All Europe
First LookVacation mayhem: European airports overrun and understaffedEurope travelers are stranded at airports after numerous flight delays and cancellations. This comes after multiple airlines and airports laid off employees at the peak of the pandemic. The head of Europe鈥檚 biggest airline warns the turmoil will last all summer.
First Look鈥楢 game-changer鈥�: EU expected to welcome Ukraine鈥檚 candidacyLeaders around Europe are expected to officially welcome Ukraine鈥檚 candidacy for EU membership on Thursday. Becoming a member of the economic and political bloc is a lengthy, complicated process, but the move offers many Ukrainians a reason for hope.聽 聽
Ukraine: Three girls wounded by war, three paths toward healingWhat the three young Ukrainians share is girlhood interrupted by a war that left them wounded. How each finds her way forward, with help or alone, is unique.
By voting in split parliament, French public demands Macron compromiseFrench government policy usually comes down to presidential desire. But the public has forced a rarer model of governance: one of cooperation and compromise.
First LookRussian Nobel winner auctions his award to aid Ukrainian childrenNobel Peace laureate聽Dmitry Muratov, an independent Russian journalist, has auctioned off his gold medal for a record $103.5 million to raise money for Ukrainian children. "I was not expecting this to be such a huge amount,鈥� said Mr. Muratov.聽
鈥榃here is my place?鈥� Women push back against French politics鈥� machismo.Parties in France are required to submit gender-equal candidate lists in elections, but some don鈥檛. So women in politics are seeking new ways to loosen the old boy network鈥檚 grip.
Ukraine war shows need for Germany to rearm. But is it ready?Germany鈥檚 stringent pacifist streak has led to a dramatic deterioration of its military. The Ukraine war appears to be changing that 鈥� a potentially crucial shift for European security.
Why a French heat wave could mean hunger in North AfricaAs French farmers see their grain yields shrink, the effects will be felt 鈥� and magnified 鈥� across North Africa and the Mideast.
First LookEU leaders in Kyiv: Simple delegation or crucial mission?Italian, German, French, and Romanian leaders are visiting Ukraine on Thursday, denouncing the brutality of the Russian invasion amid concerns of waning Western support.
First LookTurbulent skies: Britain says flight to Rwanda will go despite rulingAlthough British lawmakers are聽鈥渟urprised and disappointed鈥� after a ruling by the聽European Court of Human Rights聽grounded their plans to deport refugees to Rwanda, they remain steadfast in their resolve to deport asylum-seekers.聽
First Look'Russian Davos' welcomes China, Egypt 鈥� the West stays awayAmid a wave of sanctions hitting Russia, St. Petersburg鈥檚 International Economic Forum is struggling to attract foreign investors. Vladimir Putin, however, is counting on a handful of Asian and African nations to show participation of the West isn鈥檛 required.
Amid rain and rockets, Ukrainian farmers keep working the soilAs the Ukraine war rages聽鈥� sometimes even in their fields 鈥� Ukraine鈥檚 farmers are persevering聽and aiming聽to export聽much-needed grain聽to the rest of the world.
First Look鈥楾he name changes, love remains,鈥� claims Russia鈥檚 new McDonald鈥檚McDonald鈥檚 Russian successor, Vkusno-i Tochka, opened its first restaurant on Sunday. Now owned by a Siberian entrepreneur, the 'Tasty, period' brand is expected to spread across the country.聽Fifteen of the former McDonald鈥檚 were set to reopen in Moscow on Sunday.
First LookMacron survives challenge from left in French parliamentary electionsAfter the first round of voting Sunday,聽French President Emmanuel Macron鈥檚 centrist alliance is expected to keep its parliamentary majority but with a much smaller number of seats, according to projections.
To solve Russia鈥檚 war crimes, Ukraine casts a wide digital netRussia鈥檚 atrocities take time, stamina, and personnel to process. Digitally savvy Ukrainians have been assiduous in their fight to bring Russians to justice for war crimes.
First LookWhy the EU wants Spain and Algeria to remain friendlyAlgeria鈥檚 decision to nullify a two-decade-long friendship treaty with Spain has left the EU trying to patch things up between the neighboring countries. Given the scale of Algeria鈥檚 oil exports, some officials fear gas shortages in the midst of a global energy crisis.
First LookFrance joins effort to support Taiwan and democracy, defying ChinaFrench lawmakers met with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday to discuss the island鈥檚 de facto autonomous status. They expressed support for Ms. Tsai鈥檚 policies regarding 鈥渇reedom and democracy鈥� and said that they鈥檙e working to deepen economic ties.
First LookBattlefield beats: Ukrainian rapper voices the rage of a generationA young Ukrainian is using the power of music to tell stories from the frontline of war in hopes that the world listens and never forgets.聽
First LookOne cord to rule them all: EU mandates a universal chargerIn response to consumer calls for less electronic waste, EU has mandated all phones, laptops, and tablets, regardless of brand, to have similar charging cords by 2024.聽
First LookMines, sanctions, and distrust hinder Ukraine grain export plansRussian and Turkish negotiators are making progress on a plan to get Ukrainian grain flowing across the Black Sea again. Countries around the world urgently need the grain聽but distrust, Ukrainian sea defenses, and sanctions on Russia stand in the way.
