Europe

Using pandemic recovery money distributed by the European Union, Italy is trying to bring back one dying village in each of the country's 21 regions. The villages will each get $20 million.

A growing shortage for neon is driving up its prices by 5000%. Neon production became highly concentrated in post-Soviet states, such as Ukraine and Russia. The world is paying for that concentration.

Robert Pope says he considered quitting two hours in. But thanks to some bananas and a can of soda, he finished under the wire — in 23 hours and 39 minutes.