All Europe
The ExplainerIn Europe, it is both easier and harder to get an abortion than in USEurope's abortion laws vary from country to country, creating a patchwork that can be more difficult to navigate than in the US. But at the same time, Europe is often more accommodating to those seeking abortion thanks to ubiquitous healthcare.
First LookRoyal wedding helps spotlight Britain's housing crisisIn response to increasing housing costs and homelessness in Britain, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have named a national homelessness charity called Crisis as one of seven organizations selected to received official wedding gift donations.
After four years of Western sanctions, Russia digs in for long haulWhile the West's sanctions against Russia have been in place for four years now, it's easy to lose sight of just how effective they are. In fact, Russia has largely handled them. But the latest round of US sanctions and a set of new Russian "counter-sanctions" may be about to make the sanctions war much more costly.
Could power of the euro rein in Poland and Hungary where rule of law has not?The European Union has one major tool available to it when it comes to reining in populist governments in Poland and Hungary: the power of the purse strings. Using it could bring them to heel 鈥� or antagonize them.
World sees US paying high diplomatic price for Trump's Iran deal withdrawalPresident Trump's decision to pull the United States out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran sends a signal to the rest of the world about whether the US remains a trustworthy diplomatic partner.
The ExplainerGreece and Turkey's tense rivalry swells over land and seaFrom the death of a fighter pilot to聽a flag planted on an lonely islet, the relationship between Greece and Turkey is deteriorating over both symbols and substance. Watchers warn that a miscalculation could lead to serious conflict.
Europe's top song contest gets a little more European-soundingAfter years of domination by English-language entries, this year鈥檚 Eurovision competition will feature a marked increase in the number of songs with non-English lyrics. And it sets a stage for a larger debate in the European Union about English as the bloc鈥檚 lingua franca.
As strikes rage in France today, the legacy of May '68 looms largeFifty years ago this month, France nearly succumbed to revolution amid debilitating nationwide labor and student strikes. Though the mood eventually passed, the effects were lasting and can still be seen amid today's strikes.
FocusKosovo's attempt to help wartime rape survivors reopens old woundsKosovo has done little to help the victims of sexual violence during its 1998-99 conflict, but with new legislation that is changing. However, the effort to provide recognition and restitution to survivors is marred by deep problems.
To pay for a 'Russia first' agenda, Putin takes ax to military spendingAs Putin begins his newest term, he is introducing a radically different budget for his country, with plans for a major infrastructure boost coming at the expense of some of the Kremlin's more ambitious defense projects.
First LookBlack Britons find meaningful symbolism in Meghan Markle's royal marriageThe upcoming marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, who is a divorced, biracial American actress, has been heralded as proof that Britain has become more egalitarian, inclusive, and diverse. But others say one pretty face won't change entrenched racism in British society.
After Nobel prize falls to #MeToo, what's next for literature's highest honor?It started in Hollywood in the temples of mass entertainment. Now #MeToo has reached Parnassus, as a sexual harassment scandal taints the world's most prestigious literary prize and forces the international cultural establishment to rethink its values.
For 'accidental Americans,' the hidden costs prove taxingFor many who discover that they are American citizens, the revelation is not good news. Instead, it means discovering that they're on the hook for thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes. And the alternatives are just as expensive.
As Israel-Iran rivalry burns, Russia鈥檚 Tehran ties may get singedRussia has been serving as a buffer between Israel and Iran amid the fighting in Syria. But Israel's restraint appears to be fraying 鈥� making the state of relations between Iran and Russia critical to managing any outbreak of fighting.
Disclosure in the Caymans: Global walls of financial secrecy are fallingA new British law could have big ripple effects as part of a global trend toward financial transparency. Disclosure of who really owns offshore companies can counter crime and reduce the inequality that arises from聽corruption or tax evasion.
As Trump mulls withdrawal from Iran deal, Europe braces for falloutThe deal to crimp Iran鈥檚 nuclear program, one of President Trump鈥檚 top bugbears, came under attack this week from another direction 鈥� Israel. What can the agreement鈥檚 strongest defenders, European nations, do about it?
First LookIn marches against Macron, French protesters recall movements of 1968The artists, students, and laborers who brought mass protests to France in 1968 have had a profound effect on the social and economic composition of the country. Today demonstrators evoke the past in protests against the president's policies.聽
Britain taps the son of a Pakistani bus driver to shape immigration policyNew British Home Secretary Sajid Javid's appointment doesn't just mark a break from his predecessor Amber Rudd's hard-line policies. Mr. Javid, who was born to immigrant parents and went on to become an elite banker, could聽turn the government away from closed-border sentiments.聽
Macron emerges as champion of the liberal world orderThe French president has given his country its most powerful voice in decades. He is using it to warn both the US and Europe against turning sharply inward. A biweekly column on patterns in diplomacy.
In back-to-back visits, Macron and Merkel look for manageable middle with TrumpThe French president and German chancellor each made visits to the White House this week to meet with President Trump, despite significant disagreements over transatlantic relations. But Macron and Merkel may be finding a way to coexist with Trumpism.
