CES “In the News” collects interesting and timely news articles from around Europe. You can get an overview from the recaps or click the link to see the full article. Be sure to check back weekly for the next installment.
Week of April 18, 2024
- Russia’s meet grinder soldiers – 50,000 confirmed dead
In a tragic revelation, the BBC confirms Russia’s military death toll in Ukraine surpasses 50,000, with a surge in fatalities during the second year of conflict. Collaborating with Mediazona and volunteers, they meticulously counted casualties, uncovering a devastating toll as Russia pursued its relentless “meat grinder” strategy. The analysis highlights the human cost of changing tactics, with spikes in deaths coinciding with key battles. Prison recruits, vital to Russia’s strategy, face disproportionately high mortality rates, underscoring the brutality of war. Families mourn loved ones, while surviving soldiers grapple with the harsh reality of combat, each mission a perilous journey. - 150 years of Impressionism: How to celebrate the anniversary of the artistic movement in Europe
Europe celebrates the 150th anniversary of Impressionism with exhibitions and events. Paris’ Musée d’Orsay presents ‘Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism,’ featuring 130 works from the original 1874 show. Normandy hosts the Festival Normandie Impressionniste 2024, including contemporary art exhibits and painting classes. Individual artist exhibitions across France honor Maurice Denis, Édouard Vuillard, and Eugène Boudin. Sotheby’s in the UK holds auctions and talks, while the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands showcases Impressionist masterpieces. Exhibitions also occur in Germany and Italy. Impressionism, born in defiance of traditional art norms, revolutionized painting with outdoor scenes, pure colors, and light focus. - Kharkiv at risk of becoming ‘second Aleppo’ without US aid, mayor says
Kharkiv’s mayor warns of a “second Aleppo” fate without US military aid to deter Russian attacks. Continuous bombings target the city’s power supply, causing frequent outages. The $60bn aid package, stalled in Congress, is deemed critical. Ukrainian leaders request Patriot air defense systems amid escalating attacks. Seven die in recent strikes, leaving residents shaken. Despite challenges, some businesses, like Avex clothing factory, innovate with solar panels for self-sufficiency. Residents face tough decisions amid increasing bombings, with hopes for peace contrasting with the grim reality of war. - EU urges Georgia not to pass ‘foreign influence’ law
The European Union has sternly cautioned Georgia against passing a contentious “foreign influence” law, expressing concerns over its potential impact on freedom of expression and civil society. Despite protests, the Georgian parliament advanced the law, prompting Brussels to issue a warning, emphasizing its inconsistency with EU norms. Georgian President Zourabichvili opposes the law, comparing it to Putin’s measures to silence dissent. The law, labeled the “Russian law,” has sparked debates over Georgia’s EU aspirations and its stance towards Russia. While Georgian Dream defends the law’s transparency aims, critics fear it could muzzle independent voices and limit democratic progress.
Week of April 11, 2024
- Athlete breaks record by rope climbing Eiffel Tower
Anouk Garnier, a world champion in obstacle courses, set a new world record by rope climbing to the Eiffel Tower’s second floor in 18 minutes, surpassing both men’s and women’s previous records. Undertaking this challenge to support the League Against Cancer in honor of her mother’s diagnosis, Garnier reached 110 meters as her loved ones cheered her on. After a year of dedicated training, the 35-year-old athlete achieved this feat. Garnier is also preparing to carry the Olympic torch for France in an upcoming ceremony, marking her return to obstacle racing. - What does the ECHR’s landmark ruling mean for human rights and climate change?
The European Court of Human Rights deemed Switzerland’s inaction on climate change a human rights violation, a case brought forth by Klima Seniorinnen, highlighting the vulnerability of older women to climate-induced extreme heat. This landmark ruling, favored by a majority of 16-1, alongside the dismissal of two other related cases, sets a precedent for future climate litigation. Experts believe this could serve as a blueprint for holding governments and corporations accountable for environmental neglect. The decision, celebrated for its potential to influence a wide range of climate-related lawsuits globally, underscores the significant role of ordinary citizens in driving governmental climate action across the Council of Europe’s 46 member states. It marks a pivotal moment in climate change and human rights law, emphasizing the right to effective state protection against the adverse effects of climate change on life and health. - Simon Harris becomes Ireland’s youngest-ever prime minister
Ireland’s parliament elected Simon Harris as the youngest-ever Prime Minister, succeeding Leo Varadkar after his unexpected resignation. Harris secured the position with a vote of 88-69, supported by independent lawmakers, Fianna Fail, and the Green Party. At 37, Harris, a former health and education minister, vowed to lead with unity and collaboration. His swift rise in politics began at 16 in Fine Gael’s youth branch, progressing to become a county councilor at 22 and a parliament member at 24. Harris faces challenges such as housing crises and asylum seeker policies, aiming to revitalize Fine Gael ahead of upcoming elections. - Top French court suspends ban on using word ‘steak’ on plant-based foods
France is again allowing veggie burgers to be called “steak” and other meaty terms. The government had banned such labels to protect the meat industry, but a court suspended the rule. The court is unsure if the ban is legal under EU law and is asking the EU court for clarification. This is not the first time such a ban has been challenged in Europe.
Week of April 4, 2024
- Ukraine lowers conscription age as Russia gears up for possible offensive
Ukraine reduced conscription age from 27 to 25 amid military strain from ongoing conflict with Russia. President Zelenskyy signed the measure, taking effect after parliamentary approval. Reasons for the delay weren’t specified. An audit found previous recruitment estimates inaccurate due to troop reallocation. Zelenskyy refrained from disclosing new recruitment targets. The move addresses infantry shortage and ammunition deficits. Russian enlistments surged after a terror attack, blamed on Kremlin propaganda. Parliament debates a broader draft law with contentious exemptions. Despite waning enlistment enthusiasm, public support for the conflict remains high. Ukrainian military faces challenges in launching offensives due to manpower shortages. Zelenskyy deliberates on major mobilization’s costs and logistics. Disagreements over mobilization strategy arose within military leadership. Ukrainian armed forces had nearly 800,000 troops in October, excluding other units. - ‘No means no’: How Portugal resisted the far right, but only just
Portugal’s recent elections saw the hard-right party Chega increase its parliamentary seats from 12 to 50, highlighting a surge in support for populist, ultra-conservative parties across Europe. Despite the victory of the centre-right Democratic Alliance coalition, forming a stable government amidst Chega’s influence poses challenges. The prospect of cooperation with Chega remains uncertain, with concerns about its mainstreaming of extremist ideas. While a clear cordon sanitaire seems improbable, dialogue with Chega voters is proposed as a means to mitigate its impact. Portugal’s political landscape may offer lessons for European democracy, as the rise of far-right parties persists across the continent. - Endangered Greek dialect is ‘living bridge’ to ancient world, researchers say
The endangered form of Greek known as Romeyka, spoken by a small number of people in remote mountain villages of northern Turkey, is considered a “living bridge” to the ancient world. It lacks a written form but survives orally around Trabzon. With its speakers aging, a University of Cambridge project called Crowdsourcing Romeyka aims to preserve its unique linguistic features by recording native speakers worldwide. Romeyka, descended from Hellenistic Greek, shares characteristics with ancient Greek, including the use of infinitive forms. Its distinctiveness challenges the notion of modern Greek as an isolate language. The language’s survival is threatened by factors like migration and cultural stigma, prompting efforts to document it before it disappears. The initiative aims not only to preserve the language but also to foster a sense of belonging and identity among its speakers. - Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany. Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi threatened to send 20,000 elephants to Germany due to a conservation dispute over hunting trophies. Germany proposed stricter trophy import limits, prompting Masisi to assert that hunting controls elephant populations. Botswana, with a third of the global elephant population, faces challenges of overpopulation damaging property and crops. Masisi argues hunting revenue supports conservation and local communities. Animal rights groups oppose hunting trophies, deeming them cruel. The dispute underscores broader issues in wildlife conservation, hunting practices, and international trade regulations. Germany’s stance affects the EU’s largest import of African elephant trophies. Other nations, like Australia and Belgium, have banned trophy imports.
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