With the constant barrage of domestic news hitting us every day, it’s easy to forget that a lot is happening outside the US right now. To widen the lens a little, I recently shared a roundup of major European stories that Europeans themselves said Americans were missing. Since people seemed interested, I'm back with a second list — but this time, I've pulled together the major headlines myself and included a blurb about why they matter. Here's a look at some of the biggest stories unfolding across Europe right now:
1. A small ski village in Switzerland called Andermatt has become the new hotspot for American buyers. According to the developer, US inquiries tripled in early 2025, and sales in just the first quarter have already doubled all of 2024's purchases. Before 2023, they had zero American buyers. The best part? This development is exempt from Switzerland's notoriously strict foreign ownership laws, making it an ideal escape hatch for wealthy Americans.
2. In a rare move, North Korea has officially confirmed it sent thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Kim Jong Un announced his soldiers were deployed to "annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers" under a mutual defense treaty with Russia. Putin publicly thanked his "Korean friends" for their "genuine comradeship." According to reports, between 10,000–14,000 North Korean soldiers are now on the ground, with casualties estimated between 1,200–4,000 troops.
3. The European Union has imposed its first major fines under its new Digital Markets Act, slapping Apple with a €500 million ($571 million) penalty and Meta with a €200 million ($228 million) fine. Apple's punishment came for preventing app developers from telling users about cheaper payment options outside the App Store, while Meta was fined for forcing users to choose between personalized ads or paying to avoid them. Both tech giants are appealing, with Meta claiming Europe is "handicapping successful American businesses."
4. China is lifting sanctions it imposed on European Parliament members back in 2021 over human rights criticisms related to Xinjiang. The timing isn't coincidental — Beijing is clearly trying to improve relations with the EU just as tensions with the US and Trump's tariff policies intensify.
Why it matters: This is classic geopolitical chess. By extending an olive branch to Europe while battling with the US, China is attempting to drive a wedge between traditional allies. Beijing seems to be calculating that EU frustrations with American trade policies create an opening to strengthen economic ties with Europe. If successful, this strategy could reshape global trade alignments.
Source: Beijing offers to lift sanctions on MEPs, hoping to revive EU-China investment deal [Euronews]
5. At least 40 journalists are currently serving long prison sentences in Belarus, making it Europe's leading jailer of journalists according to Reporters Without Borders. Under President Alexander Lukashenko's authoritarian regime, imprisoned reporters face beatings, isolation, poor medical care, and separation from their families. The government has even labeled independent journalists as "enemies of the state" and criminalized simply reading independent media — with "extremism" charges carrying up to seven years in prison. The crackdown has forced about 600 journalists to flee abroad since 2020.
6. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has publicly criticized the US for being "not respectful" in its recent overtures toward the territory. Meanwhile, Greenland and Denmark have publicly reaffirmed their alliance amid renewed American interest in acquiring the strategic Arctic island.
7. A crew of elderly criminals nicknamed the "grandpa robbers" are on trial in Paris for the infamous 2016 Kim Kardashian jewelry heist. The 10 defendants — mostly men in their 60s and 70s with colorful underworld nicknames like "Old Omar" and "Blue Eyes" — are accused of stealing €10 million in jewelry after holding Kardashian at gunpoint in her hotel suite. Kardashian herself is scheduled to testify next month.
8. Greek prisons are filling up with an unexpected population: Sudanese refugees who were forced at gunpoint to steer migrant boats across the Mediterranean. Despite being victims of smugglers who threatened to kill them if they refused, these refugees now face human trafficking charges and decades behind bars in Greece.
9. In a shocking reversal, several European countries are taking steps to withdraw from the international treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. They're citing new "smart" mine technology that supposedly can deactivate after conflicts end. Human rights organizations are sounding the alarm about this decision to abandon a successful humanitarian treaty after 25 years.
Why it matters: This shift in European policy on landmines marks a troubling departure from international humanitarian progress. The reconsideration of the anti-landmine treaty — which the US never fully joined — could lead to a resurgence of dangerous weaponry in Europe. This raises concerns about the erosion of global disarmament efforts and the potential normalization of landmines in modern conflicts, as Europe responds to growing security threats from Russia and elsewhere.
Source: Campaigners sound alarm as European nations move to exit landmine ban [The Guardian]
10. Two men are facing serious criminal charges in Northern England for allegedly cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree that stood for centuries along Hadrian's Wall. The tree, made famous in the Kevin Costner Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves movie, was mysteriously felled overnight last year, triggering nationwide outrage and a criminal investigation.
11. Estonia has announced plans to increase its defense spending to 5.4% of GDP — more than double NATO's 2% requirement and one of the highest rates in the world. This dramatic increase reflects growing security concerns among Baltic states about Russian threats and concerns about the reliability of NATO security guarantees.
12. Ukraine has launched an ambitious recruitment drive targeting young people with massive financial incentives, including cash bonuses equivalent to several years' average salary for a one-year military commitment. The campaign comes as the country struggles to maintain troop numbers after more than three years of war.
13. A man suspected of killing a Muslim worshipper at a mosque in Southern France has surrendered to Italian police after fleeing the country. The attack in the town of La Grande Combe was apparently filmed by the assailant himself, who shouted insults at God while attacking. The victim, identified only as Aboubakar, had just finished cleaning the mosque when he was killed. The murder has triggered large demonstrations across France, including a major gathering in Paris.
14. Far-right leader George Simion is gaining serious momentum in Romania's presidential election by capitalizing on anti-EU sentiment and economic frustrations. His AUR party, which combines nationalism with populist economic policies, has surprised political observers in a traditionally pro-European country.
15. A Russian satellite believed to be part of the country's nuclear weapons program is tumbling out of control in orbit. US analysts report the satellite, launched from Russia's Vostochny cosmodrome, has stopped responding to commands, raising concerns about its classified mission and potential space debris hazards if it breaks apart.
16. After cycling over 780 miles from Serbia to France, university students are now literally running to Brussels to draw EU attention to their anti-corruption protests. The movement began after a deadly train station collapse killed 16 people last year — a tragedy protesters blame on government corruption and negligence. Their extraordinary physical journey represents one of Europe's most remarkable protest movements.
17. In one of the most bizarre twists in the Ukraine conflict, the son of a current CIA deputy director was killed while fighting as a mercenary for Russian forces against Ukraine. This extraordinary revelation raises serious questions about vetting processes and potential conflicts of interest within America's intelligence community.
Why it matters: This tragic case highlights the complex personal connections that can exist across geopolitical divides and adds a bizarrely human dimension to the larger conflict. It also raises questions about loyalties within families of those in sensitive positions in the intelligence community.
Source: Son of CIA deputy director was killed while fighting for Russia, report says [The Guardian]
18. Global military spending has hit a record $2.7 trillion in 2024, with Europe seeing the steepest increases since the Cold War ended. According to a new report, European defense budgets jumped by a staggering 17% in just one year, pushing spending beyond Cold War levels. Germany's military budget soared 28% to $88.5 billion, making it Europe's biggest defense spender for the first time since reunification. A record 18 of NATO's 32 members have now reached the alliance's 2% of GDP spending target.
