EU clears preliminary €90 billion loan to Ukraine

A €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine received preliminary approval from the 27 EU countries on Wednesday after several months during which Hungary exercised its veto, diplomats said. The Cypriot EU presidency said the final approval is to be given by all the bloc's member states on Thursday. The loan aims to assist Kyiv

Rise and Fall of East Berlin’s Palace of the Republic

Spread out below Berlin's landmark TV tower, with a glass front that gleamed orange in the sun, the hammer and sickle wreath hanging prominently in the middle: The Palace of the Republic (Palast der Republik) served as an architectural calling card of communist East Germany. From its opening 50 years ago through its controversial destruction in 2006-08, the iconic building embodied the ideals

Druzhba Pipeline Restarts Oil Flows to Hungary and Slovakia

Oil from Russia bound for Hungary and Slovakia, via the Druzhba pipeline that first goes through Belarus and Ukraine, started flowing again on Wednesday after an interruption lasting months.  The stoppage had been a source of severe tension between Ukraine and Hungary and Slovakia, which intensified amid the added strain on energy prices caused by the

IRGC Seizes Vessels, Fires on Ships in Strait of Hormuz

Skip next section Germany halves 2026 growth forecast amid Iran war fallout April 22, 2026 Germany halves 2026 growth forecast amid Iran war fallout The German Economy Ministry has cut its growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 as a result of rising energy prices triggered by the ⁠Iran war. The ministry now expects ​0.5% growth for 2026

Prosor: Only a Strong Israel Can Secure Peace

The day on which DW's interview with Israel's Ambassador Ron Prosor takes place in Berlin is a day like no other. It's the day Israel commemorates its fallen soldiers and the victims of terrorist attacks on April 21 every year. Israel is still under pressure, under attack even 78 years after its founding, Prosor says at the

German detective chief tells women to avoid relationships with men

A heated debate has broken out in Germany over a remark by the head of a police association who said in a TV interview that women should better "not get into a relationship with a man."  Dirk Peglow, the head of the Federal Association of German Detectives (BDK), made the comment Monday while speaking about the

Could the Iran War Reshape Global Trade More Than COVID?

Iran's shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has drawn comparisons with the supply disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and US President Donald Trump's new tariff regime. The pandemic exposed the world's heavy dependence on China for manufacturing everything from electronics to medical gear, while Trump’s tariffs, introduced last year, also accelerated efforts to cut that reliance. The war in

Lufthansa cancels 20,000 flights amid fuel-price spike

Skip next section Germany halves 2026 growth forecast amid Iran war fallout April 22, 2026 Germany halves 2026 growth forecast amid Iran war fallout The German Economy Ministry has cut its growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 as a result of rising energy prices triggered by the ⁠Iran war. The ministry now expects ​0.5% growth for 2026, down

Aviation Strain: Jet Fuel Shortages Prompt Flight Cuts and Fare Hikes

The Iran war is having a profound effect on the global aviation sector, with jet fuel shortages and surging prices wreaking havoc on flight routes. On Tuesday, April 21, Germany's largest carrier Lufthansa announced it had canceled 20,000 flights between May and October to try and save fuel. The airline said the short-haul flights being cut

China Praises Nations That Blocked Taiwan President’s Flight

China said Wednesday it had "high appreciation" for the African countries that denied overflight rights to the plane of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, forcing him to cancel a trip to Eswatini. China claims self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes the island having diplomatic relations with other countries. Lai was to visit Eswatini
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