All Europe
First LookCafes, croissants, Mona Lisa: France is feeling more like itselfThe French government slowly began lifting lockdown restrictions Wednesday, allowing patrons to enjoy cafes, restaurants, and museums. 鈥淸T]here鈥檚 no reason why we can鈥檛 continue moving forward,鈥� said President聽Emmanuel Macron.
First LookWhy Spain is suddenly dealing with an African migrant surgeIn just two days, 8,000 migrants, including an estimated 2,000 minors, have crossed the border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in Northern Africa. That鈥檚 nearly four times the number that made the same trip last year. Why now, and what are the implications?聽
FocusEqual pay for equal work in Europe? The key may be transparency.Equal pay for equal work may become a reality in Europe, as the European Union鈥檚 new leader advocates wage transparency to bolster gender equality.
First LookDutch exhibit grapples with nation's historical links to slaveryA new exhibit titled 鈥淪lavery鈥� at a museum in Amsterdam takes an unflinching look at Dutch involvement in the international slave trade. Many European countries are owning up to the brutality of their colonial past in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Women鈥檚 pro soccer goes big-time in England. Why now?With world-class talent and a national broadcasting deal, women鈥檚 professional soccer seems set to be widely embraced by English society.
First LookMediterranean beaches are calling, but whither the tourists?Even though Croatia, Cyprus, and Greece are reopening, workers聽in the tourism industry are bracing for another tough year.聽Malta is offering vouchers, Turkey is welcoming visitors without COVID testing, Portugal isn't requiring quarantines 鈥� but bookings remain low.聽
At odds with West, Kremlin lashes out at indie media in RussiaRussia may not be at war with the West, but the Kremlin is increasingly using a warlike sensibility in its domestic rhetoric and policy.
First LookPutin orders review of gun laws after deadly Kazan school attackA lone teenage gunman opened fire at a school in Kazan, Russia, killing nine people, including seven children, and injuring nearly 20 more. The motive of the gunman, a former student at the school, remains unclear.
US debates child credit payments. Germany loves them.In Germany, long-standing Kindergeld payments to support child welfare illuminate the values of the country鈥檚 social democratic fabric.
First LookScottish nationalists vow independence vote after election winPro-independence parties won a majority in Scotland鈥檚 parliament, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pledging a new independence referendum.
The French military is becoming more diverse. It鈥檚 also leaning further right.Far-right sentiment has crept into the French military. But it has provided a moment of reflection for how the army addresses diversity.
First LookWhy an Italian TV show with majority Black cast is making wavesIn a first for Italian TV, a predominantly Black cast stars in the聽new Netflix series 鈥淶ero.鈥� Supporters hope the show will help Italians recognize that their country is becoming increasingly multicultural while also providing role models for young, Black Italians.聽
Moscow cyclists are getting new bike paths. Do Muscovites get a say?Efforts to fix聽Moscow鈥檚 traffic highlight the green priorities of a new generation of bureaucrats 鈥� and the lack of input from any other Muscovites.
First LookSpain's immigrant politician highlights racial imbalancesSerigne Mbaye has gone from being an undocumented Senegalese migrant to a Spanish citizen running for public office, hoping to bring debates about race 鈥� often brushed aside or seen as irrelevant 鈥� to the forefront of Spanish society.聽聽
First LookYoung generations can't face climate burden alone, Germany rulesShould future generations have to give up more than current generations to combat climate change? Germany鈥檚 top court ruled that the country must set clearer emissions targets for the future 鈥� a decision that activists say delivers generational justice.聽
Southern Europe鈥檚 brain drain reversed in pandemic. Will it last?Countries like Italy and Romania are trying to make permanent the pandemic-driven return of their best and brightest from abroad.
Super League smashup: US business crashes into English soccer valuesEuropean soccer鈥檚 values of community and custodianship were behind the three-day rise and fall of the proposed Super League.
First LookAfter years in Denmark, some Syrians are now forced homeDenmark has begun to revoke residency permits for many Syrian refugees who had been granted temporary protection. The move is prompting pushback.聽
Domestic abuse surged in pandemic. Britain pushing back with legal reform.Britain is set to enact sweeping reforms to its domestic violence laws. But whether the changes do enough to protect victims of abuse remains unclear.
First LookEU agrees on new carbon emissions goal ahead of US climate summitThe tentative deal, which was negotiated in an all-night session, would make the 27-nation European bloc climate-neutral by 2050. The agreement comes ahead of a U.S.-led climate summit set to gather heads of state from around the world.