All Europe
Saving ‘our way’: How young Italians are preserving their rare dialectThe number of speakers of “na-našo,” a centuries-old Croatian dialect found in Italy’s Molise region, is dwindling. But young people brought up in the language are determined to see it survive.
For this Ukrainian veteran, why Russians fight is still a puzzleResilience or stubbornness? It’s a matter of perspective. We talk to a Ukrainian artillery commander, a veteran of the yearslong conflict between Russia and Ukraine, during a break from the war.
Isolated from West, Russia looks to Africa as land of opportunityShunned by the West over its war in Ukraine, Russia is looking to Africa to find new international partners. And, lacking colonial history on the continent, Moscow is finding a more welcoming audience.
Turning pain to progress: Alliance imagines a new, better UkraineWar destroys lives and erodes nations. Yet it also paves the way for rebirth. As Ukrainians plan for the reconstruction of their country, they are also discussing the values needed to create a better society.
Wagner’s finale? Prigozhin’s death marks Russian shift in strategy.The death of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash, the latest Kremlin irritant neutralized in suspect circumstances, likely means the end of Russia’s use of mercenaries in its foreign policy.
First LookMercenary leader Prighozin may have been in fatal plane crash near MoscowThe crash immediately raises suspicions since the fate of the founder of the Wagner private military company has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he mounted a mutiny earlier this year.
First LookWith US approval, Denmark and Netherlands announce F-16s for UkrainePresident Zelenskyy, who traveled to both countries to finalize the deals, says the move will boost Ukraine’s confidence and motivation. He vowed to retaliate for a Russian missile strike on a theater Saturday that killed 7 and wounded scores.
Following Xi’s lead? Russia takes closer look at Chinese ideology.Is Russia’s future aligned with China? Many in Moscow think so, seeing the two countries’ visions aligning not just geopolitically, but also ideologically – though it may cost Russia considerably.
Mud and thirst: Two Ukraine cities cope with dam’s destructionThe destruction wrought by the blasting of a Ukraine dam is vast and long-lasting. In two cities more than 100 miles apart, residents deploy different coping mechanisms to endure an event that has transformed their lives.
Is Niger’s coup a sign that France’s influence in the Sahel is over?Niger and France have been mutually dependent on each other for decades. But the coup in Niger has shaken their relationship, as well as French ties with the broader Sahel region.
The Ukrainian cafe serving soldiers free food and motherly loveNataliia Bilovol’s cafe is not a normal pit stop. She and her team serve up 2,500 free meals a day and loving motherly care to Ukrainian soldiers.
US-Ukraine space project taught resilience, innovation. Why it’s over.A fruitful decadelong program of U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation in space has ended, a victim of Russia’s war against Ukraine and other forces.
They like the nightlife: ‘Night mayors’ revive cities after duskSince the pandemic devastated downtowns, night mayors have relied on the power of persuasion to help cities regrow their nightlife in ways that respect all parties.
Kremlin’s anti-trans law leaves many Russians asking, ‘Who’s next?’The Kremlin’s ban on gender-affirming care signals an acceleration of Russia’s authoritarian drift, with treatment of trans people as a signal to distinguish Russia from the West.
As Ukrainians slog through minefields, what they need most is timeIn the best of circumstances, advancing through minefields while minimizing losses is time-consuming for armies. As Ukraine struggles to expel Russia, it hopes not to exhaust its allies’ patience.
First LookAmid brutal heat, Europeans offer air conditioning a cool embraceEuropeans have long shunned air conditioning, tolerating even the most intense heat. But amid a brutal heatwave, where breezes are far and few between, some are beginning to give AC a second look.
First LookTwo drone attacks in Moscow this week. Who is behind them?Moscow is sweeping up after two recent drone strikes. On Sunday and Tuesday, drones shot down by the Russian military blew out part of a floor of windows on a high-rise building and sent glass cascading to the streets below. There were no fatalities.
First LookItaly’s double trouble: Soaring migration meets labor shortageDespite her campaign pledges, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has struggled to control a surge in migration. Due to the country’s growing labor shortages, her administration has been compelled to issue a larger number of work visas for migrants.
Hotel? Office? Mushroom farm? Unused French churches get new roles.France has too many empty church buildings. No one wants to tear them down, but how do towns find new purposes for them while navigating sensitivities about those new roles?
Special delivery: This Frenchman builds community, letter by letterAt a time when letter writing has gone the way of the quill pen, a bicycle delivery messenger and his team are helping to build the social bridges the digital world threatens to tear down.
