Europe – Page 122 – Prologue Journal

You See a Hedge. He Sees Something Else.

New York Times Tim Bushe decided to shape the hedges in his London neighborhood into a menagerie. They’ve become a local attraction. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/world/europe/london-hedge-animals-art.html

The Bleak, Nihilistic Show Russians Can’t Stop Watching

New York Times The streaming hit, “The Boy’s Word,” about youth gangs in the last years of the Soviet Union, says grim things about the national mood. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/magazine/the-boys-word-russians.html

Wednesday Briefing

New York Times Concerns about President Biden. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/briefing/biden-lapses-gaza-evacuations-india.html

Meloni Condemns Fascist Nostalgia Amid Scandal in Her Party’s Youth Wing

New York Times A news report used a hidden camera to show members of the youth arm of Brothers of Italy glorifying fascism. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/world/europe/meloni-political-party-youth-wing-facism.html

Economists Worry About Fiscal Plans of Macron’s Rivals: What to Know

New York Times The far-right National Rally party and the left-wing New Popular Front are focusing on a cost-of-living crisis to woo voters, but their plans risk worsening France’s soaring deficit. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/business/france-economy-macron-national-rally.html

France’s Far-Right Party Has a Plan: Big on Ideas but Short on Details

New York Times Although the party, National Rally, has changed since its early days of overt racism and antisemitism, its basic philosophy remains: Immigrants are a threat to the country’s safety and economy, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/world/europe/france-national-rally-policies.html

Swedish Grandparents Can Be Paid to Babysit Under New Law

New York Times The Nordic country’s generous social services system now allows parents to transfer a portion of paid leave days to other non-parent caregivers. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/world/europe/swedish-grandparents-parental-leave.html

U.N. Panel Adds to Chorus Calling for Release of Evan Gershkovich

New York Times The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions said the Wall Street Journal reporter was being punished for covering the war in Ukraine. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/world/europe/evan-gershkovich-russia-detention-un.html

U.K. Nurse Lucy Letby Convicted of Attempted Murder in Retrial

New York Times Ms. Letby, who was previously found guilty in a string of murders and attempted murders, was retried and found guilty of another attempted murder. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/world/europe/lucy-letby-nurse-attempted-murder.html

AfD Politician Björn Höcke Fined Again for Using Nazi Slogan

New York Times In his ruling against Björn Höcke, the judge said it was “essential that we counter the danger of old Nazi-era symbols from becoming acceptable again.” https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/world/europe/germany-court-fine-nazi-phrase-afd.html