Czech Republic

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou waves as Ma leaves for China, at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, northern Taiwan, Monday, March 27, 2023.

Former Taiwanese president makes historic visit to China

As the former president heads to China, Taiwan’s current president, Tsai Ing-Wen, is heading to the Americas this week. The diplomatic trips come as voters prepare for this year’s presidential campaigns. 

The hydroponic tomato plants at Ráječek Farm rely on manufactured fertilizer to grow.

War in Ukraine sparks fertilizer crisis that may impact the future of global food production

Ukraine
Julie Sedivy and other family members visiting her father’s family gravesite in his village of Moravská Nová Ves.

‘Memory speaks’: How to reclaim your mother tongue without having to relearn it from scratch

Language
About one-third of the staff at the Stoneacre restaurants in Newport, Rhode Island, is from overseas.

Hospitality industries in the US struggle to find workers, but international labor is ticking up

Jobs
A person holds a vial of a vaccine dose wearing blue gloves

EU moves toward stricter export controls for COVID-19 vaccines

Top of The World
A woman with a black and white striped shirt sits outside with younger children surrounding her.

Czech Republic may offer justice, compensation to thousands of sterilized Roma women 

Human rights

A new bill under consideration in the Czech Republic could compensate women who were involuntarily sterilized up to $13,000. Roma women and activist groups say reaching this stage is a huge milestone. 

A worker wearing a face mask clears snow from the roof of a bar, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Dec. 5, 2020.

European leaders approve stimulus package; Argentina moves to legalize abortion; SCOTUS rules on no-fly list

Top of The World

European Parliament lawmakers have finally approved a coronavirus stimulus package in a compromise that allows EU funds to be made conditional on respect for European values. Argentina moved toward legalizing abortion, a step closer to honoring a promise made by President Alberto Fernández. And the US Supreme Court ruled Muslim Americans included on the no-fly list after refusing to become informants can sue federal officials.

To people are shown dressed in medical protective gear including full facemasks and blue gloves.

Coronavirus pandemic worsens with onset of cold weather; Report suggests unlawful killings of Afghans by Australian troops; Activists stage mock COP26 after coronavirus postponement

Top of The World

The United States has surpassed 250,000 deaths from the coronavirus — the highest death toll by far in the world — and is turning the corner into what public health experts say will be the worst phase yet of the pandemic. And, a new report shows that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people during the war in Afghanistan. Also, young climate activists around the world have staged a mock COP26 virtual gathering in place of the actual UN conference that was delayed from this month until November 2021 because of the coronavirus.

Amsterdam's red-light district remains sparse as many international tourists have stayed away during the pandemic.

Is overtourism over? Travelers to Europe stay home due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Lifestyle

Prior to the pandemic, Venice, Prague and Amsterdam had become so saturated with visitors that locals no longer recognized their hometowns. But with COVID-19 restrictions, residents are breathing a sigh of relief while many businesses face unprecedented losses.

A film still of a man sitting at a dressing room mirror with lights

In ‘The Humorist,’ Soviet comedy is no joke

Michael Idov’s new film, “The Humorist,” captures the oxymoronic nature of state-sanctioned Soviet comedy and the downfall of the system through the eyes of character, Boris Arkadiev.