southern Europe

A black and white photo of people going through immigration queues

Cuccinelli’s ‘bootstraps’ line reflects historical amnesia of ‘public charge’

The "likely to become a public charge" clause originally targeted southern and eastern European immigrants. It has since become a tool to exclude "undesirable" immigrants du jour.

Cuccinelli’s ‘bootstraps’ line reflects historical amnesia of ‘public charge’
African migrants arriving in Italy from Mediterranean

African migrants are reaching Europe with tales of kidnap and torture in Libya

African migrants are reaching Europe with tales of kidnap and torture in Libya
Fado

Lisbon’s serious fado fans go underground

Lisbon’s serious fado fans go underground
Muslim men gathered in a basement transformed into a a prayer room in the neighborhood of Agios Nikolaos, in Athens

Athens doesn't have a single mosque, so Muslims worship in makeshift prayer rooms

Athens doesn't have a single mosque, so Muslims worship in makeshift prayer rooms
Virginia Raggi, 5-Star Movement candidate for Rome's mayor, casts her vote at a polling station in Rome, Italy, on June 19, 2016.

After emperors and popes, Rome opts for first woman mayor

After emperors and popes, Rome opts for first woman mayor
Renna Ramadan prepared an iftar meal for her family, Syrians from Idlib who hoped to reach Northern Europe but instead are living in the passenger waiting area at Piraeus Port Terminal 1 in Athens, Greece. Several hundred refugees and migrants remain at P

Muslim refugees stuck in Greece miss home more than ever during Ramadan

The Greek government is making an effort to support Muslim refugees during Ramadan but for those stuck in limbo in tough conditions the holiday is also a painful reminder of better days.

Muslim refugees stuck in Greece miss home more than ever during Ramadan
A couple kiss in front of the Pantheon during a demonstration of supporters of same-sex civil union in Rome.

Protesters in Italy tell lawmakers it's time to 'wake up' and recognize same-sex unions

Italians have spent decades considering whether to legalize civil unions for gays. This week Italian parliamentarians may finally act.

Protesters in Italy tell lawmakers it's time to 'wake up' and recognize same-sex unions
New York City's ‘Little Italy’. Mulberry Street, Lower East Side, circa 1900

A brief history of America’s hostility to a previous generation of Mediterranean migrants — Italians

A wave of migrants from the Mediterranean meets a hostile reception from many Americans. The migrants are seen as alien in religion, culture, politics, law. So different in fact that some Americans argue that they can never be assimilated. They are the Italians, in the 1890s.

A brief history of America’s hostility to a previous generation of Mediterranean migrants — Italians
Men in orange jumpsuits purported to be Egyptian Christians held captive by the Islamic State (IS) are marched by armed men along a beach said to be near Tripoli, in this still image from an undated video made available on social media on February 15, 201

Italy is seeking UN intervention in Libya after jihadist terror threat

"We will conquer Rome," says a masked jihadist in a video released by a jihadist group affiliated with ISIS. Now Italy wants the UN to intervene to stop ISIS from gaining a stronghold in Libya.

Italy is seeking UN intervention in Libya after jihadist terror threat

Spaniards outraged by new, strict EU regulations on olive oil

In Spain, olive oil might as well be considered one of the food groups. And, often, that olive oil comes in unmarked, unlabeled containers from small orchards. But the European Union wants to make sure consumers know exactly what they're eating, which means big changes for the olive oil industry.

Spaniards outraged by new, strict EU regulations on olive oil

Drought causes rash of forest fires in Spain as budget cuts limit firefighting resourcs

Spain has seen tens of thousands of acres of forests burned by fires this summer -- a problem made worse by the lack of rain and budget cuts that have cut into the resources the country can afford to put toward fire prevention and suppression.

Drought causes rash of forest fires in Spain as budget cuts limit firefighting resourcs

Europe’s economic troubles

The Euro is weak as Greece, Spain and Portugal struggle to revive their economies -- how this impacts the US.

Europe’s economic troubles