News and current affairs from Germany and around the world

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Russia's war in Ukraine

Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, an escalation of a conflict that began with Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Signs reading "No" placed on fuel pump nozzles at a gas station after local authorities restricted petrol sales and introduced rationing amid a supply shortage that they said was caused by Ukrainian attacks on logistics routes, in the course of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict in the Black Sea resort city of Yevpatoriya, Crimea, June 11, 2026.

Developing

Members of student organisations AISA, DISHA, KYS and SFI stage a demonstration against the National Testing Agency in May, 2026

India news: Millions of students retake NEET amid protests

Some premedical aspirants are retaking the high-pressure entrance test across India under strict security measures.

wrinkled hands hold a wallet, with pension papers in background

Germany news: Pension overhaul may push retirement age to 70

Germany is weighing sweeping pension changes, including raising the retirement age to 70. DW has the latest.

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News

June 21, 2026

Starmer mulls 'political realities' of Burnham by-election

June 21, 2026

Stonehenge revelers ring in summer solstice

June 21, 2026

Sudan: UN warns of mass atrocities in El-Obeid

June 20, 2026

Terror probe into suspected anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh

June 20, 2026

France bans alcohol during Fete de la Musique amid heat wave

June 20, 2026

Spain: PM's wife must face corruption trial, judge rules

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

Africa

Drifter Jamus Bashar Muhammad puts on his helmet and gets ready for a test drive in his yellow and black race car.

How Abuja is driving Nigeria's motor sport future

In the central Nigerian city of Abuja, a special racetrack is set to serve as a springboard for up-and-coming talent.

Asia

two hands hold a little box that is covered with a brown substance

Tiny bees hiding in homes could save India's food supply

Native pollinators such as the stingless bees of Puducherry, India, could decide the future of food and human survival.

Germany

Picture of Friedrich Merz with a long nose held up during a protest against him in Nürnberg 2025, after he had voted with the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) despite having vowed not to cooperate with the party

Germany could scrap law banning insults against politicians

Some members of the government want to abolish a law that many call absrud; others say there's good reason to retain it.

Europe

On this picture, a man is showing a drone (in the Republic of Moldova)

Moldova seeks to produce interceptor drones

Moldova's neutrality has not shielded it from security risks. Drones have repeatedly made incursions into its airspace.

Middle East

A Shiite sheikh who returns to his village following the announcement of an initial ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, collects religious books from his destroyed library in Deir Qanoun, south Lebanon.

Lebanon: Is US-Iran peace deal a 'victory' for Hezbollah?

Lebanon's Hezbollah group has claimed that the US-Iran peace deal is a "great victory." But what has it really won?

North America

US curbs Anthropic AI access, raising global concerns

The Trump administration is accused of targeting Anthropic over the AI leader's reputation for being overly cautious.

Latin America

This split-screen image shows Iván Cepeda, the presidential candidate for the Pacto Histórico party, and right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the Defensores de la Patria movement.

Paramilitary past hangs over Colombia's runoff election

The candidates in Colombia's presidential runoff were also on opposite sides during the decades of domestic conflict.

Video news

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The US and it's 250 years long history

Bizarre male social media trend: Looksmaxxing. And: 250 years of the US Declaration of Independence.

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All Shows

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Discover DW's outstanding documentaries, exciting talk shows, news and magazines.

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A closer look

FIFA World Cup

The 2026 men's World Cup is being held in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The final is scheduled for July 19. It will be the biggest World Cup of all time with 48 teams. Lionel Messi's Argentina are the defending champions.

At a watch party on Juneteenth, a young female fan watches the US men’s national team play against Australia.

US soccer celebrates Black culture

Though soccer was largely seen as a white, suburban sport, Black players are playing a growing role in the game.

Deniz Undav (in the crowd) celebrates with his friends after scoring against Ivory Coast

Undav heroics help Germany beat Ivory Coast

In Germany's second 2026 World Cup game, Deniz Undav helped Germany to a comeback win against Ivory Coast in Toronto.

A Mexico female fan poses during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Festival at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Why Mexican-Americans prefer to support Mexico at World Cup

Mexican-American football fans in the US often split allegiances between their two cultures.

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Skip next section In the spotlight

In the spotlight

Elegant girl with manicured nails holds premium phone

How TikTok-style videos keep human brains hooked on content

Researchers say TikTok-style short-form videos may only be the start when it comes to harvesting human attention.

People watch a live broadcast of the results of the first round of the presidential election, in Bogota, Colombia May 31, 2026

Colombia: Presidential vote to decide country's future path

On Sunday, Colombians choose between a human rights activist and a security-focussed entrepreneur.

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against the government of Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz

Will army tanks soon roll through Bolivia?

After more than six weeks of protests, Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency.

USA | Signing the declaration of independence

250 Years of US Independence

250 years of the Declaration of Independence — power, freedom, and who America was built for.

A man in an outdoor tree nursery. In the background, numerous other young trees are arranged in rows, supported by a structure of metal posts and crossbars.

In Netherlands, nursery grows shade trees for warming cities

Trees large enough to provide shade can help residents. A Dutch company is making these available for easy transport.

Two hands are working in dark, crumbly compost inside a wooden container. One open hand is holding a small earthworm

In Kenya, an experiment aims to turn sand into fertile soil

Forget fertilizers: This Kenyan project uses algae and biology to revive barren land despite extreme heat and salinity.

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Most viewed

Inequality is elementary to Germany's school system
EducationJune 20, 2026
Germany news: Pension overhaul may push retirement age to 70
SocietyJune 21, 2026
Iran says it's closing Strait of Hormuz again
ConflictsJune 20, 2026
Are Ukraine drones really exposing gaps in Russia's defense?
ConflictsJune 20, 2026
US probes Germany's 'persistent underpayment' for drugs
BusinessJune 19, 2026

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Specials & Events

Living Planet

Why are fungi so fascinating? What's better, tea or coffee? This podcast puts a fresh spin on the climate debate.

Skip next section Living

Living

A staff member views 'Mount Moriah at the Gate of the Ghetto' by Anish Kapoor, a huge red and black rock-like installation hanging from the ceiling.

New exhibitions for Anish Kapoor: Art on the edge

His art challenges our perception: Forms vanish and perspectives shift. Two new exhibitions revisit Anish Kapoor's work.

Maybeetles take flight — the mass emergence

Millions of cockchafers emerged in 2026 — a rare event that often falls in a World Cup year.

Florida Gulf Coast sees drop in international tourism

Tourism in Florida is declining among international visitors, while domestic travel remains strong.

Rayan Djima of Blumengarten sings on stage at a concert with musicians behind him.

The feel-good German song taking over social media

"Gut genug" is a German song about being encouraging and building confidence. The internet made it something more.

DW | Global Us | 2026 | Tourismusboom in Usbekistan bedroht historische Städte und Welterbe

Uzbekistan: Tourism vs. Heritage

A tourism boom brings rapid growth — testing the balance between modernization and the protection of heritage sites.

Serena and Venus Williams both hold up their racquets to strike during a doubles match

Why the Williams sisters and other stars are playing longer

Venus Williams is one of several athletes still at the top decades after her debut. Is this happening more than before?

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