All Europe
Russia wrestles with a US-style school massacre in CrimeaThe Russian public reaction to Wednesday鈥檚 massacre by a lone shooter at a school in Kerch, in the Russian-annexed Republic of Crimea, will look hauntingly familiar to Americans.
First LookDisagreement over Northern Ireland could prolong Brexit, angering many in UKAt the EU summit in Brussels, Prime Minister May suggested the UK could remain in the EU's trade bloc months after Brexit. The prolonged delay over finalizing the deal has been met with skepticism across Britain's political spectrum as the March exit draws near.聽聽
Russia's once shadowy spies cast into the light. Why now?If a growing body of reports are to be believed, the GRU has been caught red-handed carrying out a range of reckless and aggressive operations against Ukrainian and Western targets. The scandal has directly touched the Kremlin.
First LookAt a Brexit summit, EU leaders search for solutions 鈥� slowlyEuropean Union leaders met with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Brussels on Wednesday to continue Brexit negotiations. After a failure to address border concerns between Ireland and Northern Ireland, a new sense of "non-urgency" has taken hold among leaders.
Migration roils global politics, even as it ebbsNever before have so many people 鈥� 70 million 鈥� been forcibly displaced from their homes. Millions more have chosen to leave in search of a better life. And traditional politics have been thrown into disarray. Part 1 of聽On the Move: the faces, places, and politics of migration.
First LookIceland seeks closure 10 years after financial crashTen years ago, the Icelandic krona lost almost half of its value overnight after the collapse of Iceland's three major commercial banks. The final prosecution of financial officials deemed responsible began this month with more than 30 people sentenced to a combined 99 years of prison.
An end to the dollar's global hegemony? The Kremlin sees an opportunity.The dollar has long been the world's reserve currency. But some countries, angered by sanctions, are聽 challenging that status, potentially undermining one of the US's most influential tools for shaping global policy.
First LookRussia quietly expands influence in Balkans, exacerbating sectarian tensionMilorad Dodik won聽the Serb seat in Bosnia's three-member presidency last weekend after he聽appeared in footage alongside President Vladimir Putin. Analysts point to Russia's rising聽influence among Bosnian Serbs聽and efforts to undermine Western policies of Balkan integration.
First LookWeekend election to suggest the future of nationalism in BosniaIn the lead up to Bosnia's Oct. 7 election, nationalist politics have dominated the discussion, with a pro-Russian Serb nationalist running for the country's three-member presidency. Across positions, many campaigns have focused on post-war ethnic tensions, rather than comprehensive reforms.聽聽
As Russia courts India, help from a surprising corner: US sanctionsFrom challenges come opportunity? That may well be President Vladimir Putin's mantra in New Delhi as he seeks to reinsert Russia into India鈥檚 diversified portfolio of relationships.
First LookParis plans zero-carbon future with first 'eco neighborhood'The City of Lights has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050. To that end, it has renovated a former industrial wasteland into an "environmentally responsible" neighborhood while still remaining affordable. Could it become a model for other cities?
First LookGermany reaches out to US public as relations strainPresident Trump's combative foreign policy against long-standing American allies has led Germany to spearhead a hearts-and-minds campaign directly to the American people聽called Wunderbar Together聽to celebrate Germany's cultural contributions.聽
First LookOne year after vote, Catalan separatists demand actionOn Oct. 1, hundreds of Catalan activists blocked roads, occupied railway tracks, and protested outside of the Spanish delegation's local headquarters. The activists continue to demand independence from Spain one year after a divisive referendum vote took place.
Macedonians vote on their country's name. Will they follow heart or head?This Sunday, a referendum will decide whether to ditch the country's wordy official name for the more concise 鈥淣orth Macedonia.鈥� It could be the key to unlocking access to the European Union and NATO.
One reporter's fascination with Siberia leaves readers asking for moreAs a subscriber you鈥檝e probably seen plenty of our Moscow Bureau Chief Fred Weir鈥檚 stories probing the geopolitical storms swirling out of Moscow. But we were all recently reminded how Fred鈥檚 30-plus years of living in Russia have blessed him with a curiosity that can take you beyond the news cycle and into everyday Russia. One in a series of monthly profiles of Monitor journalists.
With new missile defense for Syria, Russia shifts its relationship with IsraelDespite working closely with Israel's traditional enemies, Syria and Iran, during Syria's civil war, Russia has managed to maintain a good relationship with Israel. But it could be about to sour.
In a first for Russia, Moscow agrees with locals that their election was riggedWesterners often assume that Russian politics is wholly corrupt. But the response to blatant ballot stuffing in Russia鈥檚 Far East shows some limits to what Russia will tolerate 鈥� and such fraud may be on its way out.
First LookItaly seeks to limit asylum seekersA decree approved by Premier Giuseppe Conte and his Cabinet tightens criteria by which migrants can receive humanitarian protection. The movement was driven by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, whose right-wing League party associates migrants with crime.聽
First LookHungary continues to stifle independent journalismDozens of media outlets critical of Prime Minister Viktor Orban have changed hands in the past four years. Those that聽toe the government line receive more state advertising spending, media researchers say.聽The EU has sent a warning to Hungary for violating rules on media freedom.
With stalled talks between EU and May, Labour Party searches for its pathNegotiations between the European Union and Prime Minister Theresa May have stumbled, and the future of Brexit looks more uncertain. At its party conference this week, divided Labour will debate merits of forcing another referendum to reverse Britain's course.
