In Spain, the Wise Men are Kings
For Christians, Wednesday night marked the Epiphany: the 12th day of Christmas, when the Wise Men or Three Kings bring presents to Jesus in Bethlehem. In Spain, it's a holiday not to be missed.
Europe
U.S. and Germany touch base before meeting with Russia about Ukraine tensions
With Russian troops massed on the Ukrainian border, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his German counterpart huddle before next week's meetings with Russian officials aimed at defusing the crisis.
An Afghan girls soccer team rebelled to play the game they love. Now they're refugees
The teenagers on the Afghan girls national soccer team lean on each other as they adjust to a new life in Portugal, where they fled after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
France's Macron takes heat after saying he wants to 'piss off' the unvaccinated
The French president made the remarks to a newspaper on Tuesday, causing opposition lawmakers to call a halt to debate on a new nationwide mandate.
Car ads in France will soon have to encourage more environmentally friendly travel
The automakers' ads will suggest people consider carpooling or cycling instead of driving. The new rules, beginning in March, come as the country is trying to cut down on its carbon emissions.
The U.S. warns Russia it faces sanctions if it invades Ukraine. Do sanctions work?
How effective would new U.S. sanctions be on Russia? NPR's Rachel Martin asks David Cortright, professor of policy studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs.
700 sheep and goats were arranged in the shape of a syringe to encourage vaccinations
A shepherd in Germany arranged her animals into a 330-foot syringe to encourage people to get vaccinated.
This photographer captured how activists helped migrants at the Poland-Belarus border
Polish-based photographer Kasia Strek documented what it was like for migrants and people in Poland as the crisis evolved at the border in November.
U.K. bank mistakenly issues duplicate payments to customers' accounts
About 75,000 people got a double dose of cheer if they happened to look at their bank balance on Christmas Day. The technical error cost about $175 million. The bank is recovering the money.
Ski resorts in France reopen. Vaccine passes and masks are required
After abruptly closing in March 2020, France's alpine ski resorts have reopened. But this year you'll need more than just goggles and a lift pass.