Diplomacy and International Relations

A UAE-backed group pushing for independence in southern Yemen has agreed to the deployment of Saudi-aligned forces in the oil-rich territory it seized last month.

At the end of 2025, many Iranian merchants closed their shops to protest rampant inflation. At the start of 2026, the government faces further fallout from sanctions, economic crisis and environmental threats.

The beloved 154-year-old Vondel Church in Amsterdam was devastated by a massive fire that erupted shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day.

The ‍New Year’s Day announcement marks the second mass release in a week amid US pressure on President Nicolas ⁠Maduro’s government.

With ties between the Koreas at rock bottom, South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung is advancing several initiatives aimed to build bridges with the Kim Jong Un regime — including one focusing on the martial art of taekwondo.

Protests triggered by soaring inflation and a collapsing currency have highlighted widespread political discontent. Analysts say the deep economic woes are a major challenge to the regime’s authority.

After Australia’s world-first social-media ban for minors, France has drafted a similar law to block under-15s from major platforms, which could take effect from September.

European countries are on high alert following a series of suspected sabotage attacks on underwater cables and pipelines.

Gen Z protests have shaken Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal in recent years — but not India. Why? In a Delhi coffee-house chat with DW, young Indians debate power, politics and the future.

Though 2025 saw flagrant human rights abuses across the globe, the year also brought many positive developments.