All Europe
Russia's Asian and European halves meet and mix in remote BuryatiaRussia isn't just the cathedral-and-Kremlin society pictured by the West. In the remote聽鈥� and struggling聽鈥� republic of Buryatia, a mix of Cossacks and Mongols, Orthodox 海角大神 exiles and Buddhists populate a decidedly different Russia. First in a five-part series.
First LookJewish teens step up to quell anti-Semitism in German schoolsWith the number of Holocaust survivors dwindling, Jewish teenagers have become the new ambassadors to educate聽their peers about Jewish life and culture.聽
First LookGermany allows asylum seekers to reunite with family membersFollowing a record influx of refugees in Germany, the government stopped allowing asylum seekers to bring immediate family members to the country in 2016. Now, the ban has been lifted and families can reunite, but the move has reignited divisive debates about immigration.
First LookUnshaken by doubts, Thomas wins first Tour de France titleGeraint Thomas of Britain won his first ever Tour de France title on July 29, persevering through the skepticism thrown his way by fans by being the steadiest bike rider from the start.
As same-sex couples in France try to adopt, conservative forces push backFrance may look highly progressive, given its legalization of same-sex marriage five years ago. But French society is more conservative than it seems, a fact manifesting as now-married LGBT couples try to adopt.
He calls it a 'hustle,' but this Russian鈥檚 cryptocurrency empowers a villageCryptocurrencies are associated more with hard-to-understand financial investments than small farms producing potatoes and eggs. But in ruble-poor, rural Russia,聽Mikhail Shlyapnikov created a system to help his community trade real goods and services. 聽
First LookEU fines Google $5 billion for anticompetitive behaviorThe European Union imposed a record fine on Google for forcing Android mobile phone producers to pre-install Google Search and browser apps as conditions聽for licensing its app store. Google claims the sale of content and apps is a critical part of its revenue.
Russia chalks up Trump-Putin summit as success. But is there a hidden cost?For all the backlash in the US to President Trump's comments in Helsinki, there are pressing issues that Moscow and Washington need to discuss. And the Kremlin was very happy with how the summit addressed them.
By staying on the job, Poland's top judge fights the right-wing governmentPoland is in the midst of a battle over its Supreme Court, which the ultraconservative ruling party is trying to remake. And by聽quietly coming to work, Judge Ma艂gorzata Gersdorf has become the face of resistance.
Why a nearly 30-year-old list of names is roiling modern LatviaAs a nation transitions from occupied state to democracy, is it better to reveal or destroy the identities of informants in order for a nation to move on? Latvia is still deciding which way to go.聽
The ExplainerAs clock ticks down, Britain finally reveals its plan for Brexit. What now?Nine months before the deadline to leave the EU, British Prime Minister Theresa May has finally, officially, backed a policy of a 鈥渟oft鈥� Brexit, but it is not clear that she has made enough concessions to convince Brussels to do a deal.
US-Europe ties and the audacity of July 1948
The ExplainerImmigration deal saves German government, points to European futureAngela Merkel has held her fragile government together and found a compromise with rebels on immigration policy. Will it last?
First LookBoris Johnson resigns in midst of UK Brexit crisisHours after the resignation of Brexit Secretary David Davis, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson announced his resignation as well as junior Brexit minister Steve Baker. The resignations come only days after Prime Minister Theresa May announced her plan for Britain to continue free-trade with the European Union.聽
The vicious circle of Islamist terrorism and far-right extremismWhile Islamist terrorists get close scrutiny, their far-right counterparts often do not. But that is changing, especially as studies show jihadists and the far-right not only reflect each other, but feed off each other.
First LookTheresa May tries to unite fractious ministers on Brexit trade planPrime Minister Theresa May gathered nearly 30 Cabinet ministers for marathon-talks today to hash out a plan for trade with the European Union after Britain leaves the bloc in nine months.
First Look'Macho' Spanish bull festival feels heat from #MeToo, animal rights activistsYoung feminists and animal rights activists are infusing new life into the annual pro-animal rights protest on the eve of the popular bull festival, calling for a 'sexual-abuse' free festival. Reported sexual assaults at the festival increased from two in 2008 to 22 last year. 聽
First LookChurch of England's outreach effort may mean end of 'snobbishness'The Church will likely make it easier for people from other denominations to perform sermons, meaning that more expressive, evangelical preaching styles, like Bishop Michael Curry's passionate sermon at the recent royal wedding,聽could make their way to more pulpits soon.聽
First LookRefugees in Ireland find their footing with soccer tournamentAs national soccer teams battle for the World Cup title in Russia, refugee communities in Ireland are lacing up to compete in the Fair Play World Cup in Dublin, a yearly tournament that aims to raise awareness of the plight of immigrants and help them integrate.聽
Upcoming Trump-Putin summit gives Russians hope for US thawDespite its early hopes, the Kremlin has found the Trump presidency to be soberingly antagonistic. So the fact that Russians are upbeat about the Helsinki summit suggests a real opportunity for diplomacy.