western Europe

portrait of a woman in the park

Big changes for this young Ukrainian in London

The UK has taken in more than 250,000 Ukrainian refugees since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The World follows up on the story of one of them: a young woman who fled to London alone in March of 2022.

Big changes for this young Ukrainian in London
A natural gas power plant of RWE AG in Lingen, Germany

Can heat pumps help bring peace to Ukraine?

Can heat pumps help bring peace to Ukraine?
São Sebastião Fort and Museum with statues of conquistadors São Tomé.

'Born in Blackness': A new book centers Africa in the expansive history of slavery

'Born in Blackness': A new book centers Africa in the expansive history of slavery
Angkor Wat is shown by a pond at sunrise.

'World Heritage' site selection is Eurocentric – and that shapes which historic places get love and money

'World Heritage' site selection is Eurocentric – and that shapes which historic places get love and money
doner kebabs for all

The doner kebab, an unlikely symbol of European identity

The doner kebab, an unlikely symbol of European identity
Members of parliament from a top-down view with a podium in the center

The claim that democracy fares better in the West than in Africa is a fallacy

Over the past two decades democracy has blossomed in Africa. But there is still a deep-rooted feeling among Western academics, policymakers and journalists that African democracies are not yet “the finished product.”

The claim that democracy fares better in the West than in Africa is a fallacy
Firefighters blast water in Berlin in mid-August, providing relief from the heat. This is among the few ways to cool off in a city with little air conditioning.

It's so hot in Berlin that people are cooling down in an old WWII bunker

Berlin doesn't have many buildings with air-conditioning so people are looking for ways to cool off. One of the best is visiting an underground ruin from World War II.

It's so hot in Berlin that people are cooling down in an old WWII bunker
French civil servants and students carry labor union flags and banners as they march in protest during a national day of strikes by public sector workers, in Paris, France, May 22

Changes to French public university admissions leaves more than 150,000 without a spot this fall

In France, the dropout rate at public universities is high — only 40 percent make it past the first year. That's one reason the French government is overhauling its rules on higher education, but some say the changes "break the way universities work."

Changes to French public university admissions leaves more than 150,000 without a spot this fall
Nuria at My Red Light, a social project in the form of a brothel in Amsterdam. Nuria plans to retire from sex work later this year and work full-time in an administrative role at My Red Light.

A Dutch brothel where women work for themselves

My Red Light in Amsterdam is almost entirely run by former or current sex workers. And it's designed to ensure that those who rent rooms there aren't being trafficked or exploited. But some maintain that the work itself is inherently exploitative.

A Dutch brothel where women work for themselves
People from different faiths wear kippas as they attend a demonstration on April 25th in front of a Jewish synagogue, to denounce an anti-Semitic attack on a young man wearing a kippa in Berlin earlier in the month.

In Germany, there are growing fears of a rise in anti-Semitism

In Germany, some right-wing groups blame the recent arrival of Muslim asylum-seekers for an apparent rise in anti-Jewish incidents. But others say that's only part of the story. They point out that anti-Semitism in 21st century Germany has been around for a while.

In Germany, there are growing fears of a rise in anti-Semitism
Messages are left at a memorial in Dublin to Savita Halappanava, who died from an infection after miscarrying her first child at an Irish hospital in 2012, one day after Irish voters took part in a national referendum to liberalize abortion laws on May 25

Ireland votes to repeal abortion restrictions, but there’s still a lot to talk about

Right up until the day of the referendum, pretty much everyone thought Ireland’s vote on abortion this past Friday was going to be close. It wasn’t. Two-thirds of voters said "yes" to repealing the country’s constitutional ban on abortion.

Ireland votes to repeal abortion restrictions, but there’s still a lot to talk about
Rie van de Mueren (r) used to be a professional ballroom dancer. She's with Dieuwer Duijf at the Music Salon, which holds dance parties for the elderly in north Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is tackling loneliness one dance party at a time

Public health experts now say loneliness is a growing health threat. Amsterdam is taking the subject seriously.

Amsterdam is tackling loneliness one dance party at a time
A satellite image of Arctic sea ice fractures caused by the force of the Beaufort Gyre

Scientists are keeping a close eye on the Beaufort Gyre

The Beaufort Gyre, a key Arctic Ocean current that traps huge amounts of ice and cold freshwater, is behaving strangely. When it eventually discharges its contents, the event could begin a period of sharply lower temperatures in northern Europe.

Scientists are keeping a close eye on the Beaufort Gyre
This 19th century sign, which was originally above a grocery shop in Paris, has been defaced several times in recent years. The Paris City Council has voted to take it down.

Why some say Paris shouldn't take down this racist sign

The US isn't the only place dealing with divisive monuments related to slavery and a civil war. France is struggling with how to handle images on the street that many see as racist and offensive, including a sign that translates as "At the Happy Negro's."

Why some say Paris shouldn't take down this racist sign
Wind turbines in a rapeseed field in Sandesneben, Germany.

France invests $34M in climate research

France's Macron continues to troll Trump.

France invests $34M in climate research