All Europe
First LookSmall British soccer clubs fight to keep home turfIn Britain, small soccer clubs are facing eviction as developers vie to buy inner-city fields.聽Supporters say these clubs bring their communities together, with smaller ones in particular,doing so by providing an affordable experience for many.
First LookNetherlands turns food waste into new productsA supermarket in the Netherlands is stocking its shelves with food waste 鈥� that is, products, including soaps and chutneys, made from discarded food items.聽The supermarket and 18 Dutch companies aim to tackle food waste through a new national program.
In Slovakia, children of the Velvet Revolution lead fight to be 'normal'A youth-fueled movement has already brought down Slovakia's prime minister. But the tens of thousands of protesters taking to the streets aren't stopping until they see evidence that the changes in Bratislava are not just cosmetic.
First LookVienna integrates young migrants with free collegeIn Vienna, the left-leaning capital of the only western European country with a far-right party in power, welcoming immigrants can be a delicate balancing act.聽
Post-poisoning, Russian expats feel London heatBling-laden Russian billionaires have captivated British tabloids for years. Now they may be catching the attention of the police as London retaliates for the poisoning of a former spy. What's it like to be a Russian in 'Moscow-on-the-Thames'?
Why this round of expulsions may bring US, Russia to breaking pointThe expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats from the US and the anticipated retaliation in kind from Moscow is expected to fuel hostile narratives and heighten public suspicions, leaving dwindling channels of communication. Allegations of espionage seem likely to lengthen the rupture.
First LookSpanish booksellers deploy 'Don Quixote' in free speech battleBooksellers in Spain are using a digital tool built with 17th century 'Don Quixote' to recreate a banned book and protest censorship. In the digital age, banning books is 'ridiculous and anachronistic,' the Madrid Booksellers's Guild says.聽
In Europe, preventing gun violence often starts with mental healthIn Germany and Switzerland, stopping shooters isn't just about strict gun laws. They also have extensive networks 鈥� social, governmental, and medical 鈥� to watch for and treat those who become unstable and may threaten public safety.
First LookFrance proposes new sexual harassment laws, on-the-spot finesIn the wake of the #MeToo movement, French Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa says 'There can be no lawless zones.' A new French bill will extend the deadline for reporting sexual assault, and establish fines for public harassers.聽
Finland's homeless crisis nearly solved. How? By giving homes to all who need.After many years of limited success against long-term homelessness, Finland decided to adopt the US 'Housing First' model on a national scale. And despite a significant up front investment, the program has paid for itself, advocates say.- No, the Irish were not slaves in the AmericasDespite efforts to debunk the falsehood, the notion of 'Irish slaves' continues to circulate online, clouding discussions about racism and further complicating relations between聽Irish-Americans and African-Americans.
For Putin, an election win will be easy. The next six years, a lot harder.After Sunday's election, Vladimir Putin will have to address geopolitical crises and economic reforms he has been putting off 鈥� and find his successor 鈥� before he likely leaves the Kremlin for good in six years.
First LookRussian mayor urges boycott of upcoming presidential electionYevgeny Roizman is the mayor of Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, and one of the country's only politicians to speak out against the Kremlin. Mr. Roizman argues that President Vladimir Putin's power consolidation has undercut the mayor's ability to govern.
To revitalize poor suburbs, Paris taps underused resource: women entrepreneursHafida Guebli is one of a growing number of women from France鈥檚 most deprived communities聽who are throwing themselves into the start-up world. France hopes creating small businesses there will help both the economy and the community.
First LookEnglish town 'keeping calm and carrying on' after Russian spy incidentThe residents of Salisbury, England, are adjusting to a new normal as chemical weapons experts and international news crews descend upon the town. Daily life 'is just surreal,' as one resident puts it, after the聽poisoning of a Russian spy and his daughter.聽
Russia eyed in UK spy poisoning case. But why would the Kremlin do it?British Prime Minister Theresa May said today that the agent used to poison Sergei Skripal and his daughter was of Russian manufacture. But plausible motives for Kremlin action are in shorter supply.
For Russians, Pyeongchang was a success. But doping's shadow still hard to escape.The Olympic ban made Russian athletes' victories in Pyeongchang that much more dramatic for the Russian public. But the underlying issues over doping remain unresolved with fewer than 100 days until Russia hosts the 2018 World Cup.
First LookGermany will revise social media censor lawWestern democracies are watching Germany as the country revises an ambitious law to remove hate speech from social media sites. Critics say the law overreaches, blocking content that should not be removed.聽
Switzerland has lots of guns. But its gun culture takes different path from US.For many Swiss citizens, guns are as central to their identity as the Alps. But their attitude toward weapons 鈥� and the laws by which their guns are governed 鈥� are built on consensus that gets beyond the polarization that paralyzes the American debate.
Italy's vote: what's really behind the surge in support for populist partiesNo clear winner has emerged from Sunday's election. The vote drove home the message that migration has become a dominant issue in Western politics, even if it's not the root cause of popular discontent. A biweekly column on patterns in diplomacy.
