Deutsche Welle: DW.com - Europe

Pope Leo tells Monaco to use 'gift of smallness' for good Pope Leo XIV decried the widening gap between the rich and poor during a visit to the tiny European principality. He called on the ultra-wealthy residents of the tax haven to channel their prosperity toward justice. Russian attack on World Heritage sites in Ukrainian city of Lviv causes uproar Several World Heritage sites were hit in the latest Russian attack on Lviv in western Ukraine. Ukraine has called on Russia to be completely isolated in the cultural sector. Austria plans to ban social media for under-14s Austria is set to follow other countries in curbing young people's access to social media. The three-party governing coalition plans to present a draft law by the end of June. Fighting in Iran: Is another 1970s‑style oil crisis looming? Supply disruptions, high prices, nervous markets: The current war in the Middle East brings back memories of the oil crises of the 1970s. Back then, many economies plunged into stagflation. How bad is the current crisis? European NATO defense spending rose by almost 20% in 2025 European NATO members and Canada increased their defense spending by an aggregate of 19.6% in 2025, the second consecutive year at that rate. German defense spending, famously sluggish to rise, reached 2.4% of GDP. UN recognizes slave trade as gravest crime against humanity The UN General Assembly has passed the resolution on transatlantic slavery despite opposition from the US and European countries. Hungarian election: Will Europe's far-right help Orban win? Leading European populists are throwing their weight behind Viktor Orban's reelection campaign. But the Hungarian prime minister lags behind the opposition due to talk of corruption, scandal and his Russian ties. Iran war: Tehran sets own terms to end war, rejects US plan Tehran has set out its conditions to end the war in response to a 15-point proposal from the US, Iranian state media reported. Ukraine updates: Hungary threatens gas stop amid oil dispute Prime Minister Viktor Orban says Hungary will gradually stop the flow of gas to Ukraine until Russian Druzhba pipeline oil deliveries restart. Meanwhile, Russia reports widespread overnight drone strikes. French municipal vote: What do results mean for 2027 ballot? France's far-right National Rally did not do as well as it hoped in recent local elections. But, experts say, mainstream parties can't afford to relax ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.