Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.

In New York, I'm John Fastman.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Before Russia's invasion, Ukraine was the surrogacy capital of the world with favorable

laws and plenty of willing surrogates.

The war disrupted that industry, but didn't end it.

Some women who fled Ukraine have returned to give birth.

And bird song can define a place just as specifically as topography or a skyline.

In much of Britain, the songs have changed, as once ubiquitous birds grow less common

and long-rare species return to the skies.

But first, since February, Russia has been waging war on Ukraine.

It has also been waging an energy war across Europe.

The bills for that energy have been rising ever since the European Union imposed sanctions

on Russia over its invasion.

Russia responded by throttling supplies of gas.

Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, has now threatened to freeze Europe this winter if it

caps the price it will pay for Russian gas.

Several European countries have so far unveiled measures to help people through winter.

Ukraine's chancellor, Olaf Schultz, borrowed the words of a famous football anthem to promise

citizens that nobody would be left on their own.

Different European countries seem to have been taking different approaches to this problem.

But a more coordinated response appears to be on the way.

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