Deutsche Welle: DW.com - Europe

Security in the Black Sea region: is Bulgaria the weak link in Europe's defense against threats from Russia? Two ships have sunk off the coast of Bulgaria and Romania after drone attacks in recent days. Sofia has held back on pointing the finger at Russia. What does that mean for security in the Black Sea and the region? South Korea recalls Ukraine ambassador amid POW dispute South Korea has said it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine. Seoul is upset about a transfer of North Korean prisoners of war being made public knowledge at the UN and had demanded — but not received — an apology. As Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian data centers, could Ukraine soon be offline? As Russia targets Ukraine's data centers more and more, experts say the country's internet system is too robust to shut down entirely. However, services could become more expensive. Middle Corridor: Can Bulgaria be a safe gateway for Asian imports to the EU? The EU wants more trade via the Middle Corridor, which could bring big benefits for Bulgaria. But Tuesday's drone attacks on commercial ships off the Bulgarian coast are a stark reminder of the security risks involved. Gerhard Schröder visits latest Russian employer, Hyperglobus Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder visited a Moscow supermarket in his new role on the supervisory board. Schröder is no stranger to retirement stipends in Russia — or the scandal that accompanies them. EU enlargement: European Commission tables reforms to prepare bloc for new members The European Commission is proposing earlier access to EU markets for candidate countries, new voting rules to reduce vetoes and extra safeguards for a bigger bloc. But is the reform fair — or even feasible? Suspected pneumonic plague in Siberia: What we know about the disease After a worker at a Russian plague research institute in Siberia died October 2, 2026, nearly 200 of her contacts were under medical observation. But authorities there denied pneumonic plague had caused the death. Where is Spain headed after the snap election announcement? Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is taking a gamble by calling an early election in Spain. The housing crisis, migration and the rise of the right-wing populist Vox party are all likely to dominate the campaign. EU seeks ways to make expansion more palatable to members The European Commission has put forward ideas it hopes will both ease the EU expansion process and allay concerns among existing members. Several countries, not least war-torn Ukraine, are among the candidates. France's conundrum: How to cut spending amid protests Prime Minister Lecornu is pledging to improve schools at a time when the government seeks to save billions. France's dilemma can be seen across the EU: How to cut spending when citizens are demanding more from the state?