All Europe
In London鈥檚 clean-air fight, is burden falling too much on working class?In London, efforts to clean the air have become politically weaponized. But the electoral calculations mask real societal issues, such as whether antipollution burdens are falling too heavily on those who can鈥檛 afford to pay for it.
Can AI outsmart Europe鈥檚 bid to regulate it?European efforts to regulate artificial intelligence show how hard it is to harness such a fast-moving phenomenon at the heart of global society.
First LookPutin doubles down on war in Ukraine. 鈥榁ictory will be ours.鈥�鈥淭here will be peace when we will achieve our goals,鈥� President Vladimir Putin said concerning the Ukraine war. At an end-of-year conference on Dec. 14, the Russian president talked military strategy while reaffirming authority for his reelection campaign.
In Paris, Krispy Kreme takes on the croissantKrispy Kreme opened in Paris last week, the latest in a string of U.S. fast-food joints prospering in the world鈥檚 self-proclaimed gastronomic capital.
France debates vaping: How best to separate teens from their 鈥榩uffs鈥�?As France closes in on a ban of e-cigarette puffs to prevent teen smoking, some experts are asking if would it be more effective to try to persuade young vapers to give up the habit.
First LookPoland鈥檚 new PM Donald Tusk is pro-EU, committed to helping UkraineCentrist party leader Donald Tusk was elected prime minister by Poland鈥檚 parliament after eight years of conservative rule under Law & Justice. He has taken a pro-European Union stance and vows to keep the rest of the world committed to helping Ukraine.
First LookWhy Finland blames Russia for its record number of migrantsFinland鈥檚 border checkpoints have seen a sudden surge of Middle Eastern and African migrants in the past month. Finland blames Russia for the surge, saying it is retaliation for Finland鈥檚 membership in NATO.聽
To curb migrant numbers, Italy looks to Albania for helpMigrants seeking asylum in Italy will be assessed in Albania under a new plan by the hard-right-wing government in Rome.
First LookAlbanian Parliament votes amid flares, fires, and stacks of chairsAlbanian lawmakers passed the annual budget in a vote disrupted by flares held by the opposition to the governing Socialist Party. The flares, piling chairs, and starting small fires come as the European Union begins membership negotiations with Albania.聽
First LookOne year countdown: Notre Dame on track to reopen in December 2024On Dec. 8, workers at Notre Dame will begin the last year of repair before the cathedral reopens. When Olympic visitors descend on Paris for the Summer Games on July 26, the cathedral will have a finished look from outside while interior work continues.
First LookEU leaders in a race against time to agree on first AI regulationsThe European Union has been drafting artificial intelligence guidelines for years, but the emergence of OpenAI鈥檚 ChatGPT has upped the urgency. If EU leaders aren鈥檛 able to reach a deal this week, negotiators will be forced to pick up the issue next year.
With his 鈥楢mbulance for Monuments,鈥� a Romanian preserves his cultureRomania鈥檚 cultural heritage is crumbling. Architect Eugen Vaida is inspiring a grassroots ethos of national pride through historical preservation.
In Ukraine, war speeds migration away from Russian languageWith the Russian invasion still ongoing, many Ukrainians see the choice between speaking Ukrainian and Russian as more than pragmatic. It is also about patriotism and affirmation of their identity.
First LookAfter LBGTQ+ activism ban, Russian police raid gay bars in MoscowRussian security forces raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow less than 48 hours after the country鈥檚 top court banned what it called the 鈥済lobal LGBTQ+ movement鈥� as an extremist organization.
In Greece, iconic olive crop becomes a climate change front lineGreece鈥檚 iconic olive trees are at risk of becoming a victim to the ravages of climate change. So farmers are finding new ways to care for and harvest the crop, and maintain its viability in a warmer world.
First LookRussia outlaws LGBTQ+ activism in landmark Supreme Court rulingA lawsuit filed to Russia鈥檚 Supreme Court identified 鈥渟igns and manifestations of an extremist nature鈥� by the LGBTQ+ movement operating in Russia. It ruled that the movement is extremist and banned LGBTQ+ activism in the increasingly conservative country.
First Look"United in the name of Giulia," Italians march to end gender violenceTens of thousands have taken to the streets of Italy鈥檚 cities to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This comes as the country was gripped by the news of an Italian man extradited for the alleged murder of his girlfriend.聽
First LookCivilians reflect on Ukraine鈥檚 2014 uprising in the midst of warTen years ago, Ukrainians protested President Viktor Yanukovychin鈥檚 decision to move the country away from the EU and toward Russia. The months-long standoff led to the ouster of Mr.聽Yanukovychin, and nine years later, an ongoing war with Russia.
The call of home: Why some Ukrainian refugees are risking a return nowThough millions of Ukrainians remain refugees abroad, an increasing number are returning home despite the war. But while being in their homeland brings some relief, it also poses new stress.
How Cleopatra got caught up in a culture warWhen it comes to ancient kingdoms and cultures, who has legitimate claim to use that history to define themselves today? And who, if anyone, are history鈥檚 gatekeepers?
