It’s actually clear now: In Germany, everyone is allowed to love whoever he or she wants. Is this too good to be true? Gay Marriage, Penis and Love at Christmas: How Far We Will Go for Love
Author: Olga Winter - EU Newsdesk
News that the civil war in Syria had flared up again came as no surprise to Turkish citizens. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his right-wing nationalist coalition partner Devlet Bahceli have talked about little else than the shift in power in the Middle East and what the possible negative consequences of that could be for Turkey for more than two months now. The suggestion has been that regional changes could be advantageous to Kurds in…
Vienna has won the 2025 Access City Award for its outstanding efforts to making the city accessible for persons with disabilities. The city has led the way in improving access to public spaces, public transport, IT and public services. It has also created accessible swimming pools and bus stops. Source link Vienna wins 2025 Access City Award
Friedrich Merz (CDU) is warming up to election campaign temperature with Maischberger. While he parries familiarly about the debt brake and citizens’ money, he gives Christian Lindner (FDP) a verbal punch in the jaw. In just under two weeks, the Union will present its election program. It should be specific, reflect the mood in the country, but not promise too much, which could lead to disappointment afterwards. With “Maischberger”, Friedrich Merz, CDU party leader and…
Donald Trump wants to deport migrants en masse. But Los Angeles is taking steps: The multicultural metropolis is giving itself a special status – much to the annoyance of the Republicans. In light of the mass deportation of undocumented migrants announced by Donald Trump, the Californian metropolis of Los Angeles has given itself the status of a “sanctuary city.” On Wednesday, the city council voted unanimously for the ordinance that prohibits the city from using resources or personnel to…
For the past week, tens of thousands of Georgians have been protesting against the country’s newly elected Moscow-friendly government and there’s end in sight. DW takes a closer look at the situation. Every evening since November 28, 2024, has seen massive protests in Georgia. Citizens are enraged by the new government’s plan to pause EU accession talks. It hasn’t always been peaceful: protesters have pelted police with objects and shot fireworks at them; the police,…
On 22 November, the Hindu community of Belgium celebrated the first legal step to the recognition of Hinduism by the Belgian Government and Parliament with their decision last year to grant a subsidy to the Hindu Forum Belgium, the official interlocutor of the Belgian State. This platform for all Vedic spiritual traditions will coordinate cooperation among various Hindu/Vedic communities and organisations in Belgium towards full recognition. “Recognition is more than just a legal formality or access to government…
France is once again without a government: Michel Barnier fails as prime minister after just three months. The left-wing coalition’s no-confidence vote received crucial support from right-wing populists and conservative defectors. President Macron is coming under increasing pressure. Vote of no confidence: France without a government – the rapid fall of Michel Barnier
Amnesty evaluated 15 Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. And no evidence was found that they were directed against military targets. For human rights activists, this only allows one conclusion. In a new report, the human rights organization Amnesty International accuses Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. “Our research shows that the State of Israel has committed genocide for months and continues to do so,” said the Secretary General of Amnesty International in…
France’s Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces a vote of no confidence this afternoon which could bring down his minority government.
“Perhaps, if one is permitted to draw a lesson at such a dramatic moment, his excess of programmatic Europeanism, coupled with a lack of pragmatic Europeanism, has ultimately turned against him. If he had succeeded in realising at least some of the projects he announced, if he had really dared to share with his allies the military and nuclear supremacy he wields in Europe, France and Europe themselves would not be reduced to this pitiful state today.”
“Interest rates would rise. The financial markets are worried about France. They don’t know which way our country is headed. … France’s attractiveness would decline. In recent years, since 2015, France has become more attractive to foreign investors. … But since the dissolution of parliament, investors have been asking themselves: should they invest elsewhere? Should they wait and see if France remains hospitable? Some projects have already been cancelled, others have been scaled back or postponed. The fall of the Barnier government would only fuel this spiral of mistrust.”
“The appointment of a new prime minister and a new government would significantly curb Marine Le Pen’s party’s influence. Right now, everyone realises that the future of the government lies in her hands, since it can only stay in power thanks to her goodwill. She is playing this card well by raising the stakes. If a new government is appointed in the near future, whether on a joint (undoubtedly more left-wing) basis or as a ‘technical’ government, her influence would be severely limited, if not reduced to zero.”
“Rather, the entire political elite must ask itself whether it has grasped the seriousness of the situation. France is sitting on Europe’s highest mountain of debt and needs to make cutbacks in order to preserve some budgetary leeway and not gamble away the dented confidence of rating agencies and bond markets. There has been no shortage of warning shots. And one thing is also clear: in the coming months, France’s ability to act will be even more limited than it already is. This is bad news for Europe, which should actually be worrying about other things in view of the geopolitical challenges.”
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) highlights in its World Economic Outlook report, published this Wednesday, that consumption is going to be the main driver of the Spanish economy this year and next. For this reason, they have revised upwards the growth of our country for this year to 3% and places that of 2025 at 2.3%. In 2026 it remains at 2%. The OECD points to consumption as a factor that will…
Ukraine pushes for NATO membership Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now proposed allowing those parts of Ukraine that are free to join the alliance. Russian-occupied areas in Eastern Ukraine as well as the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula (comprising some 27% of Ukraine), he said, would be excluded from joining for now. Zelenskyy hopes the move will thwart any further Russian advances, making negotiations for a ceasefire with Russian President Vladimir Putin possible.
South Korea is being held in suspense by turbulent developments. First President Yoon calls for martial law, then he withdraws it a few hours later. There are growing calls for his resignation. The opposition is planning to impeach the president.
Are you just dragging your feet at work – but there’s still so much to do? Welcome to the club! We could make the end of the year more relaxed with less pressure and more anticipation. Christmas stress at work: How to get through the end of the year safely
Article 5 is the cornerstone of the NATO military alliance. It calls on all members to assist any other NATO countries under attack. Exactly how a member decides to aid allies, however, is up to them. Since Russia’s February 2022 invasion outgoing US President Joe Biden has repeatedly vowed, “We will defend every inch of Ukraine.” Now Kyiv would like to slip under that umbrella of protection permanently. NATO has repeatedly said that this will be…
Le Monde Front Page 4/12/2024 The front page of Le Monde leads on French political news. Michel Barnier activated article 49.3 on Monday to try to pass the Social Security budget to the National Assembly Two motions of censure were tabled immediately by the left and the far right Marine Le Pen indicated that his troops will vote for that of the New Popular Front, which would have the effect of bringing down the government…
Die Welt front page 4/12/2024 The front page of Die Welt this morning leads with reports there are 200,000 migrants in Germany that are required to leave. There are well over 200,000 migrants living in Germany who are required to leave the country. The traffic light coalition wants to give some of them a new chance and has been issuing them with probationary residence permits for two years. How many migrants benefit from this? And…
El Pais Front Page 4/12/2024The front page of the Spanish newspaper El Pais leads with the chaos in South Korea following the president’s decision to declare martial law. South Korea has been tense for hours after its president, Yoon Suk-yeol, declared martial law after accusing the opposition of controlling parliament and sympathising with North Korea.The investigating magistrate Ángel Luis Hurtado, who also summons eight journalists to testify, makes the decision at the request of Álvaro García…
Ex-boyfriend sentenced to life in prison in Italian femicide case Ex-boyfriend sentenced to life in prison in Italian femicide case
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling SWAPO party won Namibia’s presidential elections outright in the first round with 57% of the vote, results published by the electoral commission on Tuesday showed. Clearing half the total votes cast meant no second-round runoff was necessary.
Martial law was declared and lifted in South Korea in just six hours. President Yoon justified the drastic step with the opposition’s proximity to the hostile north. However, there is more to the truth. Martial law declared and lifted again: What’s behind the political rollercoaster?