Deutsche Welle: DW.com - Europe

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? Fact check: Misleading claims spark plague fears in Russia The death of a lab worker at a plague research institute in Russia has sparked claims about a lab accident, hundreds of infections and international spread. Some of these viral narratives are misleading. Merz, Macron seek tougher EU measures against unfair trade Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz have written to Ursula von der Leyen, calling for tougher EU mechanisms against unfair trade practices by other states. They name no names but seem to have China or the US in mind. Bosnia election: New steps to prevent electoral fraud, but nationalist parties remain on top New technology has stopped votes being cast on behalf of dead or absent voters, and turnout has fallen to a record low. But it was a case of deja vu in Bosnia's elections with the same parties winning. Hundreds of French schools shut, teen loses hand in protests The student protests that rocked France last week have prompted authorities to keep up to 500 schools closed on Monday. A teenage boy lost his hand, seemingly while trying to pick up a police tear gas grenade.