All Europe
First LookAs birth rates plummet, Europe questions existing incentivesBirth 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.聽
Poland appears torn by abortion. Research hints divide isn鈥檛 so deep.Poland seems like a bitterly divided country, especially over hot-button topics like abortion. But there鈥檚 middle ground to be found, thanks to empathy among even the most conservative Poles.
Northern Ireland鈥檚 lessons for Gaza: Peace is possibleA recent session in the Northern Ireland Assembly had a powerful message for those seeking a cease-fire in Gaza and eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace.
鈥楾hank you鈥� matters: Why a stronger society starts with your bus driverSaying hello can go a long way in building social connections, and researchers in London found a simple way to encourage such behavior.聽
Tucker Carlson is interviewing Putin. What鈥檚 in it for the Kremlin?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.
It鈥檚 not just the sunshine: Why Portugal attracts US expatsPortugal is gaining popularity with U.S. citizens looking to move abroad. Reasons include the expected, like weather and the cost of living, as well as ones that hint at people鈥檚 deeper needs when trying to build a good life.聽
First LookPrince William returns to public duty in trying time for the WindsorsWilliam 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.聽Britain鈥檚 monarch is expected to serve as a symbol of national identity, unity, and continuity.聽
How the Netherlands became Europe鈥檚 startup hubIn the Netherlands, an e-bike company bankruptcy masked a thriving startup ecosystem. What鈥檚 behind the small country鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit?
First LookFor the first time, an Irish nationalist will lead Northern IrelandAn 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.
French farmers are united in protest. Do they share a vision for solutions?With protests roiling the country, it鈥檚 clear that France鈥檚 farmers are unhappy. But how united are they in their grievances, and what solutions do they think need to be implemented?
First LookWinter drought: Drinking water runs dry in northern SpainSpain鈥檚 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.聽
First LookCatching up to Europe, Greece set to legalize same-sex marriagePrime 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鈥檚 on LGBT+ rights.
Cover StoryIs enough still enough? Sweden reckons with its culture of 鈥榣agom.鈥�Sweden鈥檚 鈥渓agom鈥� 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.
First LookIn Northern Ireland, a long-awaited moment of compromiseFour years after Brexit, party leaders have tentatively agreed to a new deal to end Northern Ireland鈥檚 political deadlock. Controversy over border checks had left the country without a functioning government for two years.聽聽
First LookWhy small farmers are blocking roads from Paris to Brussels to RomeEuropean farmers are blocking roads across France, Italy, and Spain leading up to the Feb. 1 European Union summit.聽A combination of severe climate events, the war in Ukraine, and inflation has put many small farms in dire straits.聽聽
In Ukraine and Europe, a concern: Has Putin outlasted the US?America鈥檚 support for Ukraine has resonated around the world. Yet as Congress holds up new aid, and Ukraine鈥檚 supplies dwindle, comes a question: Has U.S. support shifted from 鈥渁s long as it takes鈥� to 鈥渁s long as we could鈥�?
For Kremlin, divide with West isn鈥檛 just geopolitical. It鈥檚 moral.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鈥檚 concern may be a reflection of the West鈥檚 own culture wars.
German reparations for Holocaust reveal complexities of atonementThe world is increasingly questioning what it owes victims of state genocide and enslavement. Germany鈥檚 atonement after the Holocaust shows a path 鈥撀燼lbeit a bumpy one 鈥撀爁orward.
First LookHis name means 鈥榟ope.鈥� Has a credible challenger to Putin emerged?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鈥檚 growing popularity reveals an undercurrent of dissent.
Swedish town pays a price for its mining successWhen 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.
