Rob Schmitz
Stories
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Europe
Germany's strict support for Israel, informed by history
Germany's position in the Israel-Gaza war is informed by its complex past.
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World
As Europe applauds Poland's election results, civil rights groups prepare to fight
LGBTQ+ and abortion rights advocates are thrilled Poland's ruling, right-wing Law and Justice party is unlikely to from Poland's next government. But they are skeptical of the commitment of who will.
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World
Poland's dangerous eastern border takes center stage in upcoming elections
The NATO and EU member borders Belarus, the Russian territory of Kaliningrad and Ukraine — plus a strip of land connecting it to Lithuania. It is an unstable and volatile mix of frontiers.
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Europe
As tensions mount, Poland plans to deploy troops to its border with Belarus
Poland is planning to send ten thousand troops to its border with Belarus to counter what the government sees as a security threat from Russia's ally, and host to Wagner militia fighters.
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World
Germany's Green Party wants people to use heat pumps to save energy. Some are balking
Some German homeowners are worried they'll have to foot the bill for their country's climate targets by replacing their gas boilers with cleaner — but more expensive — heat pumps.
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World
Poland's new Russian influence law gets flak as an attack on democracy
Critics of the law, including in Washington and the European Union, warn that Poland's right-wing populist leaders could use the law to block candidates ahead of elections later this year.
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World
Germany might ask drivers to pump the brakes on the Autobahn
The country is considering putting speed limits on its highway network — and the move is leading to some soul searching.
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World
Slovakia joins fellow NATO member Poland in sending fighter jets to Ukraine
Ukraine has long sought fighter jets, though these are old Soviet-made MiG-29s and not the more advanced Western warplanes that Kyiv covets.
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World
As the earthquake death toll soars, so does criticism of Turkey's government response
Critics are laying into the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing it of incompetence in its response to the massive quake and misplacing tax revenues meant for dealing with disasters.
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World
Germany's defense minister resigns after missteps during her short term
The resignation of Germany's defense minister is shining a spotlight on what many see as the country's lackluster support of Ukraine.