All Europe
First LookAfter failed budget, Spain calls early electionAfter Spain's聽minority Socialist government was defeated in a budget vote in Parliament, Prime Minister聽Pedro Sanchez called an early election for Apr. 28. In the country's fragmented political environment, forming a new government will be challenging for any party.
First LookItaly's leaders spar over high-speed rail projectThe future of Italy鈥檚 coalition government rests upon the completion of a high-speed rail tunnel to France, as the two factions use the project to determine the country's governing ethos: populism or pro-business?
Baffled by Brexit? You鈥檙e not alone.
First LookGermany mulls tougher rules on telecom suppliers to control Huawei risksGermany's聽Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has expressed support for reforming the country's telecommunications law, rather than an outright ban, to counter the risks posed by Huawei, the Chinese mobile network equipment giant.
Macron asks a restive France: What would you like to change?Even in the best of times, many in France feel their government isn鈥檛 listening to them, and today that is especially true. Can a 鈥渘ational debate鈥� counteract their malaise, or will it feed into skepticism?
First LookSpain's highest court faces big test in Catalan separatists' trialThis week, Spain's Supreme Court will put on trial a dozen Catalan separatists who led a failed independence referendum in 2017. The court's decision could play an outsized role in Spain's future, as Catalonians remain divided by the secession question.听
Out of the shadows: Historical female artists finally shineA cursory look through art history may suggest that women have not played a significant role. New research shows otherwise, but doing justice to forgotten female artists requires more than identifying them.
First LookNew Start treaty between US and Russia set to expireNot even a week after the United States ended a treaty with Russia limiting nuclear-warhead proliferation, a Russian official suggests that another de-escalation pact is in danger of dissolution if the US doesn't engage soon with talks before the 2021 expiration date.
First LookIn Ukraine, comedian who plays president on TV leads real raceIn a popular TV series in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy聽plays a high school teacher propelled into the presidency after a video of him blasting official corruption goes viral. In reality, he is now the leading candidate for the country's upcoming presidential election.
To take Spain left, prime minister digs up civil war鈥檚 legacyAt the heart of Pedro S谩nchez鈥檚 government is a dramatic appeal to unresolved issues around the fascist era. But it may not be enough to bolster his party for the challenges of the present.
In uncertain post-INF world, Russia may opt for talks over armsAs the US pulls out of 鈥渢he treaty that ended the cold war,鈥� what鈥檚 next for Russia? Probably a diplomatic attempt to split the US and its European allies in an effort to prevent a return to nuclear standoff.
First LookThird of UK firms consider move abroad as Brexit date nearsThe bulk of Brexit negotiations has sidelined smaller businesses across Britain. Several firms stockpiled goods at a record rate in January to brace for a possible trade disruption.听
First LookForeign secretary: Brexit may need to be delayedIf the divorce deal negotiations drag on, then so might Britain's exit from the European Union, says a top government official. Economic concerns are front and center, as 鈥渘o deal鈥� would mean that trade agreements with the EU will vanish overnight.
First LookRecession returns to Italy, darkening outlook for EuropeThe eurozone's third largest economy slips back into recession as the region still recovers from the previous debt crisis. European lawmakers urge the country to rein in its spending.听
A China-controlled internet? Why tech giant Huawei roils Western fears.The next generation of wireless networks will help power the 'internet of things,' with links to everything from home thermostats to critical national infrastructure. That sets up a tussle over who should be trusted to build it.听
Russians embrace Soviet ideals 鈥� by not paying their gas billsFrustration with聽present economic woes is leading many Russians to turn to the ideals of a rose-colored Soviet past. And for some, that means an unusual ethical stand: refusing to pay their utility bills.
Brexit puts EU nurses 鈥� and British health care 鈥� on rocky roadFor many proponents of Brexit, the core of the effort is about protecting Britishness from diffusion in the European project. But what if Europe is needed to keep alive one of the most British of institutions: the NHS?
Europe is trying to make the internet more fair. How that may backfire.Europe is trying to redistribute copyright profits: from the Facebooks and to little publishers. But the law of unintended consequences looms large. The proposed directive could well make things worse.
Welcome to Oodi: Helsinki鈥檚 new 鈥榣iving room鈥�The new Helsinki Central Library, known as Oodi, doesn't just lend out books. It hosts community spaces, a theater, toolshops, and even a restaurant, all in an effort to promote Finnish civil society.
First LookTaxi drivers in Spain stage their own 'yellow vest' protestsSpanish taxi drivers in Madrid and Barcelona have blocked streets to demand stricter regulations for app-based ride-hailing companies, which compete for their customers.
