Trending lifestyle news

What does Saxony-Anhalt’s election mean for migrants?

3Sep

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style, World

What does Saxony-Anhalt’s election mean for migrants?

The Saxony-Anhalt state election on September 6 could make history. For the first time, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could become the strongest party in a German state by winning the vote. The AfD is currently leading the polls at over 40%, far ahead of the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) of Chancellor Friedrich Merz at around 24%. The AfD advocates a restrictive immigration policy centered on sharply reducing migration, increasing deportations and promoting what it calls "remigration," while also emphasizing national sovereignty, cultural identity and traditional family values. Many people with a migration background consider the election to be more than a political choice of direction. Karamba Diaby, former SPD member of the Bundestag, has kept a combative spiri...

Germany: From country of emigration to immigration country

3Sep

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style

Germany: From country of emigration to immigration country

"Why should [they] be suffered to swarm into our Settlements, and by herding together establish their Language and Manners to the Exclusion of ours? [...] [They] will shortly be so numerous [...] and will never adopt our Language or Customs." These defamatory comments about refugees and asylum-seekers sound as if they might have been made today by the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany party (AfD). Yet in this instance, the people vilified and accused of refusing to integrate are Germans — and the harsh judgement was made in the 18th century by none other than Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. The pursuit of happiness and a better life are mentioned in the American Declaration of Independence, which Franklin helped write. Over the centuries, th...

Austria women ice hockey team fight for future generations

2Sep

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style, Sports

Austria women ice hockey team fight for future generations

When the Austrian women's national ice hockey team took to the ice in the Women's European Cup of Nations in Slovakia in August, they did so without 11 of their top players. Captain Anna Meixner and the rest of her team were frustrated that the Austrian Ice Hockey Association (ÖEHV) still hadn't responded to a list of grievances outlined in a letter to the organization last March. Meixner stresses that the players only went public with their complaints as something of a last resort. Among the nine complaints on their list of demands were the standard of accommodation, having to change in unheated dressing rooms in the winter and not being paid per diems during training camps and international tournaments. They also said they had to make do with hand-me-down equipment from the men's team....

Ailing Djokovic ‘despised’ every moment of US Open defeat

31Aug

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style, Sports

Ailing Djokovic ‘despised’ every moment of US Open defeat

Former world No.1 Novak Djokovic's US Open has ended with this earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades as he fell to Mariano Navone 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday. The defeat scuppered the Serbian tennis legend's latest bid for a 25th Grand Slam title, and ended a streak of 78 Grand Slam first-round victories, which began at the 2006 French Open. Considering the obvious discomfort the 39-year-old Djokovic began feeling early in the match, it was truly impressive that he managed to take Navone, 25, the distance. After battling through more than four and a half hours in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic gracefully congratulated his opponent. "I don't want to take too much out of his win. Congrats to him. He's a nice guy, a fighter," Djokovic said of the 25-year-old Argentine, cu...

Germany’s military wants to recruit tech-savvy gamers

31Aug

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style

Germany’s military wants to recruit tech-savvy gamers

Gamescom, which runs from August 26-30 in Cologne, is promoted as the world's largest video game trade show. Last year, two-thirds of its non-industry visitors were male, with over 40% of them between the ages of 16 and 25. Those are precisely the young people the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, is trying to reach as it urgently seeks to expand its ranks. Germany's military aims to have 260,000 active-duty soldiers by 2035. The German government has supplied hundreds of billions of euros to modernize the country's armed forces. Defense has become a priority for Germany in the face of the current global security situation. Career advice in camouflage The Bundeswehr set up shop at Gamescom for the first time in 2016. It's been back every year since. A brand-new, olive-green Caracal ...

At Venice Film Festival, politics take center stage

31Aug

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style

At Venice Film Festival, politics take center stage

The Venice Film Festival used to be the place where the awards season put on its best tuxedo. This year, it looks more like a war room, with politics and political cinema set to dominate the red carpet. The 83rd Venice International Film Festival kicks off on September 2 with Danny Boyle's "Ink," a drama about Rupert Murdoch's 1969 takeover of Britain's The Sun tabloid — the origin story of the Murdoch right-wing media empire. Over 11 days on the Lido, audiences will also get films about Israel and Gaza, Russia's war on Ukraine, the CIA-backed coup in Pinochet's Chile, ICE raids in Minneapolis and a tell-all documentary on the world's richest man. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera has called it Venice's "most political" edition ever. 'Naza,' a documentary by 'No Other Land' d...

Politics take center stage at Venice Film Festival

31Aug

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style

Politics take center stage at Venice Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival used to be the place where the awards season put on its best tuxedo. This year, it looks more like a war room, as politics and political cinema are set to dominate the red carpet. The 83rd Venice International Film Festival kicks off on September 2 with Danny Boyle's "Ink," a drama about Rupert Murdoch's 1969 takeover of Britain's The Sun tabloid — the origin story of the Murdoch right-wing media empire. Over 11 days on the Lido, audiences will get films about Israel and Gaza, Russia's war on Ukraine, the CIA-backed coup in Pinochet's Chile, ICE raids in Minneapolis and a tell-all documentary on the world's richest man. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera has called it Venice's "most political" edition ever.'NAZA,' a documentary by 'No Other Land' direc...

Uganda: World’s ‘youngest monarch’ dies aged 34

28Aug

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style

Uganda: World’s ‘youngest monarch’ dies aged 34

Oyo Nyimba, a Ugandan king of the traditional pre-colonial kingdom of Tooro, has died aged just 34, the prime minister of Tooro announced late on Thursday. "It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of His Majesty Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV," Tooro's regional leader Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki said on social media. What is the role of traditional monarchs in Uganda? Uganda is a republic, ruled by a parliament and a nominally-elected head of state, longstanding President Yoweri Museveni, who's been in power since 1986. But the country retains several traditional monarchies that still preside over their kingdoms as they were constituted in the pre-colonial period. Their power is largely symbolic but they wield consid...

Germany news: Baltic summit plans hybrid-threat task force

28Aug

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style

Germany news: Baltic summit plans hybrid-threat task force

Skip next section Man gets life in jail for US tourist's rape, murder08/28/2026August 28, 2026Man gets life in jail for US tourist's rape, murderThe defendant had been known to authorities for other sexual offenses, including attempting to rape a 16-year-oldImage: Thomas Frey/dpa/picture allianceA German court on Friday sentenced an 81-year-old man to life in prison for the rape and murder of a US tourist over 30 years ago. Amy Lopez was 24 when she was raped and killed by the convicted man in 1994. Hans S., whose last name is not given as per Germany's privacy laws, was only arrested earlier this year, when police were finally able to identify him using new DNA technology. Read more on the 81-year-old's trial and how police managed to arrest him over three decades after the crime here....

Influential humanists: The winners of the Goethe Medal 2026

28Aug

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style

Influential humanists: The winners of the Goethe Medal 2026

Estonian classical music composer Arvo Pärt, Italian literary translator Anita Raja and Greek theater director and actor Prodromos Tsinikoris are the three recipients of the 2026 Goethe Medal, an annual award that honors international public figures who contribute to creating cultural bridges between Germany and partner countries. The annual award, presented this year on August 28 in Weimar, is one of the most prestigious awards in Germany for international cultural work. So what connects these three personalities to Germany's culture? A prolific German exile: Estonian composer Arvo Pärt Considered one of the most influential figures in contemporary classical music since the 1960s, the Estonian composer is renowned for his minimalist, contemplative compositional technique called "tinti...