China offers bounty for Hong Kong activists abroad

Finn Lau, who lives in exile in London, has criticized China for its politics concerning Hong Kong. Beijing is offering a high reward for his capture.
 

How an entire Afghan orchestra got asylum in Portugal | Focus on Europe

The Taliban's music ban forced an entire Afghan youth orchestra into exile. The students at Afghanistan's National Institute for Music – more than 250 in total – have been granted asylum in Portugal.

Can France still call itself the land of Liberté?

 

France is imposing tight border controls on neighboring Italy to make them turn away refugees. For a long time, the EU has been working toward opening its internal borders, but the refugee crisis has made that goal more difficult to achieve.

How Romania wastes EU funds and Brussels shrugs

Romania received EU funds to close a substandard landfill and implement better waste standards. Since then, little has changed — and no one feels responsible.

How Finland is betting on nuclear power, and its waste

The world's first nuclear waste repository is being built off Finland's west coast on the island of Olkiluoto. Highly radioactive waste will soon be buried deep underground there.

Italy's right-wing government targets another enemy

Italy is arguing over what constitutes a family. Its right-wing government is putting pressure on gay couples with children.

Can a new bridge unite Sweden's divided society? | Focus on Europe

 A new bridge in Stockholm is set to connect a wealthy area with an underprivileged district. But some people are objecting to it, triggering a divisive debate in Swedish society.

Britain: Tiny cars for big fans

 

The Little Car Company makes soapbox-sized replicas of luxury cars. Races with these battery-powered miniature classics have become very popular. Fans and collectors pay hefty prices for these highly detailed knockoffs.

Are baguettes and croissants out in France?

Some bakers in France are revolutionizing their craft. They are returning to old baking traditions by heating their ovens with wood and using only three ingredients: flour, salt, and well water.

Catalonia's female firefighter quota draws controversy | Focus on Europe

Catalonia has introduced a quota to attract more women to jobs in the fire department. But it's proved to be a very controversial decision. It's a tough job and applicants must be highly qualified.

Saving the 'memory of mankind' in a mountain of Austrian salt

Austrian Martin Kunze has a mission: to create a time capsule of humankind. One reason for this ambitious project is that digital records do not last forever – and Kunze believes certain memories should be preserved.

Everyday life in Latvia in the shadow of the Ukraine War

 

Russia cuts off gas to Moldova as it moves toward Europe |

Moldova gets a lot of its gas from Russia. Now, Europe's poorest country is afraid that Russian president Vladimir Putin could cut off supplies this winter, as Moldova moves closer to the European Union.

Refugees risk violence and death on Europe’s Balkan route

 

Greek border police say the numbers of migrants and refugees trying to leave Turkey is on the rise. Many are Syrians who feel increasingly unsafe in Turkey. They travel in small groups, and are risking ever more dangerous routes.

Poland's abortion ban lands woman in court | Focus on Europe

 

Justyna Wydrzynska faces three years in prison for sharing abortion pills with a pregnant woman in Poland. The state is cracking down ever harder on women who are resisting Poland's restrictive anti-abortion laws.

Who are the Russians resisting Putin's Ukraine War draft?

 

Putin has announced an emergency partial mobilization because of the war in Ukraine, but many Russians are refusing to join.

Is Russia treating Ukrainian war prisoners illegally?

Ukraine has accused Russia of treating thousands of prisoners of war illegally and abusing them for political purposes. This is prohibited under the Geneva Convention.

How Ukrainian journalists risk their lives to report on the war | Focus on Europe

 

Reporters Without Borders teams up with Ukrainian partners to protect journalists in Lviv. Here they can network and receive protective gear to safeguard them while reporting in a war zone.

When Ukrainian refugees meet Russian tourists in Turkey

Ukrainian refugees are encountering Russian tourists at Turkish holiday resorts, leading to tensions. Ukrainians express disbelief about Turkey's stance in the war.

On the Ukrainian border: Thousands flee but some want back in

Poland is expecting many refugees from Ukraine as a result of Russia's invasion. Reception centers have been set up on the border, and people looking for aid are already arriving. But some Ukrainians in Poland are trying desperately to find a way back in to help defend their homeland.