2020 in Retrospect | Inside Stuff

Painting his very own canvases into a vivid, red scene, Henri Matisse marked an important – and somewhat controversial – moment in his artistic journey with the 1911 piece "Red Studio". As the LVMH Foundation shows the painting in a new setting in Paris, we take a look at its relevance in art history. Meanwhile, the cityscape of Marseille is the backdrop for Chanel’s 2024/25 cruise collection, as they elevate the catwalk to the roof of Le Corbusier's iconic "Cité Radieuse" building. And we discuss some of the artists drafted to the jury of the upcoming 77th Cannes Film Festival, where Meryl Streep will receive an honorary Palme d'Or for her career in cinema.

Can you still send strong messages when you've rolled out the red carpet and chilled the champagne for a state dinner? China's Xi Jinping is being feted in the French capital for his first visit to Europe since 2019, despite trade tensions, spy scandals and insistence that he isolate Vladimir Putin over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A new six-week abortion ban in Florida makes it illegal to seek a termination before many women even realise they're pregnant. Amid a dizzying patchwork of abortion legislation across US states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade almost two years ago, the issue of reproductive rights is increasingly galvanising voters on both sides of the political divide. Also, as birth rates continue to fall steadily across much of the word, Haxie Meyers-Belkin talks to Dr Helen O'Neill, lecturer in Reproductive and Molecular Genetics at UCL, about what she calls the "fertility taboo", whereby growing numbers of couples struggle to start families after neglecting their reproductive health until it's too late.

With inflation taking a toll on people's finances and amid a growing sense of responsibility towards the climate, second-hand shops are booming across the globe. In France, around 10 percent of clothes each year are now resold, and thrift stores are attracting a wider audience.

A global trend of increasing antisemitism has skyrocketed since Hamas' deadly October 7 attack, a new report has said. The Tel Aviv University report says many Jews across the world may soon be unable to live in safety.

It is the second leg of the finals before the final for the UEFA Champions League coming your way this midweek as the big four Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-German, and Borussia Dortmund battle for a spot in the final of this season's Champions League. Ayomide Sotubo and Bank-Johnson Ifeoluwa on GuardianTV preview the UEFA Champions League semi-final games.