Worldcrunch
The long-delayed Saudi TV series Muawiya aired, in early March, at a carefully chosen moment, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s political ambitions. The show reconstructs the early Muslim ruler’s legacy, transforming him into a figure of wisdom and power — echoing the image that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin-Salman has been creating for himself.
The documentary by a Palestinian-Israeli collective satisfies multiple and divergent audiences at the same time, and has been met with critical success. But the film never evokes the idea that there is another land for Palestinians: that of historic Palestine.
Poland, one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine since the beginning of the war, and a neighboring country to Ukraine, has accepted over one million refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. However, as time has gone on, Poles have grown to increasingly resent Ukrainians. But why? Olena Babakova, a Ukrainian journalist, explains for Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza.
A brutal deportation campaign, the founding of a historic city, and the birth of a legendary musician.
An exchange among U.S. leaders, witnessed online by a journalist, lays bare the level of disdain for Europe — just like Washington’s latest provocation toward Greenland. Europe has yet to come to terms with this de facto rupture in transatlantic relations.
Diplomats in Vietnam warned Washington that halting USAID’s efforts to clean up the massive deposit of postwar pesticides would be a catastrophe for public health and relations with a key strategic partner in Asia.
When Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested, it sent shockwaves through Turkey, igniting fears that no opposition figure was safe. But instead of silencing dissent, Erdoğan’s crackdown has sparked a nationwide movement that could shape the country’s political future.
Since the 1980s, the American tradition of team building has found its way into French companies. Consider it a bonafide clash of cultures, and attitudes.
In both Israel and Turkey, the rulers’ shift toward “illiberal” policies has sparked a backlash from parts of society. In both cases, leaders are targeting checks and balances, feeling emboldened by a similar trend unfolding in the United States under Donald Trump.
An environmental disaster, a groundbreaking scientific discovery, and the birth of an iconic escape artist.
A survey conducted in nine European countries reveals strong opposition to Donald Trump and his policies, along with fears of a conflict on European soil. This has led to overwhelming support for an independent European defense — even in traditionally pro-U.S. nations. A turning point.
Uganda’s Supreme Court in January banned the trial of civilians in military court with immediate effect. In practice, people who oppose President Yoweri Museveni remain in prison — and with even fewer ways to get out.
The birth of an influential artist, a film that makes history at the Academy Awards, and a speech that sparked revolution.
The Russian president has no problem talking about negotiations and peace treaties. But he’s a master decoy artist. Putin has built his power on conflict, and now he needs war to hold on to it.
As Brazil’s Supreme Court prepares to rule on whether Jair Bolsonaro led a coup attempt, the battle is playing out on the internet, flooded with a counter-narrative of political persecution. It’s all very similar to what happened in the United States after the Capitol attack.
A major criminal capture, a revolutionary invention, and the birth of a star.
Once a Muslim-majority nation, Kosovo is witnessing a quiet but growing movement of Albanians converting to Catholicism. Advocates of the shift argue they are reclaiming their ancestral faith, once suppressed under Ottoman rule. With deep historical roots and political implications, this trend is reshaping Kosovo’s religious and cultural identity — while also positioning it closer to Europe.
Driven by a relentless pursuit of spectacle, Donald Trump embodies the “destructive character” — a figure who reshapes history through chaos and upheaval. But is destruction itself enough to sustain power, or will it leave behind nothing but rubble? For Die Zeit, historian Susan Richter looks to destroyers of the past for an answer.
Ramadan shifts our focus from production to minimalism. It reminds us that we are not created to be productive all year long, that we are allowed to slow down, to be selective, and to prioritize our health and families — unlike the corporate world.
This past year, 2024, was the first where zero foreign adoptions from Russia were recorded, as Moscow has moved to clamp down on international placements.
For three days, war has raged once again in Gaza, leaving hundreds of Palestinians dead. Yet a segment of Israeli society is pushing back against the justifications put forth by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Backed by Trump, Netanyahu carries on his brutal policy.
The birth of a unified empire, a record-breaking adventure, and the dawn of a social media giant.
With photographs from Belgrade, Khan Younis and Chicago — among other places.
March 21 – March 27, 2025
In a region known for its strong, centuries-long ties to the mining industry, areas once dedicated to coal are now being transformed into cultural hubs. Among these is a disused mine in the town of Pszów, which has now been transformed into a library.
Small doses of psychedelic drugs are said to make parents more engaged and even childlike in their enthusiasm. Is this reckless nonsense, or a parenting breakthrough?
An international front is refusing to bow to the White House’s demands, and it’s the only way out of the crisis.
Europeans may see seizing Russian assets as a financial and moral boost, they should resist the idea to avoid a triple boomerang effect.
Elon Musk’s AI tool, Grok, has started challenging India’s political elite, calling out Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and more. But will the government react to the irreverential bot?
A literary milestone, a significant independence movement, and a revolutionary scientific theory.
End-of-life planning can be hampered by misconceptions − but the process is easier than you might think.
Israel has upended the ceasefire in Gaza, resuming war amid propaganda of continuing negotiations under fire. Can Egypt spearhead a “semi-permanent” solution to end the conflict and prevent further escalation?
In a not-so-distant future, Latin Americans will find they too were wealthy like their overbearing northern neighbor, only their “capital” consisted of art, music and resilience, combined in one of their biggest assets home-bred superstar Shakira.
Germany has finally decided to start spending. Is this going to save its stagnating economy? The new fiscal package is the biggest economic policy test in post-War German history. Now it’s crucial that the government avoids any mistakes.
While Tehran has denied any involvement in Syria, elements affiliated with the ousted Assad regime in Syria say Iran is helping their fight to topple the government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
In a new study, France’s Observatory of Immigration and Demography (OID) think tank highlights the remarkable social and economic integration of immigrants from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
After more than two hours of talks with Trump, Putin agreed only to a partial truce on energy infrastructure and laid out his conditions for moving forward — chief among them, an end to Western aid for Ukraine. Who knows if Trump pushed back at all.
A historic political meeting, a groundbreaking cinematic invention, and some big firsts in entertainment and law.
Voters used to reward good governance, but not anymore. From Brazil to the United States to the UK, a new political reality is unfolding, where incumbents struggle for reelection regardless of their performance. Our addiction to digital platforms may help explain this shift?
In Botswana’s Okavango Delta — declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 — warming trends over the past two decades are approximately twice the global average.