Free Republic

Every year huge crowds gather in Paris at the Champs-Élysées to ring in the new year with fireworks and concerts. Much like the New Year’s Eve parties in Times Square in New York City, the joyous festivities are a key link in the chain of worldwide celebrations of the year to come. No more. New Year’s has been canceled in Paris. The New Year’s Eve concert was pre-recorded with actors pretending to be the audience. The fireworks will appear on TV. And there will be no one to count the countdown because the Champs-Élysées has become France’s latest ‘no-go’zone’. Ten...

Ukraine and 34 other countries approved compensation body for damages from Russia's invasion. The plan would help finance the Ukraine government and its battlefield needs for the next two years. For Europe, it is a "matter of survival to show it deserves a place at the negotiating table", says FRANCE 24's Douglas Herbert. It also comes at a time where public opinion regarding financial help to Ukraine starts to cool in certain European countries.