Germany Unveils Major Cuts to Stabilise Health Insurance

German Health Minister Nina Warken, of the ruling conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), has outlined key features of the government's planned reforms for ailing health care system. Warken's draft legislation, on track to be passed this summer, aims to prevent further increases to the health insurance contributions. "We simply cannot spend more than we take in," Warken said

Israel’s Strategy Along Lebanon’s Litani River

A small river has become a flashpoint in a broader regional conflict: The course of the 145-kilometer (90-mile) Litani River in Lebanon mirrors the front lines of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The Litani River also highlights the current fragility of international law. Despite the growing escalation in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, the

Hundreds of Thousands Lose Jobs as Iran War Intensifies

More than 93 million people in Iran are living in the shadow of a war that could flare up again at any moment. Many Iranians are now fearing the difficult days that lie ahead. After the failed peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan earlier this month, Washington began blockading Iranian ports

EU unveils anonymous age-verification app to protect children

The European Union says a new age verification app is technically ready. The app is designed to meet the bloc's strict digital rules. The tool could soon help users prove their age online without sharing personal data, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday. How does it work? Once released, users will be able to

Scholars Targeted: Democracy Under Strain in Trump’s America

News outlets in the US and around the world extensively cover the second administration of Donald Trump. Amid this flood of information on current events, film directors Demid Sheronkin and Can Dündar take a step back to assess the state of free speech and democracy in the US with their new DW documentary, "Democracy Under Attack: Can Dündar and Trump's

Noor Solar in Morocco: Ambition Meets Local Reality

The Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of Marrakech, lies on the edge of the Sahara and is known as the "door to the desert." Ouarzazate is probably best known for the Atlas Film Studios, where blockbusters from "The Mummy" to "Gladiator" and "Game of Thrones" have been filmed. But a

What Hungary’s Election Means for Central Europe

At the heart of Peter Magyar's victory in the Hungarian parliamentary election on April 12 was more than just anger at high-level corruption and economic hardship. His win was also a repudiation of Viktor Orban's "illiberal democracy," a rejection of his drift away from the European mainstream and a warning not to stray too close to Moscow's orbit.

US blockade of Strait of Hormuz chokes Iran’s oil exports

How will Trump's blockade of Iranian oil work? After US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan collapsed at the weekend, US President Donald Trump said the US Navy would block ships entering or leaving any Iranian port or coastal facility via the Strait of Hormuz. Until the war began in late February, a fifth of the world's seaborne

Nusantara: Indonesia’s Planned Capital Faces Modern Doubts

People walk around Nusantara, where Indonesia aims to move its capital. Jakarta, the current capital and the world's largest city, is sinking. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR NUSANTARA, Indonesia — Deep in the forest of Indonesia's Borneo island, construction is underway for a new futuristic capital, powered by renewable energy and run

HUD Employees Say Fair Housing Enforcement Is Being Blocked

Boarded doors and windows on Feb. 15, 2023, in Baltimore, where Black residents have alleged that redevelopment policies perpetuate racial discrimination. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption toggle caption Julio Cortez/AP A small number of current and former employees of the Department of Housing and Urban Development launched a website Thursday to accuse the Trump administration of
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