Deutsche Welle: DW.com - Europe

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. Suspected pneumonic plague in Siberia: What we know about the disease A worker at a plague research institute in Siberia has died, and nearly 200 of her contacts are under medical observation. Russian authorities deny a link to the bacterial infection. The US is monitoring the situation. 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. Nationalists top Bosnia-Herzegovina's divisive election Bosnia-Herzegovina's three-member presidency is set to be dominated by nationalists from the three major ethnic groups, including Zeljka ​Cvijanovic, backed by disqualified Serb secessionist leader Milorad Dodik. UK remands 2 Iranians over alleged antisemitic terror plot The pair were arrested on the eve of Yom Kippur and later charged with plotting to attack Jewish targets in Manchester. Bosnia and Herzegovina is still shaped by war, separatism, EU ambitions Bosnia and Herzegovina is governed by a system established after the Bosnian war — more than 30 years ago. Ethnic divisions, a complex administration and European integration all shape the country's political reality.