Europeans Are Sharing Current Events That Americans Might Not Know About Right Now, And It's Illuminating To Step Outside Our US Bubble For A Second
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With so much focus on domestic news, it's easy to forget how much is unfolding around the world. So to remind us of the broader global picture, u/SprinklesNo164 asked Europeans to shed some light on the biggest current events that many Americans might not be aware of, providing a glimpse into the issues shaping Europe today.
1. "Serbia has been protesting for more than four months after the roof of a railway station in Novi Sad collapsed on November 1, killing 16 people. Students have barricaded universities around the country, and schools have not been operating during this time. They have also walked for miles to protest in different cities to spread the word and connect with people. They say they will not stop until their demands for justice and systemic change are met. Professors and schoolteachers who support them have stopped receiving pay. The government used an acoustic sound weapon on protesters a week ago but continues to deny it. Direct democracy is on the rise among the people, but dictatorship is growing within the government."
3. "Turkey. Erdogan locked up his opponent, and people have been taking to the streets."
4. "Well, for the Americans who don't know: Conor McGregor is almost certainly guilty of rape and almost certainly plans to run for president of Ireland. Luckily, that's just a ceremonial job, but Christ on a bike, we do not want him having the slightest modicum of power on the world stage. I say all this because someone on your side of the pond elected to bring the cunt to the White House."
5. "Germany is relaxing its debt break to enable major investment in defense spending and infrastructure."
— u/WickhamMoriarty
6. "I suspect many Americans are unaware that ICE has been detaining tourists from countries such as Canada, France and Germany for indefinite periods, often without access to a lawyer and in poor conditions."
"I was asked by a group of Americans at my job whether I'd ever visit the United States, and when I brought up the story about ICE as the reason I wouldn't, they all seemed shocked to learn about it. There were eight people in the group."
— u/Mr_Black90
7. "Another Pulse nightclub-level tragedy that didn't reach most American news outlets: On March 16, 2025, a fire at a DNK concert in Macedonia killed at least 59 people, including the entire band except for one member. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics. It is the deadliest nightclub fire in Europe since the 2015 Bucharest nightclub fire and the deadliest fire in North Macedonia's history."
8. "Tesla's European sales have dropped 45% amid disquiet over Musk's Trump links."
TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP via Getty Images
9. "There is now an €840 billion plan underway to rearm Europe, effectively making it a superpower and bringing the era of American dominance to an end."
"Let me clarify my position: This is a terrible thing that is happening. If you're working class, you'll be the one who suffers in the upcoming wars. Trump is foolish for squandering American power in Europe, but he appears to be doing so in preparation for grabbing mineral-rich territories that big tech companies need. All the bourgeois powers will soon be doing some version of this, because capital must constantly expand or collapse."
— u/Burger_Doctor
10. "In France, the prime minister has lied about his knowledge — and cover-up — of a violence and pedophilia scandal at a private Catholic school."
11. "Let's not forget the IF Metall strike against Tesla in Sweden, which began on October 27, 2023, and has become one of the longest labor conflicts in Swedish history. The strike began because Tesla refuses to sign a collective agreement with the union, challenging the Swedish labor model, in which approximately 90% of the workforce is covered by collective agreements."
— u/Mjauritz
12. "The leader of the Serb-majority region of Bosnia is defying arrest, violating the constitution, and threatening to raise an army. He's a separatist. The arrest warrant for him has not been executed because local police in his region would likely protect him. He has also been sentenced to jail and banned from politics, but he remains in power."
13. "Australia is about to have an election in the next month, and it's literally a Republican vs. Democrat election round 2: Electric Boogaloo. Our conservative (called the Liberal) party has started using Trumpist rhetoric in its press conferences, while our liberal/left (called Labor) party is promising an increase in healthcare funding. The polls are so tight that there's a massive chance of a hung parliament due to independents and the Greens."
"I'm saying Australia counts because of Eurovision."
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