budget woes Read...
 
Ukrainians are assembling drones at home to help supply the military with the thousands it uses every month in the war with Russia.
On Ukraine’s homefront, a DIY drone industry helps fill military’s needs Read...
 
The Pelicot rape trial is not just drawing media attention. The courthouse has become a gathering place for French people seeking to support Gisèle Pelicot.
French women flock to Gisèle Pelicot rape trial, ‘to show her that she’s not alone’ Read...
 
Women in the Ukrainian city of Sumy are escaping the war by exploring their home town's history through fashion using old photos to recreate costumes.
How century-old fashion is helping Ukrainians escape the grind of war Read...
 
The International Criminal Court’s warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant target two Israeli leaders. But they create tensions across a net of Western allegiances, especially in Europe.
With Netanyahu warrant, international court tests priorities of Israel’s allies Read...
 
Many of the countries that formed out of the Soviet Union aspired to link their future with the West. But European troubles and Russian aggressiveness are pulling their focus back toward Moscow.
In shifting world, post-Soviet states look back to a constant: Russia Read...
 
Should Ukraine surrender land to Russia to end the war? Opposition had been strong throughout the conflict, but Ukrainians are shifting on whether their territory is inviolate. 
Why many in Ukraine oppose a ‘land for peace’ formula to end the war Read...
 
Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s energy facilities, forcing companies to constantly rebuild and go weeks without power. Clean energy has begun to replace damaged coal and gas power plants, and it is proving more reliable and harder to destroy.
How wind and solar is restoring Ukraine’s energy and resisting Russian missile attacks Read...
 
Thousands of farmers flooded the streets of London protesting an inheritance tax on agricultural land that they say would devastate family farms. The U.K. government says the tax would mainly affect rich individuals who bought farmland as an investment.
Now UK farmers have a reason to protest. They say a tax hike will destroy family farms. Read...
 
Communication cables linking Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania have been cut. European governments say Russia did it, which it denies. “No one believes that these cables were cut accidentally,” says German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Europe nations investigate cut cables in the Baltic Sea. Was it Russian sabotage? Read...
 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can now use U.S.-built long range missiles to strike deep into Russia. The Biden administration gave him permission as North Korean troops come to Russia’s aid and Donald Trump prepares to take over the presidency.
Ukraine has been waiting to strike deep into Russia. Is Biden’s approval too late? Read...
 
Donald Trump is set on weakening Western support for Ukraine and weakening Europe’s economy with tariffs. Can the continent withstand a dual assault?
Trump leaves European allies fearing for their future Read...
 
The story of the grinding Russian-Ukrainian land battle is one of an imbalance of forces and supplies, mostly in Russia’s favor. Yet Ukraine finds ways to defy the odds, at least for a while.
Ukraine’s Pokrovsk was about to fall to Russia 2 months ago. It’s hanging on. Read...
 
After a record defeat in Britain’s last election, many Conservatives decided that they needed to be more populist. Their selection of Kemi Badenoch as party leader locks in that agenda.
A British ‘culture warrior’? Kemi Badenoch sets Conservatives on populist path. Read...
 
Ukrainian soldier-poets are springing up all along the front lines of their war against Russia, feeding a literary renaissance.
They took up arms to fight Russia. They’ve taken up pens to express themselves. Read...
 
A massive drone strike has rattled Moscow and its suburbs, injuring several people and temporarily halting traffic at some of Russia’s busiest airports. Meanwhile a huge nighttime wave of Russian drones targeted Ukraine.
Ukrainian drones strike Moscow as Russia looks toward Trump’s presidency Read...
 
When the Berlin Wall fell, East German “stuff” went to landfills. The nostalgia of identity is creating a new market for communist-era goods.
The Berlin Wall fell 35 years ago. Young east Germans fall for relics of the time. Read...
 
Germany’s governing coalition fell apart on Nov. 6 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz tried to push through a plan to borrow more money in support of the Ukrainian war effort. Years of tension peaked when the fiscally conservative Free Democrats jumped ship.
Germany can’t balance its budget. Now its government is in free fall. Read...
 
Ukrainians followed the U.S. presidential contest almost as if it were their own, nervously expressing the sense that their country’s future hung in the balance of an election in which they had no say.
Ukraine’s jittery new reality: ‘Work with Trump and hope for the best’ Read...
 
Intended for cargo planes headed to North America, the incendiary devices ignited while in storage in Germany and England. Linking the plot to Russia, Western security officials say the Kremlin is sabotaging Ukraine’s allies.
Cargo packages waiting for North American flights ignited. Officials blame Russia. Read...
 
President Maia Sandu won a second term in a runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, Alexandr Stoianoglo, in a race that was overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation in the European Union candidate country.
Moldova’s pro-West president, reelected, slams external ‘hostile forces’ Read...
 
Just as the Spanish women’s national team was celebrating its 2023 World Cup victory, it found itself embroiled in a fight with the soccer federation president over an unwanted kiss. A Netflix documentary looks at the scandal.
An unwanted kiss shook Spanish soccer – and society. A new documentary explores why. Read...
 
Three days after flash floods swept through towns in Spain, residents are working together to pick up the pieces. The floods followed battles with prolonged droughts in 2022 and 2023. Experts say drought and flood cycles are increasing with climate change.
Spain’s recent floods are the worst in living memory. What caused them? Read...
 
Rolled out to combat Russian signal jamming, Ukraine is deploying new AI systems to drive its drone warfare. Early tests find the automated pilots are far more likely to hit targets, though only a small proportion of Ukraine’s fleet uses the new technology.
Ukraine’s AI drones are now actively deployed in combat. And they hit targets. Read...
 
The Russian public is generally satisfied with how their country has transformed under Vladimir Putin. But that’s less because of his attributes and more a reflection of Russian history and culture.
Putin has ruled Russia for 25 years. How did he last so long? Read...
 
“Emily in Paris,” the cult Netflix series French viewers love to hate, is hinting at a move to Rome. Fans, from President Macron on down, are indignant.
The French love to hate ‘Emily in Paris.’ But they won’t let her leave. Read...
 
Russia has long aspired to use the BRICS bloc of countries to circumvent the U.S.-dominated global economic system. The group’s latest meeting shows how much progress Russia has made – and how other BRICS members keep that goal from being fully realized.
At BRICS summit, Russia tries to build a world without the US Read...
 
European countries such as Italy are trying to reduce immigration by moving asylum-seekers’ processing offshore – in Italy’s case, to Albania. But while the approach is increasingly popular, its legality remains suspect.
Europe is trying to cut back migration. Can it find a legal way to do it? Read...
 
Geneva Peace Week hosts people from around the world who aren’t just hoping for peace, but creating it. Their stories point to what’s possible.
In Gaza or Ukraine, peace can look impossible. Here, there’s hope. Read...
 
Fetullah Gulen, an exiled cleric who died in the United States, was head of a Turkish movement its followers say spreads moderate Islam and Western-style ideas. Formerly an ally of Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan, he was later accused of a failed coup attempt.
Fetullah Gulen, a controversial Turkish cleric, remembered for failed coup attempt Read...
 
The war in Gaza, like all surges of violence in the Middle East, has sparked rising antisemitic attacks on Jews in France. They are defending themselves.
Amid fresh wave of antisemitism, some French Jews resort to fake names Read...
 
By law, Norway’s universal child care system must be rooted in values that include forgiveness, equality, solidarity, and respect for human dignity.
In Norway, having a joyful, secure childhood is a right enshrined into law Read...
 
A new era of renewable energy begins with the closure of Britain’s last coal-fired power plant on Sept. 30. The shutdown makes Britain the first nation from the Group of Seven major economies to phase out coal.
The end of an era: Britain closes last coal-fired plant to pursue renewable energy Read...
 
Drawing on anxieties about immigration, inflation, and Ukraine, the Freedom Party finished ahead of the governing conservatives on Sept. 29. Rivals say they won’t work with party leader Herbert Kickl, who needs a parliamentary majority to become chancellor. 
How did Austria’s far right win its first national election since World War II? Read...
 
To placate the far right, European leaders are making their own national policies to curb migrant arrivals, ignoring a Continental agreement.
Pressed by far right, European governments raise barriers to migrants Read...
 
The Paris Olympics are over, but many in the city are still basking in the glow – including the mayor, who wants to keep the Olympic rings mounted on the Eiffel Tower indefinitely.
The Olympics are over. Should the Eiffel Tower keep wearing the rings? Read...
 
Anti-immigration rhetoric filled European political discourse this summer and far-right parties encouraging these policies show gains at the polls. Yet, only 115,000 unauthorized migrants have arrived so far this year, compared to more than 1 million in 2015.
Illegal immigration spikes fuel European politics. New data tells a different story. Read...
 
The eastern Ukraine city of Pokrovsk is emptying as citizens evacuate in the face of a swift Russian advance.
‘I have nowhere to go’: With Russia at their door, Ukrainians flee Pokrovsk Read...
 
Ukraine’s Azov Brigade has been much maligned for a Nazi-tainted past. But today its renowned fighters proudly and emphatically assert their modern self-definition as nationalists with a broad appeal.
Ukraine’s nationalist Azov fighters, once sanctioned by US, strive to clear name Read...
 
The German government enacted border closures for six months. The aim is to limit irregular migration and protect the nation from “the acute dangers posed by Islamist terrorism and serious crime,” says the Interior Minister. Free travel is integral to the EU.
Europe’s largest economy just enacted border closures. Will others follow? Read...
 
Sweden’s public health agency recommended children under 2 should not use digital screens. Research finding poorer sleep, depression, and developmental delays among 1-year-olds spurred the advisory.
Put the screen away, Sweden says. Could new policy spell the end of iPad kids? Read...
 
The end of the Olympics also closed out the feel-good limbo that had frozen French politics. Now President Emmanuel Macron and his newly chosen prime minister will have to figure out how to govern a France that looks on the verge of ungovernability.
Macron finally picked a prime minister. But can he govern France? Read...
 
History will judge whether Ukraine’s bold incursion into Russian territory will pay off in military terms, but it has cheered the public mood.
Ukraine’s push into Russia did wonders for morale. But will it change the war? Read...
 
Barcelona has closed nine-block chunks of the city to traffic and transformed them into green havens, decorating the newly pedestrianized streets.
How Barcelona is turning highways into havens of green Read...
 
Deep into the war, Ukraine’s power grid is still a prime Russian target. And Ukrainians, from individual families to the officials in charge of keeping the lights on, are finding new ways to cope.
With Russia targeting Ukraine’s power grid, ‘everyone is an electrician now’ Read...
 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks “new energy” by way of a major government reshuffle. The resignation of six prominent ministers, including the foreign minister and a deputy prime minister, comes at a pivotal moment in the war against Russia.
Why did Ukraine shake up its cabinet in the middle of a war? Read...
 
The blaze that engulfed the Grenfell Tower in west London was the deadliest fire on British soil since World War II. The years-long investigation published this week found the 72 deaths were all avoidable.
‘We paid the price’: Dishonesty and greed led to deadly London high-rise fire Read...
 
Right-wing extremists hold little formal power in Europe, but once-moderate political parties are adopting their policies, spreading their influence.
Europe’s middle ground slides to the right under extremist influence Read...
 
Estonian women weave camouflage nets to protect front-line Ukrainian soldiers so they can defend themselves against Russian attack.
Why Estonian volunteers are weaving camouflage nets for Ukrainian soldiers Read...
 
To stop far-right rioting, the U.K. is looking to stamp out the sort of online activity that fostered the violence. But the legislation that the government might use is under fire for being both too weak and overboard.
UK’s fight against far-right hate goes online, but does it go too far? Read...
 
While Donald Trump may admire Vladimir Putin, Russia finds the chaos that surrounds the U.S. presidential candidate is more trouble than it’s worth.
Donald Trump for president? This time, Russia says, ‘No thanks.’ Read...
 
The United States achieved democracy before most European nations. But it still lags behind Europe in terms of female representation in leadership.
Harris would be the first female US leader. Europe has had many. What gives? Read...
 
Tourism is making some top tourist destinations unlivable. Places like Barcelona are seeking a balance between affordability and hospitality.
Barcelona is being swamped by tourism. Locals are not taking it lying down. Read...
 
Since rioters targeted mosques recently, British Muslims have been comforted by their non-Muslim neighbors. But they hope for a change in rhetoric.
After anti-immigrant riots, what do British Muslims need to feel safe? Read...
 
Ukraine’s attack on Kursk was a surprise to Russia. But whether the shock will actually change Russian perceptions of the war seems doubtful.
Kremlin shocked, but undeterred, by Ukraine’s Kursk incursion Read...
 
To save people and property, firefighters take risks, earning recognition as heroes. In eastern Ukraine’s war zone, firefighter Ivan Subotin, founder of a rescue organization, is motivated, he says, to restore people’s faith in the future.
In Ukraine, this firefighter and all-round rescuer seeks to provide hope Read...
 
Ukraine’s snap invasion of Russia could change the course of the war. But much will depend on the restrictions allies put on their weapons’ use.
How far will Ukraine’s allies let it go against Russia? Read...
 
Two POWs’ path from induction in Russia to captivity in Ukraine was paved with broken promises, insufficient training, and poor equipment. Having survived, they offer insight into Russia’s brutal, yet effective, battle plan.
Russian POWs recount fear, and horrific cost, of battling dug-in Ukrainians Read...
 
Three sold-out Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna were canceled due to a planned attack by youths, one of whom had uploaded an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group. One of the two suspects admitted their plot was to “kill as many people as possible.”
Suspects arrested for planned attack on Taylor Swift concerts influenced by Islamic State Read...
 
The far-right rioting that has been racking the U.K. began after the killing of three little girls. But the root of the violence stems long before that.
Far-right riots are ravaging the UK. Why are they happening now? Read...
 
U.S., European, and Arab governments may accept that escalation in the Middle East is inevitable. But they can assert influence to determine how large it becomes, and how quickly it ends.
Wider war in the Mideast threatens. It can also be contained. Read...
 
Throughout the Russian war, Ukrainian defenders have fought to maintain their morale against a powerful enemy. After a frustrating wait for supplies, fighters on the front are hoping for a shift in momentum.
How Ukrainians fend off Russia, while awaiting new US military aid Read...
 
Kier Starmer called the attempt by far-right rioters to break into the hotel in the town of Rotherham “far-right thuggery.” At least 10 police officers were reported injured as they attempted to hold back the mob.
UK prime minister condemns far-right attack on hotel for asylum-seekers Read...
 
The United States and its allies negotiated the freedom of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and others – and showed that diplomacy with the Kremlin can work.
Prisoner swap with Russia frees Americans – and raises hopes for future diplomacy Read...
 
Visits to key allies in the region by top U.S. officials are aimed at bolstering relationships in Asia and building a bulwark against Chinese and Russian influence. 
China, North Korea draw US attention even as Mideast conflict escalates Read...
 
Three girls were killed this week in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England. A vigil for the girls turned violent after English Defence League supporters and police clashed. Authorities believe “propaganda and lies” drew the protesters.
A Taylor Swift-themed dance class ended in a stabbing. Then, far-right protesters turned a peaceful vigil violent. Read...
 
The residents of Ukraine’s Donetsk region have been resilient in the face of war. But Russia’s introduction of upgraded, highly destructive “glide bombs” is changing civilians’ calculus.
In eastern Ukraine, Russian ‘glide bombs’ push civilians to flee Read...
 
Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race marks the end of an era of U.S. leaders who saw America’s global role as key to its sense of self.
Biden’s pullout marks the end of an American era Read...
 
The war in Ukraine is changing the social makeup of the country’s workforce, as Ukrainian women are taking on roles in industries like coal mining.
Kateryna the Coal Miner? War gives Ukraine its own ‘Rosie the Riveter’ phenom. Read...
 
The Ukrainian people have seen, in the dismissal of their historical and cultural distinctiveness, and in the physical attacks on their cultural institutions, a coordinated Russian campaign against their national identity.
For Ukrainians, war of survival is also a battle to defend their identity Read...
 
The Trump assassination attempt shocked the U.S. Across Europe, leaders are witnessing not only threatening rhetoric but acts of violence, too.
Jolted by Trump shooting, US allies confront political violence at home Read...
 
Newly elected U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting the European Political Community Summit, which is set to hold discussions on immigration and Ukraine. European Leaders worry for NATO and the status of Ukraine aid under a potential Donald Trump presidency.
European leaders gather to discuss Ukraine’s future if Trump wins a second presidency Read...
 
After a landslide win for the U.K.’s Labour Party in their July 4 election, King Charles III announces the new government’s plans for a “national renewal.”
King Charles outlines Labour’s ambitious agenda: economic growth and public welfare Read...
 
As the Olympics approach, Paris’s homeless people are being shunted out of sight. Will the city improve life for its most vulnerable residents?
Paris wants the Olympics to shine. Where does that leave its homeless people? Read...
 
Portugal was the first country in the world to decriminalize drugs. Its drugs chief is clear that decriminalization alone does not work. Part 3 of a series. Here are Parts 1 and 2.
How Portugal became a world leader in fighting drug addiction Read...
 
As temperatures in parts of central and southern Europe soar toward 104 degrees Fahrenheit, authorities warn people to be cautious, drive carefully, drink plenty of water, and avoid going out during the hottest hours of the day.
Forest fires, power demand, melting pavement: Sumer heat smothers Europe Read...
 
The new British Prime Minister wants to use his victory to heal divisions in society. But does he have time to revive people’s trust in democracy?
In UK, can Starmer make landslide majority a force for healing? Read...
 
The July 4 U.K. election revealed that the country’s smaller parties are winning a growing share of the popular vote, even as the two big parties dominate Parliament.
Two-thirds of Parliament from a third of the votes: Are British elections out of whack? Read...
 
Ukrainian officials say a major Russian missile attack has killed at least 31 people and injured 154 across the country. One missile struck a large children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv; another struck the birthplace of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Deadly Russia missile attack hits Kyiv children’s hospital, among other targets Read...
 
Church bells used to be a vehicle for sharing information with communities. Today, they are background sounds. But a small school of bellringers in northeastern Spain is working to bring back the language of tolling.
A school in Spain reawakens the ‘dwindling art’ of church bell ringing Read...
 
France staved off a parliamentary takeover by the far right. Now it has to assemble a coalition in a landscape where “compromise” is a dirty word.
They’ve beaten the far right. Now French parties need to learn to govern together. Read...
 
New Prime Minister Kier Starmer led his party back to government less than five years after it suffered its worst defeat in almost a century. But Labour also faces a mammoth task of reinvigorating a stagnant economy and dispirited nation.
Starmer in as UK prime minister after Labour trounces Conservatives Read...
 
After 14 years in power, the Conservatives are set for an epic fall in British elections Thursday. The Reform UK party is making it that much bigger.
UK Conservatives are about to lose big. Here’s how the Reform party is making it happen. Read...
 
Millions of Britons are set to vote in a new government July 4. After 14 years in power, Conservatives are widely expected to lose.
The British are voting: key players and promises Read...
 
France’s far right National Rally is on top after one round of elections. But if a left-wing coalition and Emmanuel Macron’s bloc can coordinate, they could still pull an upset.
French parties once united to stop the far right. Will they do it again now? Read...
 
Scottish national identity is soaring. But Scotland’s nationalist party is set to lose many of its seats in July 4 elections. What happened?
Scottish identity is in. Scotland’s nationalist party is (likely) out. Why the disparity? Read...
 
Cutting-edge technology at Germany’s Euro 2024 promises to revolutionize the game experience. Ten cameras are installed in each of the host stadiums, plus seven in each goal, and the official tournament ball has a sensor to help detect every touch.
Smart rings, hyperbaric chambers, and corn balls are high-tech features of soccer’s 2024 Euro Cup Read...
 
Uneasy about Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Poland is turning to gold for a sense of security. As the war enters its third year, gold investors are buying in for psychological and financial safety.
As Ukraine war drags on, a gold rush in Poland to counter ‘turbulent times’ Read...
 
Two of Europe’s strongest supporters of aid for Ukraine – France and Britain – are likely to have new governments soon. What will that mean for Kyiv?
British and French elections promise dramatic turnover. Will aid for Ukraine falter? Read...
 
Russia stamped out domestic terrorism 20 years ago. But ethnic and religious tensions appear to be rising again amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine – and with them, worries about extremist terrorism.
Attacks on Christians and Jews in Dagestan worry Russia Read...
 
British Muslims protest Gaza war at U.K. elections by deserting political parties whose response has been tepid and choosing independent candidates.
In British elections, Muslim voters seek candidates who care about Gaza Read...
 
The European Commission accused Apple on June 24 of breaching the 27-nation bloc’s Digital Markets Act, a sweeping set of regulations aimed at preventing tech giants from cornering digital markets. 
EU accuses Apple’s App Store of unfair practices under new Digital Markets Act Read...
 
Like many Ukrainian villages once occupied by Russian forces, Staryi Saltiv straddles two outlooks: hope for a better future and trepidation that Russian troops could return.
Near Ukraine war’s front lines, threatened villages try to build a future Read...
 
The decision weeks ago to allow U.S.-supplied weapons to be used for limited strikes slowed Russia's momentum. But Ukrainian officials say they can't do much more until restrictions are lifted on the use of U.S.-provided long-range guided missiles.
Seeing success on northeast front, Ukraine wants to use US long-range missiles Read...
 
Parents across Europe are uniting to delay smartphone use in children, citing safety and mental health concerns, with support from grassroots movements, schools, and government initiatives.
Just say no. European parents band together for smartphone-free childhoods. Read...
 
The largest wind farm off Denmark’s east coast opened in 2023 and delivers energy to Denmark and Germany. But researchers realized it has other potential, too: an underwater seafood farm growing seaweed and mussel crops. 
Beneath an offshore wind farm in Denmark blooms seaweed and mussels for harvesting Read...
 
The International Union for Conservation of Nature said on June 20 the brown feline species is no longer endangered, after numbers rebounded from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to more than 2,000 adults and juveniles now.
There were only 62 mature Iberian lynx in 2001. Now, there’s over 2,000 of them. Read...
 
Two activists from Just Stop Oil were arrested at London Stansted Airport for spray-painting private jets orange, following a similar incident at Stonehenge. The group aims to end fossil-fuel use by 2030, using nonviolent protests.
Climate activists vandalize jets and Stonehenge as summer travel soars Read...
 
In 2019 elections, Britons living in “red wall” constituencies helped lift the Conservatives to victory. Now, they may decide the election again.
Working-class ‘red wall’ voters decided the last UK election. How do they feel now? Read...
 
Emmanuel Macron’s call for snap elections has flustered the French, as the prospect of a far-right government is now real. What is actually at stake?
If the far right wins France’s elections, what would that actually mean? Read...
 
Kylian Mbappé and other top French athletes, many of them Black, are breaking a taboo against talking politics to urge fans to vote against the extreme right.
French athletes avoided talking politics. The rise of the far right changed that. Read...
 
Amid the trials of a long and ugly war, where can people turn for the tranquility and beauty that restores their spirit? Sometimes the solution is right at hand, in parks and private gardens, as the rose lovers of Donetsk, Ukraine, can attest.
In Pokrovsk, Ukraine, a rose is a rose – and a sign of resilience and hope Read...
 
Those born in Germany of foreign descent have had to choose between their heritage and their native land. Now Berlin is addressing that dilemma.
Germans can now be dual citizens. But will society treat them like they belong? Read...
 
Much of the world regards the Taliban as outlaw rulers of Afghanistan. But Russia appears set to recognize them, in the interest of domestic security.
Almost no one recognizes the Taliban. But Russia appears set to start. Read...
 
War is often portrayed as a man’s world. But in Ukraine, women like drone commander Ananda are providing leadership with their own unique expertise.
For this housewife-turned-commander, the Ukrainian battlefield is the place to be Read...
 
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is urging UK voters to support the Conservative Party in the upcoming July 4 election, promising tax cuts. Despite trailing Labour in polls, Mr. Sunak is emphasizing the party’s economic policies to regain voter confidence.
Rishi Sunak vows tax cuts as UK Conservatives fight to close polling gap Read...
 
The idea of volunteers organizing to help in a crisis is not new in the West. But when it happened amid recent massive flooding in Russia, it was a surprise.
The Soviets stifled volunteerism in Russia. Torrential flooding may be reviving it. Read...
 
Going into European Parliamentary elections, most expected big gains for the far right. But it didn’t gain that much, and continuity ruled the day.
European elections were supposed to be the far right’s day. But the center held. Read...
 
When a Ukrainian dam blew up a year ago, floods destroyed homes and farmland across swathes of the south. But nature is reclaiming its rights.
Where the wildflowers grow ... in a Ukrainian war zone Read...
 
The European Parliament elections June 6 through 9, saw major shifts. President Emmanuel Macron’s party in France faced a defeat, Germany’s ruling coalition lost ground, and Italy’s far-right gained influence.
Key takeaways from the 2024 EU parliament elections Read...
 
Initially seen as a launching point to reclaim Crimea, the east bank of the Dnieper River is now a bastion against Russian incursion into Kherson.
In Ukraine’s south, marines are waging a grueling battle that could decide the region Read...
 
Poland accuses Belarus and its ally Russia of pushing migrants toward the EU, sometimes as many as 400 a day. Poland claims that this is part of Moscow’s plan to disrupt the EU just before the elections.
As EU elections near, migrants surge again at Poland-Belarus border Read...
 
Albania is building two migrant centers to shelter asylum-seekers rescued from international waters each month, giving Italy time to review their cases. The agreement is based on gratitude for Italy’s role in protecting Albanians after the fall of communism.
Italy and Albania have an unusual agreement to shelter migrants. Could it inspire other nations? Read...
 
The far right has been making political gains across Europe. This weekend’s European elections could set a modern high-water mark for its influence.
Europe is set to pick a new Parliament. Here’s why the far right will likely do well. Read...
 
As the 80th anniversary of D-Day approaches on June 6, hundreds of thousands of women who worked behind the scenes in crucial non-combat jobs for the Allied forces are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
British women were banned from World War II combat. Read how they helped win the war. Read...
 
Ukraine has imposed emergency power shutdowns in most of the country a day after Russia unleashed large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure and claimed it made gains in the eastern Donetsk province. Attacks on Ukraine’s power grid in recent weeks have forced the government to institute rolling blackouts. 
Energy shutdowns hit Ukraine after Russian attacks target infrastructure Read...
 
Albania and Serbia have teamed up in an attempt to bid for the 2027 men’s Under-21 European Championship. It has been almost 10 years since a fan riot ended a Serbia-Albania soccer game in Belgrade. Reactions from fans and players are still mixed.
Bend it like a Balkan. Serbia and Albania want to put feuds aside and host a soccer tournament. Read...
 
Throughout the war in Ukraine, a recurring theme has been Kyiv’s gratitude for U.S. military aid tinged with impatience over its timeliness. President Biden’s decision to allow some use of U.S. weapons against targets in Russia fits the pattern.
Kharkiv hails Biden OK to strike Russia: ‘We’ve been waiting’ Read...
 
Soldiers do what they can to relieve the stress of the battlefield. For some Ukrainian troops, that has meant gambling – and gambling addiction. Now the government is trying to help them get back control.
Some Ukrainian soldiers are struggling with a personal foe: gambling addiction Read...
 
In Europe, traditionally moderate conservative parties are adopting increasingly hard-right policies, so as to appeal to extremist voters.
In Europe, moderate conservatives seek to steal hard-right’s thunder Read...
 
One lesson of the Russia-Ukraine war is that Ukrainian farmers’ prosperity and the world’s food security are very much linked. Now, in David-and-Goliath fashion, a Ukrainian sea drone has been deployed in the Black Sea to help keep the grain flowing.
How a lethal Ukrainian sea drone is protecting the global food supply Read...
 
Despite Western sanctions, Russia has persevered. Now the Kremlin appears to be consolidating its economy fully toward the waging of war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin is all-in on war in Ukraine. That includes transforming Russia’s economy. Read...
 
Antiquities that were looted years ago have been returned to Italy. Italy’s carabinieri art squad says the 600 items have a value of around 60 million euros or $65 million.
Decades after being looted, $65 million worth of antiquities are brought back to Italy Read...
 
The United Kingdom will hold its first national election in five years on July 4. The nation faces a cost-of-living crisis, the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war, and deep divisions over how to deal with migrants and asylum seekers.
The British elections are coming. Here’s what is at stake. Read...
 
The Georgian parliament overrode a presidential veto on Georgia’s “foreign agents” legislation on May 28, stirring another round of massive protests in Tblisi. President Salome Zourabichvili has five days to endorse the bill or the parliament speaker will sign it into law.
Georgia’s ‘foreign agents’ bill clears parliament despite presidential veto, protests Read...
 
Finance officials from the Group of Seven rich democracies left a final agreement to squeeze more money for Ukraine from Russian assets frozen in their countries to be worked out ahead of a June summit.
G7 officials make progress on plan to fund Ukraine from frozen Russian assets Read...
 
The move by three European countries to recognize Palestinian statehood may not immediately facilitate diplomacy seeking lasting Mideast peace. But the nations maintain that it’s a matter of moral urgency.
How history led three countries to recognize a Palestinian state Read...
 
When political vitriol stirs violence, how does society get the temperature back down? That’s a question Europe is struggling with right now amid a wave of attacks on politicians, including the prime minister of Slovakia.
Political assaults aren’t just a Slovakia problem. Germany is seeing them, too. Read...
 
When soldiers are lost on the battlefield in Ukraine, it leaves unanswered questions back home. Some go to great lengths to answer those questions.
On Ukraine’s battlefields, this group respects fallen soldiers – no matter which side Read...
 
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said a national election will be held early July. His announcement follows a sharp drop in inflation in the U.K. – but voters aren’t likely to give him another chance. 
Prime Minister Sunak sets July 4 date for national election Read...
 
The River Seine is going to be a centerpiece of the Paris Olympics this summer. Authorities are in an urgent rush to make sure it’s swimmable for athletes and secured for attendees.
As Paris preps for Olympics, safety of the iconic River Seine remains in question Read...
 
Some European countries that offered residency rights to rich foreign investors have backed off the schemes, over doubts about fairness and security.
‘Golden visas’: Europe tightens residency rules for the rich Read...
 
While many European countries are distancing their economies from Chinese financing, Hungary and Serbia have invited investment from China’s President Xi Jinping. They believe the support of the world’s second-largest economy is vital to Europe’s success. 
Hungary and Serbia welcome Xi – and Chinese investment – to Europe’s struggling economy Read...
 
The European Union has a new set of rules to update a decades-old migration system. Proponents hope the reforms will divide the burden among host countries more equally. 
Here’s how the latest overhaul of EU’s migration system will work Read...
 
The Socialist Party is angling to build a coalition to take control of Catalonia’s government after its first regional election win on May 12. The race saw pro-independence parties lose their majority and their hold on power in the region. 
Spain election reveals independence is no longer a priority for Catalonians Read...
 
Russia's renewed assault on the Kharkiv region, which Ukraine says has forced more than 1,700 civilians residing in settlements near the fighting to flee, seeks to exploit ammunition shortages before Western supplies promised to Ukraine can reach the front line.
Ukrainian civilians flee as Russia says it has captured 5 villages Read...
 
Beijing once hoped Europe’s quest for independence from Washington would lean the Continent toward China. Nothing could be further from the truth.
On rare visit, Xi Jinping tries to rescue China’s relationship with Europe Read...
 
Six months ago, young Poles helped vote out eight years of backsliding conservative rule. But will their enthusiasm persist amid the realities of governance?
Young Poles led a political revolution. Now they need to learn patience. Read...
 
The Kremlin presents its war in Ukraine as a continuation of Moscow’s fight against Nazism in World War II. An exhibition of captured arms illustrates how.
For Moscow, the war in Ukraine is a rerun of World War II Read...
 
Labour Party candidates saw broad success in Britain’s May 2 local elections, a sign of resurgence after 14 years in the minority. The results may portend defeat for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives in general elections later this year.
Rishi Sunak tried everything to keep UK’s Conservatives in power. It isn’t working. Read...
 
Washington has long urged European nations to spend more on their own defense. Russia’s Ukraine invasion, and European doubts about America’s role in tomorrow’s world, have had the desired effect.
Facing Russian threat and an uncertain America, Europe rearms Read...
 
Young Georgian demonstrators are hoping to block a Moscow-inspired law on “foreign agents,” which they worry will be used to stifle criticism of the government.
The West or Moscow? In Georgia, a pivotal vote could set the nation’s course. Read...
 
Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s first minister, resigned as his government coalition collapsed. Transgender care and tackling climate change were just some of the issues that weakened Mr. Yousaf’s government.
Scotland’s leader resigns. His government couldn’t agree on climate change, health care. Read...
 
Awaiting much-needed arms from a huge U.S. aid package, Ukraine’s troops have been forced to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the east.
Ukraine makes tactical retreat in east, warns of frontline pressure Read...
 
When controversy over a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad led to the killing of teacher Samuel Paty in 2020, colleagues had to learn to trust again.
Samuel Paty was murdered, and teaching in France has never been the same Read...
 
The new $61 billion U.S. aid package will keep Ukraine from the brink, allowing it to release rationed ammunition and launch anti-aircraft missiles. But as Russia pushes forward, even small offensives may be outside Ukraine’s reach.
US aid to Ukraine will help it fend off Russia. But victory still isn’t in sight. Read...
 
Who represents France? It’s a question that has set off a political brouhaha, as far-right leaders complain about President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion that Aya Nakamura might sing an Édith Piaf song at the Olympics.
Meet the Franco-Malian pop star sparking debate over who should sing at the Olympics Read...
 
The United Kingdom’s Parliament passed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda, despite facing legal challenges. Mr. Sunak has pledged to “stop the boats,” while activists say the program is unethical and inhumane.
After years of debate, UK Parliament signs off on sending migrants to Rwanda Read...
 
Iran creates a unique link between the war in Gaza and the war in Ukraine, where it supplies Russia with arms. That puts the Kremlin in a difficult position in the Middle East.
Russia tried to stay on good terms with Iran and Israel. Then they started fighting. Read...
 
Immigration is sometimes perceived as a threat to tradition. But in Spain’s Canary Islands, it appears to be the means to preserve a centuries-old sport that has been in danger of dying out.
An archipelago was losing its ancient sport. African migrants may save it. Read...
 
Most migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe have arrived in populated areas that could handle newcomers. But what happens when they land someplace truly isolated like the island of Gavdos?
Only 70 people lived on the island of Gavdos. Then migrant boats started to arrive. Read...
 
Ukraine is scrambling to bolster its defenses, and on Tuesday rolled out a new, tougher conscription law. But with resupplies still snared in Washington, some veterans warn that more troops only offer so much help.
Ukraine is trying to rally new troops. Vets say weapons are more urgent. Read...
 
Britain’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.
No Brit born after 2009 will ever be able to smoke legally, if bill passes Read...
 
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.
These Russian soldiers refuse to fight Putin's war. But escape is nearly impossible. Read...
 
Two 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, short of soldiers, passes controversial new conscription law Read...
 
Ukraine must convince Americans that its fate matters, and that a Russian victory would threaten European security and American interests.
Ukraine aid deadlock could threaten peace in Europe. Does Congress care? Read...
 
Poland has one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. Now, that law is up for a long-awaited debate.
Most abortions in Poland happen unofficially. A new law could change things. Read...
 
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.
Terrorists attacked Moscow. Now Russia’s migrants are feeling the backlash. Read...
 
Historically 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.
How Portugal has largely avoided racism and Islamophobia amid a migration boom Read...
 
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. 
In post-quake Turkey, kids struggle. A school principal named ‘Hope’ steps in. Read...
 
Few rank either government or technology as trustworthy. But then there are Estonians, who are deeply invested in their country’s e-government programs.
Estonians trust their government. That’s why it can offer advanced services. Read...
 
The 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.
A sidewalk telescope in Madrid offers a glimpse into the night sky’s unknown Read...
 
Wall 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. 
One year in, Evan Gershkovich’s time in Russian prison has no clear end Read...
 
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.
Russia has long worried about terrorism. The Moscow attack showed it may not be prepared. Read...
 
The 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.
Islamic State group claims Moscow attack as death toll rises to 133 Read...
 
Hungarian leader Viktor Orban predicts that under Donald Trump, Washington will cut all aid to Ukraine and that Europe will not make up the shortfall.
Hungarian leader Viktor Orban acting in the West as Moscow’s man on the inside Read...
 
In 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.
Why Spain is trusting trans teens on their gender, rather than restricting them Read...
 
Among 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.
There was no medicine, so this Ukrainian nurse sang lullabies to wounded soldiers Read...
 
Despite 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. 
Kremlin aims for high voter turnout to legitimize Putin's war in Ukraine Read...
 
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?
Russia’s presidential election begins today. Here are 3 reasons Putin will win. Read...
 
Russia’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.
How Russian elections became a futile exercise for Putin’s opposition Read...
 
After long resisting Europe’s rightward political creep, Portugal looks set to join the trend in Sunday’s elections. Critics worry that the populist Chega party is giving new life to the ideology of Portugal’s bygone dictatorship.
With cry of ‘enough,’ Portugal’s far right challenges the establishment Read...
 
An International Women’s Day referendum is asking Irish voters to consider two revisions to constitutional language about families and the role of women. But some opponents are concerned about the wording of the proposed changes.
Irish Constitution says women belong in the home. Will that last? Read...
 
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.
Ukrainians along front: Digging deeper, and waiting, waiting ... Read...
 
Russia’s Putin will win reelection. But who will win the argument in Europe over how to defend Ukraine and guard against future Russian aggression?
Europe divided over how far to push Putin Read...
 
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act goes into effect March 7, forcing tech companies to show choices of search engines and where to download apps, as well as increased personal data privacy. Europe has been a global leader in reining in tech giants.
Congress talks big game about reining in Big Tech. Europe is doing it. Read...
 
The elusive street artist Invader has created more than 4,000 mosaics dotting cities and towns on six continents. Fans can even download a Pokémon Go-style game that rewards users for hunting down the installations. 
In the alleys of Paris, a mysterious Invader turns street art into sport Read...
 
The European Commission says Apple broke EU antitrust laws by not allowing fair competition with other music streaming apps. The commission slapped the tech giant with a €1.8 billion fine. Apple says it will appeal.
EU slaps Apple with nearly $2 billion fine over streaming service Read...
 
With billions in U.S. aid to Ukraine held up in Congress, the impact is being felt not only by soldiers at the front, but also by civilians displaced by war and dependent on generosity.
Amid Western aid cuts, Ukraine families wonder how they’ll get by Read...
 
Isolated by the West, Moscow has hustled to create alternatives to global commodities. But with Olympic-level athletic contests, Kremlin proxies may not satisfy Russia’s public.
Moscow plans its own mini-Olympics. Will Russians be satisfied? Read...
 
How do you restore faith in a public broadcaster that had been a tool of government spin? That’s the challenge facing Polish journalists at TVP, the state TV channel, after eight years of polarized coverage.
‘Expecting goodness to prevail,’ journalists clean up Poland’s state media Read...
 
The Mediterranean is the most dangerous route for migrants – nearly 28,000 have died or gone missing en route. Enter the tech activist Nik Zimke of One Fleet, whose app will assist search and rescue missions, pinpointing lost migrant ships.
How a tech worker and hacker team aims to save migrants lost at sea Read...
 
Legend has it that the Kingdom of England will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London. There’s one man standing between Britain and certain peril – and it’s Michael “Barney” Chandler’s first day on the job.
Tower of London has a new ravenmaster. His mission is unflappable. Read...
 
Farmers in Europe demand slower shift to climate-friendly agriculture. Can they halt the green transition?
Why Europe’s ambitious Green Deal hinges on farmers Read...
 
Can going to a museum be therapeutic? A partnership of therapists, health care workers, and educators in France is creating pathways for doctors to “prescribe” museum visits and art interactions to those needing mental health care.
In France, a new prescription for mental health: Museum visits Read...
 
Auteurs and actors are held in high esteem in France. That may be in part why the country is still wrestling with sexual abuse scandals involving some of its cinematic leading lights.
French cinema has a sexual abuse problem. Why is it persisting? Read...
 
The war in Ukraine has tallied massive costs in lives, money, and materiel not just for the combatants, Ukraine and Russia, but for much of the world. It will take years before restoration is even within reach.
What has two years of war cost Ukraine and Russia? Read...
 
How has Lyman, a battered community in eastern Ukraine, endured two years of a war that never feels far away? Children need a secure routine. Services need to be restored. Yet everywhere, still, is uncertainty.
Ukraine: After two years of war, the abnormal is the new normal Read...
 
A new defense deal between Hungary and Sweden marks an easing of tensions between the countries. Their cooperation comes at a critical moment as Sweden is poised to join NATO. 
With fighter jets in hand, Hungary ready to approve Sweden’s NATO bid Read...
 
Once a haven for Albanian émigrés from communism, Italy will send new asylum seekers to Albania while they await visa approval. Albania’s parliament approved Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s plan to stem the migrant crisis.
Help at the border: Albania agrees to receive Italy’s asylum seekers Read...
 
Between Alexei Navalny’s death and the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia is in transition. The public may be going along with the war, but the country’s space for expression is shrinking.
After two years of war, Russia finds itself frozen, but transformed Read...
 
In the midst of a grim third winter of a grinding war, Ukrainian soldiers voice mixed emotions: gratitude for U.S. support so far, but concern that Americans unsure of their global role won’t supply the ammunition the soldiers need to stop Russia.
Outgunned, Ukrainians watch Congress while facing Russians Read...
 
Poland’s government wants to clean up the excesses of its populist predecessor. But do so too quickly and it risks repeating the patterns that caused the former government to violate public trust in the first place.
New leader wants to ‘clean up’ Poland. Does public trust him to do so? Read...
 
Russian forces have taken complete control of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. The announcement came the same day that Ukraine’s military chief said he was withdrawing troops from the city where outnumbered defenders battled a Russian assault for four months. 
Russian forces seize eastern Ukrainian city Avdiivka Read...
 
Russian forces have taken complete control of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. The announcement came the same day that Ukraine’s military chief said he was withdrawing troops from the city where outnumbered defenders battled a Russian assault for four months. 
Russian forces seize control of eastern Ukrainian city Avdiivka Read...
 
Many in the West saw Alexei Navalny as the Russian opposition’s most promising challenger to Vladimir Putin. His death in prison on Friday brings a tragic end to a struggle the Kremlin had already largely contained.
With Navalny’s death, Russia’s opposition loses its last leader Read...
 
U.S. willingness to stay engaged on the global stage is on display this week amid a trio of security meetings in Brussels and Munich.
Europe casts wary eye as Americans debate engagement with world Read...
 
Birth rates are dropping to record lows in Europe, following worldwide trends. France, Italy, and Finland are searching for ways to incentivize people to produce more children, including tax credits and increased social welfare programs. 
As birth rates plummet, Europe questions existing incentives Read...
 
Poland seems like a bitterly divided country, especially over hot-button topics like abortion. But there’s middle ground to be found, thanks to empathy among even the most conservative Poles.
Poland appears torn by abortion. Research hints divide isn’t so deep. Read...
 
A recent session in the Northern Ireland Assembly had a powerful message for those seeking a cease-fire in Gaza and eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Northern Ireland’s lessons for Gaza: Peace is possible Read...
 
Saying hello can go a long way in building social connections, and researchers in London found a simple way to encourage such behavior. 
‘Thank you’ matters: Why a stronger society starts with your bus driver Read...
 
William Windsor, Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, remains one of a shrinking pool of working royals as King Charles III focuses on his health. Britain’s monarch is expected to serve as a symbol of national identity, unity, and continuity. 
Prince William returns to public duty in trying time for the Windsors Read...
 
To hear it from Tucker Carlson or his Russian fans, his soon-to-be aired interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin is an exercise in journalistic parity. But both Mr. Carlson and the Kremlin are pushing agendas.
Tucker Carlson is interviewing Putin. What’s in it for the Kremlin? Read...
 
In the Netherlands, an e-bike company bankruptcy masked a thriving startup ecosystem. What’s behind the small country’s entrepreneurial spirit?
How the Netherlands became Europe’s startup hub Read...
 
An Irish nationalist made history by becoming Northern Ireland's first minister. Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill was nominated Saturday as first minister as the government returned to work after a two-year boycott by unionists.
For the first time, an Irish nationalist will lead Northern Ireland Read...
 
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to legalize same-sex marriage in Greece, succeeding legislation that banned conversion therapy and legalized same-sex cohabitation. He hopes to align Greek policy with the rest of the EU’s on LGBT+ rights.
Catching up to Europe, Greece set to legalize same-sex marriage Read...
 
Sweden’s “lagom” culture promises not too much and not too little, but just enough for everyone. Some wonder if that balance is getting lost, and whether it can be revived.
Is enough still enough? Sweden reckons with its culture of ‘lagom.’ Read...
 
Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region declared a drought emergency Feb. 1. But thousands of people in towns outside Barcelona have been in crisis mode for months, with water arriving by truck, taps cut off, and residents turning to natural springs. 
Winter drought: Drinking water runs dry in northern Spain Read...
 
With protests roiling the country, it’s clear that France’s farmers are unhappy. But how united are they in their grievances, and what solutions do they think need to be implemented?
French farmers are united in protest. Do they share a vision for solutions? Read...
 
Four years after Brexit, party leaders have tentatively agreed to a new deal to end Northern Ireland’s political deadlock. Controversy over border checks had left the country without a functioning government for two years.  
In Northern Ireland, a long-awaited moment of compromise Read...
 
European farmers are blocking roads across France, Italy, and Spain leading up to the Feb. 1 European Union summit. A combination of severe climate events, the war in Ukraine, and inflation has put many small farms in dire straits.  
Why small farmers are blocking roads from Paris to Brussels to Rome Read...
 
The world is increasingly questioning what it owes victims of state genocide and enslavement. Germany’s atonement after the Holocaust shows a path – albeit a bumpy one – forward.
German reparations for Holocaust reveals complexities of atonement Read...
 
After years without pushing a dogma, the Kremlin is espousing social conservatism as a defense against what it perceives as an amoral West. Ironically, Moscow’s concern may be a reflection of the West’s own culture wars.
For Kremlin, divide with West isn’t just geopolitical. It’s moral. Read...
 
The world is increasingly questioning what it owes victims of state genocide and enslavement. Germany’s atonement after the Holocaust shows a path – albeit a bumpy one – forward.
German reparations for Holocaust reveal complexities of atonement Read...
 
Russians are lining up to sign a petition in support of a President Vladimir Putin challenger: Boris Nadezhdin. As he calls for peace with Ukraine and dialogue with the West, the candidate’s growing popularity reveals an undercurrent of dissent.
His name means ‘hope.’ Has a credible challenger to Putin emerged? Read...
 
When an organization underwrites the needs of the many, how does it balance that against the needs of the few whom it is directly responsible for? That question is percolating in Kiruna, Sweden.
Swedish town pays a price for its mining success Read...
 
Paris Olympics urban planners have focused first not on the Games, but on what the venue-hosting area will offer residents once athletes leave.
Poor Paris suburbs count on Olympic promise Read...
 
Russia, fighting in Ukraine, needs a source of weapons untouched by Western sanctions. Iran seeks to upgrade its military. Deal done.
Russia has long sold arms to Iran. Now Iran is returning the favor. Read...
 
The asylum process is meant to offer a haven to those who are in danger. But in Greece, many of those granted refuge end up facing a new threat: hunger.
Why getting asylum in Greece can mean going hungry Read...
 
German protests against the far right drew large crowds – in Munich too many for safety – following a report that extremists discussed deporting millions of immigrants.
Protests against the far right draw hundreds of thousands in Germany Read...
 
The prospect of a second Donald Trump presidential term is sparking fears in Europe that the end of the trans-Atlantic alliance is nigh.
Bracing for US election, Europe’s leaders seek to Trump-proof policies Read...
 
A volcano has erupted in southwestern Iceland for the second time in less than a month, sending semi-molten rock spewing toward the nearby settlement of Grindavik. Barriers built north of the evacuated town have been breached and lava is closing in.
Iceland volcano erupts again, threatening town of Grindavik Read...
 
Tractors and trucks are blocking roads from Hamburg to Munich, driven by farmers who say the government’s phaseout of a diesel tax break will destroy their bottom line. Authorities warn the protests could fuel far-right extremism.
German farmers tell government to hit the brakes on subsidy cuts Read...
 
From 1999 to 2015, hundreds of British Post Office managers were falsely convicted of theft due to a digital accounting glitch. The scandal is now under investigation, but a recent TV drama is stirring calls for swifter justice by the wider British public.
British TV drama on postal scandal heightens calls for justice Read...
 
The latest round of strikes affecting the United Kingdom’s National Health Service is testing the limits of the public’s support for NHS staff, but young doctors feel they have few other options.
Amid doctor strikes, are UK patients losing patience? Three questions. Read...
 
Britain is back in Europe! Well, in Horizon Europe, the European Union’s research and innovation program. The renewed cooperation between British and EU scientists is restoring opportunities that Brexit had stymied.
‘The best science is international’: UK, EU restore research partnership Read...
 
The new Russia Expo is offering the country’s public a view of its many regions and cultures. But experts say it also offers a window into Vladimir Putin’s vision of Russia’s present and future.
In new Russia Expo, a look at what Putin wants his country to be Read...
 
Britain is one of the world's oldest democracies, but some worry that essential rights and freedoms are under threat. Critics say Britons' civil rights are being eroded by elected representatives and not enough protection from the courts. 
Protest crackdown: UK democracy faces scrutiny over rights and freedoms Read...
 
Over a dozen people have been killed in a mass shooting at a Prague university, according to Czech police. The alleged shooter has been identified as a student. 
Prague grapples with worst mass shooting in Czech history Read...
 
The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act sets AI guidelines in the 27-nation bloc. Here’s what it means beyond – particularly for the U.S. and China, the leading AI powers.
What do Europe’s new AI rules mean for the rest of the world? Read...
 
As more and more European voters turn to hard-right, anti-immigrant parties, traditionally moderate conservative groups are jumping on that bandwagon.
Immigration debate pushes Europe toward hard right Read...
 
Despite seeing their lives and livelihoods regularly unsettled by Europe’s struggle with unauthorized migration, residents of the island of Lampedusa maintain a desire to help those crossing the Mediterranean.
On Lampedusa, locals are front-row first responders to migrant crisis Read...
 
Andy Burnham, Manchester’s mayor, leads a drive to spread political power more evenly across England, focusing on the local level where things get done.
‘King of the north’: An English mayor fights for his neglected region Read...
 
Strikes at Tesla’s Swedish service centers have pitted CEO Elon Musk against the strongly held labor ideals of Nordic countries. None of Tesla’s workers are unionized, but pressure mounts as sympathy for strikers rises.
Tesla strike: Elon Musk butts heads with Scandinavian worker ideals Read...
 
The need to protect the homeland and prevail over invader Russia has turned Ukraine into a hotbed for new drone technology.
War on a budget: Ukraine becomes hotbed for drone tech Read...
 
European efforts to regulate artificial intelligence show how hard it is to harness such a fast-moving phenomenon at the heart of global society.
Can AI outsmart Europe’s bid to regulate it? Read...
 
“There will be peace when we will achieve our goals,” President Vladimir Putin said concerning the Ukraine war. At an end-of-year conference on Dec. 14, the Russian president talked military strategy while reaffirming authority for his reelection campaign.
Putin doubles down on war in Ukraine. ‘Victory will be ours.’ Read...
 
In London, efforts to clean the air have become politically weaponized. But the electoral calculations mask real societal issues, such as whether antipollution burdens are falling too heavily on those who can’t afford to pay for it.
In London’s clean-air fight, is burden falling too much on working class? Read...
 
As France closes in on a ban of e-cigarette puffs to prevent teen smoking, some experts are asking if would it be more effective to try to persuade young vapers to give up the habit.
France debates vaping: How best to separate teens from their ‘puffs’? Read...
 
Centrist party leader Donald Tusk was elected prime minister by Poland’s parliament after eight years of conservative rule under Law & Justice. He has taken a pro-European Union stance and vows to keep the rest of the world committed to helping Ukraine.
Poland’s new PM Donald Tusk is pro-EU, committed to helping Ukraine Read...
 
Finland’s border checkpoints have seen a sudden surge of Middle Eastern and African migrants in the past month. Finland blames Russia for the surge, saying it is retaliation for Finland’s membership in NATO. 
Why Finland blames Russia for its record number of migrants Read...
 
Krispy Kreme opened in Paris last week, the latest in a string of U.S. fast-food joints prospering in the world’s self-proclaimed gastronomic capital.
In Paris, Krispy Kreme takes on the croissant Read...
 
Migrants seeking asylum in Italy will be assessed in Albania under a new plan by the hard-right-wing government in Rome.
To curb migrant numbers, Italy looks to Albania for help Read...
 
Albanian lawmakers passed the annual budget in a vote disrupted by flares held by the opposition to the governing Socialist Party. The flares, piling chairs, and starting small fires come as the European Union begins membership negotiations with Albania. 
Albanian Parliament votes amid flares, fires, and stacks of chairs Read...
 
On Dec. 8, workers at Notre Dame will begin the last year of repair before the cathedral reopens. When Olympic visitors descend on Paris for the Summer Games on July 26, the cathedral will have a finished look from outside while interior work continues.
One year countdown: Notre Dame on track to reopen in December 2024 Read...
 
The European Union has been drafting artificial intelligence guidelines for years, but the emergence of OpenAI’s ChatGPT has upped the urgency. If EU leaders aren’t able to reach a deal this week, negotiators will be forced to pick up the issue next year.
EU leaders in a race against time to agree on first AI regulations Read...
 
With the Russian invasion still ongoing, many Ukrainians see the choice between speaking Ukrainian and Russian as more than pragmatic. It is also about patriotism and affirmation of their identity.
In Ukraine, war speeds migration away from Russian language Read...
 
Russian security forces raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow less than 48 hours after the country’s top court banned what it called the “global LGBTQ+ movement” as an extremist organization.
After LBGTQ+ activism ban, Russian police raid gay bars in Moscow Read...
 
A lawsuit filed to Russia’s Supreme Court identified “signs and manifestations of an extremist nature” by the LGBTQ+ movement operating in Russia. It ruled that the movement is extremist and banned LGBTQ+ activism in the increasingly conservative country.
Russia outlaws LGBTQ+ activism in landmark Supreme Court ruling Read...
 
Greece’s iconic olive trees are at risk of becoming a victim to the ravages of climate change. So farmers are finding new ways to care for and harvest the crop, and maintain its viability in a warmer world.
In Greece, iconic olive crop becomes a climate change front line Read...
 
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Italy’s cities to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This comes as the country was gripped by the news of an Italian man extradited for the alleged murder of his girlfriend. 
"United in the name of Giulia," Italians march to end gender violence Read...
 
Ten years ago, Ukrainians protested President Viktor Yanukovychin’s decision to move the country away from the EU and toward Russia. The months-long standoff led to the ouster of Mr. Yanukovychin, and nine years later, an ongoing war with Russia.
Civilians reflect on Ukraine’s 2014 uprising in the midst of war Read...
 
Finnish authorities say that Russia has started allowing undocumented travelers to access the border zone and enter crossing stations between the two countries. To curb this influx, four crossing points on its border will be closed Friday.
Why is Finland closing crossing points along its Russia border? Read...
 
When it comes to ancient kingdoms and cultures, who has legitimate claim to use that history to define themselves today? And who, if anyone, are history’s gatekeepers?
How Cleopatra got caught up in a culture war Read...
 
Though millions of Ukrainians remain refugees abroad, an increasing number are returning home despite the war. But while being in their homeland brings some relief, it also poses new stress.
The call of home: Why some Ukrainian refugees are risking a return now Read...
 
The British government’s response to the growing number of migrants arriving from around the world was to give them a one-way ticket to Rwanda. Britain’s Supreme Court ruled the plan unlawful. The government vows to make changes and press on with the plan.
UK determined to send migrants to Rwanda, despite ‘unlawful’ ruling Read...
 
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Benjamin Netanyahu are fighting against not only their enemies but also the clock, on which international patience is ticking.
As world patience thins, Israel, Ukraine race against time Read...
 
Israel’s war against Hamas has unleashed a torrent of responses from Westerners, both positive and negative. Many are finding it a challenge to express their feelings without being co-opted by darker forces in society.
Protesters of Israel-Hamas war fear nuance is getting lost Read...
 
Hippotherapy, using horses to help heal traumatized soldiers, is a new treatment in Ukraine, but the mental relaxation it offers is bringing relief.
Recovery in Ukraine: When horses do the whispering Read...
 
Amid a large increase in anti-Jewish acts since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, at least 182,000 French citizens nationwide marched on the streets to denounce antisemitism. The demonstrations also attracted a number of French politicians.
Marches against antisemitism draw 180,000 in France Read...
 
Former British prime minister David Cameron, who resigned after the Brexit vote, was named U.K. foreign secretary on Nov. 13. Home Secretary Suella Braverman, divisive for her hard line against pro-Palestinian protests, was fired.
In surprise move, David Cameron returns to U.K. government Read...
 
French President Emmanuel Macron opened a Gaza aid conference Thursday, reiterating calls for a pause in Israel’s operations against Hamas and addressing the Palestinian enclave’s growing needs for food, water, health supplies, electricity, and fuel.
Macron on Israel-Hamas war: Fighting terrorism has to have rules Read...
 
In the Mediterranean’s olive-growing countries, the extreme weather caused by climate change is taking a toll. Olive oil prices have soared, sparking a rise in thievery, including cutting down century-old trees. Greek farmers have asked for police help. 
Olive police? Century-old trees chopped by chainsaw-wielding thieves. Read...
 
A unique Italian school puts students from warring parties together for two years, teaching them to see the human being behind the nationality.
In Italy, a school teaches reconciliation over revenge Read...
 
A series of teen suicides has reignited debate in France about the dangers school bullies pose, and focused new efforts to curb school harassment.
To counter teen suicide, French schools turn to lessons in empathy Read...
 
Russian activists are fighting to remember the millions of victims of Soviet repression, even as Vladimir Putin’s government seeks to downplay the historical crimes of the USSR.
Russian activists brave backlash to honor Soviet victims Read...
 
Threats would appear to signal conflict. But the Kremlin’s nuclear diplomacy, seen by the West as risking escalation, is categorized as a longer-term strategy of deterrence in Russia. 
Russia’s nuclear saber rattling: A threat or wake-up call for the West? Read...
 
Recent proposals by authorities to restrict access to abortion have struck a nerve across Russia. While abortion remains legal, new regulations and mandates from the Health Ministry are designed to discourage women from seeking terminating pregnancies. 
Creeping abortion restrictions in Russia spark outrage Read...
 
Russia has cultivated warm ties with both Israelis and Palestinians, which it does not want to jeopardize by any involvement in the Israel-Hamas war.
Seeking neutrality, Kremlin stays on sidelines of Israel-Hamas war Read...
 
Poland’s opposition won recent elections, showing autocrats can be beaten, but the established authorities retain the influence they have sown in society.
For victorious Polish democrats, restoring democracy is top challenge Read...
 
Amid the conflict with Russia, Ukraine is fighting its own chronic corruption. But while corruption usually grows in war, Ukraine is beating it back.
As corruption costs lives on battlefield, Ukrainians demand change Read...
 
Last winter, Ukrainians had to learn to survive without electricity after nearly half the country’s energy capacity was affected by Russian strikes. They are expecting the same, if not worse, conditions this year, but Ukrainians have spent months preparing.
Winter is coming. But this year, Ukrainians are better prepared. Read...
 
Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist working for a U.S. government-funded media company, has been detained in Russia. Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty editor Alsu Kurmasheva is the second American journalist to be held in Russia this year. 
Russia detains U.S. journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. Why she faces jail. Read...
 
Giorgia Meloni took office one year ago as Italy’s first post-war far-right premier. But so far, Ms. Meloni has surprised skeptics. Notably, she has backed NATO support for Ukraine despite running an election campaign “raging against Europe.″
One year in office, has Italian Premier Meloni proven skeptics wrong? Read...
 
Chinese automakers are winning over drivers in Europe’s electric vehicle market – a key industry in Europe’s green energy transition. The European Union says China is artificially driving down its prices, adding tensions between the West and China.
Chinese EV sales are soaring in Europe. The EU doesn’t love it. Read...
 
Can a former colonial power make amends without offering an apology? France and Algeria offer a test case that shows how difficult it can be to grapple honestly with the past.
France won’t apologize to Algeria for war. Enter the French people. Read...
 
Azerbaijan's seizure of the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno Karabakh could prompt other ex-Soviet republics to choose violence over diplomacy.
After Karabakh: Why peace in Azerbaijan could unsettle larger Russian sphere Read...
 
Sunday's elections in Poland may be the most important since 1989, when the nation threw off communist rule. Those activists who once fought communism are now divided – and many are worried that Polish democracy is at stake.
Poland freed itself from communism. Now it's fighting for democracy. Read...
 
If one European nation has stood by Ukraine in its war with Russia, it is Poland. But that partnership is under strain as Poland nears crucial national elections and parties try to take advantage of voters’ frustrations.
As Poland votes, its close partner Ukraine becomes a political football Read...
 
German lawmakers have drawn up legislation to ease deportations. Political pressure is rising on the country's governing coalition, which fared poorly in two state elections on Sunday in part because of the migration issue.
Germany steps up deportations as migration pressure increases Read...
 
Each year in the warmer seasons, Yazidi herders and their families guide their livestock to Armenia’s high pastures – a vestige of a nomadic past. 
In Pictures: Why Yazidi herders still traverse Armenian mountains Read...
 
The British Supreme Court is hearing arguments this week around an agreement made last year to send failed asylum seekers in Britain to Rwanda. No one has yet been deported as court battles have delayed the implementation of the policy.
UK Supreme Court listens to arguments on Rwanda deportation policy Read...
 
The ruling Law and Justice party that has aligned itself closely with the Catholic Church seeks to win a third straight term in the upcoming Polish parliamentary election. The party’s Christian values have led many young Poles to turn away from religion.
Church and state in Poland too close for comfort, say young voters Read...
 
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put European Union enlargement on the agenda again, with Kyiv the top-priority candidate. But joining won’t be easy.
With wary eye on Moscow, European Union opens door to Ukraine Read...
 
Weeks before invading Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan received weapons shipments from Israel. Azerbaijan went on to recapture the region, causing thousands to flee – and bringing Israel’s national interests in the Caucasus to light.
Armenians decry use of Israeli arms in Karabakh invasion Read...
 
Fleeing one’s home in war is often a difficult choice to make, but it is particularly so for Ukraine’s seniors, who have survived hard times before. It often falls upon volunteers to bring them to safety.
For these Ukrainian volunteers, mission is to bring elders out of harm’s way Read...
 
Pope Francis will open a global gathering of Catholic bishops and laypeople this week to discuss the future of the Catholic Church. Women’s voices and votes will take center stage for the first time this year, in a historic move for the church.
For the first time, women will have a seat at the Vatican's table Read...
 
In theory, Russian law applies everywhere within Russia’s borders. But over and over, the Chechen republic proves exempt from those rules, no matter how blatant a violation might be.
With one video, Russia’s Chechnya problem seizes the spotlight again Read...
 
Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez needs the support of Catalan regional parties to form a government. The price might be granting amnesty to independence activists – a move that would be highly divisive with the rest of Spain’s voters.
Spain’s left needs votes to govern. For Catalans, it’s not that easy. Read...
 
Rising numbers of refugees seeking comfort in the United States and Europe are prompting a political backlash. Can a humane policy be politically sustainable?
Wanted: A humane and sustainable policy on refugees Read...
 
The cycling revolution is transforming France’s capital. On some boulevards, bikes outnumber cars at peak times as growing numbers of Parisians are discovering that biking can rekindle love for the city’s charms.
Paris turned into real-life Mario Kart as bikes take over the city Read...
 
The breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh government will cease to exist by next year, after Azerbaijan’s invasion last week. Ethnic Armenians are fleeing Karabakh in fear of civilian reprisals, raising concerns of ethnic cleansing.
Karabakh dissolves separatist government amid exodus, crackdowns Read...
 
A standoff between ethnic Serbs and Kosovo police left four dead on Sunday, including a Kosovar police officer, threatening to sink negotiations between the two neighbors. Kosovo split from Serbia in 2008, a decade after it endured a bloody civil war.
Kosovo and Serbia were on the brink of detente. Why is it unraveling? Read...
 
Another academic year is starting amid war in Ukraine, and some students are going back into classrooms. Schools have to fortify their facilities, but educators and parents view the in-person experience as worth the risk.
To forge bonds, Ukraine tries to bring kids back into schools – safely Read...
 
Ethnic Armenians are fleeing their historic homeland in Nagorno-Karabakh, mistrustful of Azerbaijani promises to treat them fairly in the wake of Baku’s military victory.
Armenians flee victorious Azerbaijani troops in Nagorno-Karabakh Read...
 
Sunny Georgia’s freedoms and quest for EU membership attract Russian exiles but risk provoking Vladimir Putin’s imperial designs. 
Long in Russian orbit, Georgia tilts West Read...
 
Niger’s junta sees the withdrawal of 1,500 French forces as a step toward sovereignty. The decision will likely hurt France’s policy in Africa since President Emmanuel Macron has recently removed troops from other countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso.
New independence for Niger? France ends military presence after coup. Read...
 
The Azerbaijan government has held talks with separatist officials from Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan claimed full control of the region after a military offensive. Local Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to a cease-fire. 
After cease-fire, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan discuss their future Read...
 
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Croatia have banned grain imports from Ukraine, which in turn lodged a protest with the World Trade Organization. The ban widens a rift between war-torn Ukraine and several of its nominal allies in the fight against Russia.
Ukraine warns of food crisis after four EU states ban grain imports Read...
 
Dutch universities are having to balance their desire for international students against their need to protect limited resources – by using tools generally wielded by nationalists.
Dutch universities teach in English. It’s making them too popular. Read...
 
Russia has long maintained the status quo in the Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. But Moscow no longer appears willing to do so, and Azerbaijanis are taking the region back by force.
With world distracted, Azerbaijan tries to stamp out Karabakh separatists Read...
 
The Sicilian island of Lampedusa saw more than 5,000 people arrive in a single day this week, raising alarms about humanitarian conditions. Italy’s right-wing government has vowed to crack down on migration, but Mediterranean crossings continue to rise.
Italy struggles with record migration as 5,000 arrive in one day Read...
 
Vladimir Putin is often accused of trying to restore the old Soviet Union. But his meeting with Kim Jong Un suggests he might be focusing on restoring ties with like-minded former Soviet allies instead.
Putin meets Kim Jong Un, looking for arms – and friends Read...
 
The auto market is one of the few areas in Russia where Western sanctions had an immediate effect. Today, Russia’s car industry has been transformed, with new players, foreign and domestic, stepping to the fore.
Chinese, Iranian automakers woo Russians after Western brands leave Read...
 
Luis Rubiales, who kissed a player without her consent at the Women’s World Cup, resigned after weeks of pressure. Spanish soccer officials, bidding to host the 2030 Men’s World Cup, hope that his exit will put the controversy behind them.
‘It's over’: Spain’s soccer chief steps down in wake of unwanted kiss Read...
 
Amid changing climate, much of the world is struggling with wildfires. But in Tenerife, locals have managed to contain blazes without fatalities or loss of homes, thanks to experience learned from previous natural disasters.
How a volcano prepared Tenerife to fight wildfires Read...
 
Ukraine needs battlefield success to give it dominance in any negotiations with Moscow that Kyiv’s allies might propose to avoid a “forever war.”
Can Ukraine avoid a ‘forever war’ against Russia without talks? Read...
 
In a Hungarian high school, members of the long-oppressed Roma community are taking inspiration from the way the Dalits in India set their sights on reform and took control of finding a better future.
How a Buddhist-inspired high school is boosting Hungary’s Roma Read...
 
The Russian president says a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain amid the war won’t be restored until the West meets Moscow’s demands on its own agricultural exports.
Putin dashes hopes of new Ukraine grain deal after talks with Erdoğan Read...
 
The number of speakers of “na-našo,” a centuries-old Croatian dialect found in Italy’s Molise region, is dwindling. But young people brought up in the language are determined to see it survive.
Saving ‘our way’: How young Italians are preserving their rare dialect Read...
 
Shunned by the West over its war in Ukraine, Russia is looking to Africa to find new international partners. And, lacking colonial history on the continent, Moscow is finding a more welcoming audience.
Isolated from West, Russia looks to Africa as land of opportunity Read...
 
Resilience or stubbornness? It’s a matter of perspective. We talk to a Ukrainian artillery commander, a veteran of the yearslong conflict between Russia and Ukraine, during a break from the war.
For this Ukrainian veteran, why Russians fight is still a puzzle Read...
 
War destroys lives and erodes nations. Yet it also paves the way for rebirth. As Ukrainians plan for the reconstruction of their country, they are also discussing the values needed to create a better society.
Turning pain to progress: Alliance imagines a new, better Ukraine Read...
 
The death of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash, the latest Kremlin irritant neutralized in suspect circumstances, likely means the end of Russia’s use of mercenaries in its foreign policy.
Wagner’s finale? Prigozhin’s death marks Russian shift in strategy. Read...
 
The crash immediately raises suspicions since the fate of the founder of the Wagner private military company has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he mounted a mutiny earlier this year.
Mercenary leader Prighozin may have been in fatal plane crash near Moscow Read...
 
President Zelenskyy, who traveled to both countries to finalize the deals, says the move will boost Ukraine’s confidence and motivation. He vowed to retaliate for a Russian missile strike on a theater Saturday that killed 7 and wounded scores.
With US approval, Denmark and Netherlands announce F-16s for Ukraine Read...
 
Is Russia’s future aligned with China? Many in Moscow think so, seeing the two countries’ visions aligning not just geopolitically, but also ideologically – though it may cost Russia considerably.
Following Xi’s lead? Russia takes closer look at Chinese ideology. Read...
 
The destruction wrought by the blasting of a Ukraine dam is vast and long-lasting. In two cities more than 100 miles apart, residents deploy different coping mechanisms to endure an event that has transformed their lives.
Mud and thirst: Two Ukraine cities cope with dam’s destruction Read...
 
Niger and France have been mutually dependent on each other for decades. But the coup in Niger has shaken their relationship, as well as French ties with the broader Sahel region.
Is Niger’s coup a sign that France’s influence in the Sahel is over? Read...
 
A fruitful decadelong program of U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation in space has ended, a victim of Russia’s war against Ukraine and other forces.
US-Ukraine space project taught resilience, innovation. Why it’s over. Read...
 
Nataliia Bilovol’s cafe is not a normal pit stop. She and her team serve up 2,500 free meals a day and loving motherly care to Ukrainian soldiers.
The Ukrainian cafe serving soldiers free food and motherly love Read...
 
The Kremlin’s ban on gender-affirming care signals an acceleration of Russia’s authoritarian drift, with treatment of trans people as a signal to distinguish Russia from the West.
Kremlin’s anti-trans law leaves many Russians asking, ‘Who’s next?’ Read...
 
In the best of circumstances, advancing through minefields while minimizing losses is time-consuming for armies. As Ukraine struggles to expel Russia, it hopes not to exhaust its allies’ patience.
As Ukrainians slog through minefields, what they need most is time Read...
 
Europeans have long shunned air conditioning, tolerating even the most intense heat. But amid a brutal heatwave, where breezes are far and few between, some are beginning to give AC a second look.
Amid brutal heat, Europeans offer air conditioning a cool embrace Read...
 
Moscow is sweeping up after two recent drone strikes. On Sunday and Tuesday, drones shot down by the Russian military blew out part of a floor of windows on a high-rise building and sent glass cascading to the streets below. There were no fatalities.
Two drone attacks in Moscow this week. Who is behind them? Read...
 
Despite her campaign pledges, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has struggled to control a surge in migration. Due to the country’s growing labor shortages, her administration has been compelled to issue a larger number of work visas for migrants.
Italy’s double trouble: Soaring migration meets labor shortage Read...
 
France has too many empty church buildings. No one wants to tear them down, but how do towns find new purposes for them while navigating sensitivities about those new roles?
Hotel? Office? Mushroom farm? Unused French churches get new roles. Read...
 
At a time when letter writing has gone the way of the quill pen, a bicycle delivery messenger and his team are helping to build the social bridges the digital world threatens to tear down.
Special delivery: This Frenchman builds community, letter by letter Read...
 
Russia has launched near-nightly attacks on Ukrainian export facilities since it withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, reviving concerns for worsening global food security.
Russian attacks on grain exports challenge Ukraine, and the world Read...
 
U.K. immigration rates are at record levels, but, unlike the government, the public now seems unconcerned with an issue that once stirred angry passion.
Britons favor ‘controlled openness’ over closed door as immigration soars Read...
 
For the seventh straight day, Greece continues to battle devastating wildfires that are forcing widespread evacuations and damaging property. Firefighters are battling flames throughout the affected regions. 
Wildfires in Greece engulf island of Rhodes as tourists seek safety Read...
 
A Russian bombing campaign launched with Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal has targeted Odesa’s port and grain silos. But it has also targeted the city’s culture and heart. Odesans are unbowed.
Odesa’s reply to Russian missiles: Unity, volunteerism, resolve Read...
 
In Spain’s recent election, there’s political deadlock: the far-right Vox party was foiled in its attempt to seize power. While the conservative Popular Party emerged victorious, it fell short of ousting Prime Minister Sánchez as polling data had predicted.
Spain’s vote: Far-right Vox stumbles, political power struggle looms Read...
 
Protests erupted in Muslim-majority nations like Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran over Quran desecration in Sweden. After storming Sweden’s Baghdad embassy, protestors demonstrated peacefully, but the evacuated Swedish staff were relocated to Stockholm.
Quran desecration in Sweden sparks global protest wave Read...
 
Children are both remarkably resilient and vulnerable. However hard a society may try to shelter its children, a war such as Ukraine’s invades lives. For kids who have experienced loss, these summer camps are a corrective.
In Ukraine, summer camps provide kids a ‘childhood during war’ Read...
 
Russia’s withdrawal from a deal allowing Ukrainian grain to get to global markets isn’t simply a matter of spite. The agreement helped Kyiv and grain buyers, but not Russia, Moscow says.
Why Russia’s grain deal snub isn’t just about attack on Kerch Bridge Read...
 
After the United States delivered cluster bombs to support Ukraine’s counteroffensive, Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid intensifying fighting, threatened retaliation if Ukraine uses them. The bombs have been condemned for their threat to civilians.
Cluster bombs: Putin warns retaliation for US-armed Ukraine Read...
 
For some Ukrainian women who have lost their partners in the war, painting has offered a therapeutic way to cope with grief. The project, called “Alive. True Stories of Love,” honors those who have died, in addition to providing comfort to their partners.
For Ukrainian women left behind, painting is a form of therapy Read...
 
Despite being the original spots for beach getaways, England’s seaside towns can’t compete with today’s foreign tour packages. That is spurring them to rethink their approach to tourism.
In birthplace of the beach holiday, where are the tourists? Read...
 
Discover the values that drive the story.
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The Christian Science Monitor's coverage of the war between Hamas and Israel, and related articles.
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