Europe – Page 484 – Prologue Journal

Leonardo’s Ferry Left High and Dry by Global Warming and Red Tape

New York Times A ferry used to traverse the banks of the Adda River, in northern Italy, but drought and an abundance of bureaucracy has closed it down. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/23/world/europe/italy-climate-drought-da-vinci-ferry-imbersago.html

Elisabeth Kopp, Swiss Politician Who Made History, Dies at 86

New York Times In 1984 she became the first woman elected to the country’s governing council, but a scandal prevented her from being the first woman to serve as president. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/world/europe/elisabeth-kopp-dead.html

Barry Humphries, a.k.a. Dame Edna, Is Dead at 89

New York Times Bewigged, bejeweled and bejowled, Mr. Humphries’s creation was one of the longest-lived characters ever channeled by a single performer. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/theater/barry-humphries-dead.html

Zelensky Signs Law Banning Russian Place Names, Part of Broader ‘Decolonization’ Effort

New York Times The action late Friday was the latest in a series of steps by Ukraine to distance itself from a long legacy of Russian domination. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/world/europe/zelensky-russian-ban-ukraine.html

Russia’s Technocrats Embraced the West, Then Enabled Putin’s War

New York Times The expertise of economic officials who continue to work in the government has helped President Vladimir Putin largely keep the economy afloat in the face of Western sanctions. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/world/europe/russia-technocrats-putin-ukraine-war.html

King Charles’s Coronation Memorabilia: Merch Fit for a King

New York Times Products commemorating the coronation of King Charles III range from the usual (ceramics) to the unconventional (cereal boxes). https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/style/king-charles-souvenirs.html

An Outsider Takes on Ireland, From Inside a Plastic Bag

New York Times The podcaster behind the popular “Blindboy Podcast,” who earlier gained fame as part of the Rubberbandits hip-hop duo, says that covering his face lets him say things he couldn’t otherwise. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/arts/ireland-blindboy-podcast.html

Stern German Judge Supports Legal Pot in Court and Rap Videos

New York Times A social media star with regular appearances on German television, Judge Andreas Müller is unabashed in backing legal marijuana, whether he’s sitting on the bench or playing himself in a music video. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/world/europe/germany-legal-marijuana-judge.html

Cellphones Across Britain Will Blast a ‘Loud Siren-like’ Alert This Weekend

New York Times Not everyone is happy about the test warning, which will sound at on Sunday at 3 p.m. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/world/europe/uk-emergency-alert-system.html

Pentagon Speeds Up Tank Timeline for Ukraine but Resists Calls for Jets

New York Times The U.S. will begin training Ukrainian troops on M1 Abrams tanks in the next few weeks, officials said, and combat-ready tanks could reach the battlefields by the fall. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/world/europe/us-ukraine-tanks-jets.html