Matthew Ward Agius

EU leaders welcome US tone shift in Rubio's Munich speech European leaders have cautiously welcomed a softer tone from the US at the Munich Security Conference, but American independence remained top of mind for Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rubio's address to MSC 2026 maked a return of "American politeness" but the themes of Donald Trump’s second term were laced throughout: calls for Europe to build its defence, secure its borders, and an appeal to shared western - Christian - cultural values.

www.dw.com/en/european-...

Scientists and experts I spoke to pointed to the demise of European-Russian relations as a marker of what geopolitical strain can do to polar research

DNA reveals hidden killer of Napoleon’s troops in Russia – DW – 10/24/2025 Genetic analysis has shed new light on one of history's deadliest military disasters — the French retreat from Russia in 1812.

A couple of bugs in the system for the troops it turns out. French teams led by @pasteur.fr / @nrascovan.bsky.social have analysed centuries-old teeth to find out what ailed Napoleon's troops during their doomed retreat www.dw.com/en/napoleons...

How will Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' impact Americans? – DW – 07/02/2025 The battle for President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" appears to be nearing an end. But Trump's signature tax and spending policy isn't popular, even within his own party.

The Big Beautiful Bill is close to being resolved but it's not popular even within the Republican Party.

www.dw.com/en/donald-tr...

How Elon Musk's third party threat could disrupt US politics – DW – 07/01/2025 Elon Musk wants to shake up the two-party system in the US after clashing with Donald Trump — but history hasn't been kind to third parties.

"Third parties" never really go anywhere in the US and Musk's plan to primary lawmakers seems a more sensible attack plan, but there are ways a challenger party could work says @bernardtamas.bsky.social

Canada axes digital tax to ease Trump trade tensions – DW – 06/30/2025 Canada has withdrawn a tax that could have reaped billions in revenue to bring Donald Trump back to the table. It raises the possibility that other taxes targeting big tech could be in the US presiden...

Could the US turn its sights to other digital taxes amid Canada's DST wind down?
www.dw.com/en/canada-us...

Nearly 20% of cancer drugs defective in 4 African nations – DW – 06/29/2025 Across Africa, cancer medications have been found to be substandard or counterfeit. That means people are being given medicine that may not work, or that could even cause them harm.

In Africa, 1 in 6 cancer drugs may be defective. "A few of them [manufacturers] really have a suspiciously high number of failing samples" one independent observer told DW.

www.dw.com/en/nearly-20...

'Miracle' HIV drug lenacapavir approved amid US budget cuts – DW – 06/24/2025 The US has approved lenacapavir for HIV prevention. However, experts worry that cuts to the health budget will "squander" the drug's chance of reducing infections.

Challenging times in the fight against HIV, even amid the approval of the remarkable lenacapavir as a PrEP drug.
@avac.org ED Mitchell Warren wonders whether the moment will be squandered due to cuts in the US health budget www.dw.com/en/miracle-h...

Secret leprosy infected the Americas before European arrival – DW – 06/04/2025 European colonizers were thought to have brought leprosy to the Americas, but a new study reveals it existed there for thousands of years and was spread by a recently discovered bacteria species.

A species of leprosy/Hansen's disease causing bacteria, identified for the first time in 2008, was probably spreading in the Americas for thousands of years www.dw.com/en/secret-le...

How does Switzerland predict landslides? – DW – 05/30/2025 Switzerland is a success story in predicting landslides — but more must be done to help the rest of the world prepare for these deadly, unpredictable disasters.

The Swiss are very, very good at identifying landslide potential. Amid a warming climate, the rest of the world needs to catch up

www.dw.com/en/before-th...

Visa application pause 'will be felt in every corner' of US – DW – 05/28/2025 Even a short-term pause on new student visa interview appointments could have major economic consequences and leave many uncertain about pursuing studies or careers in the United States.

Even if US pause on international student visa applications was lifted tomorrow, the action to delay new interviews for social media vetting is "tremendously damaging" to America's global rep for higher ed, says @mclem.org.

Gaza aid group, mired in controversy, begins operating – DW – 05/27/2025 A new aid organization, endorsed by Israel, has lost its executive director before operations even began. Questions remain on its ability to effectively deliver humanitarian assistance to Gazans.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation may be operating, but thousands of aid vehicles remain blocked from Gaza amid an aid plan tantamount to ethnic cleaning, observers say www.dw.com/en/gaza-aid-...

Comment via @sipri.org @catherinegegout.bsky.social

Amid calls for arms embargo, who supplies Israel's weapons? – DW – 05/26/2025 Spain has called for an arms embargo on Israel, as violence in Gaza escalates. But real pressure would require action from three major weapons exporters.

Countries like Spain are calling for arms embargoes on Israel unlikely to have substantial impact with US and Germany committed to supply.

Pandemic preparedness: First Pandemic Treaty adopted – DW – 05/20/2025 It’s only the second time the World Health Assembly has adopted a health treaty, but key details of this Pandemic Agreement remain unclear. An analysis.

Historic pandemic agreement from @who.int at 78th World Health Assembly but enforcement potential remains unclear.

www.dw.com/en/pandemic-...

Foul play? Hardball? Questions abound on Trump tariff U-turn – DW – 04/11/2025 A 90-day pause on global tariffs has Donald Trump's opponents crying foul and claiming market manipulation, while others have evoked "The Art of the Deal." What's next for the US president's economic ...

Foul play or hard ball?
www.dw.com/en/foul-play...

@sarahwolff.bsky.social @epc-official.bsky.social

Why are asylum applications in Germany and EU down? – DW – 04/10/2025 New statistics reportedly show post-COVID lows in asylum applications to Germany. But does the data provide a complete picture of displacement abroad?

Reports suggest Germany's asylum seeker numbers are down, but that doesn't mean the world is a safer place... www.dw.com/en/asylum-ap...

Trump’s tariffs: Why won’t countries buy US meat products? – DW – 04/09/2025 Several countries don’t import US chicken rinsed in chlorine chicken or beef products containing growth hormones. The Trump administration has used the bans to justify higher trade tariffs. Is US meat...

The US has long beefed with key trading partners over restrictions on American cattle and poultry products.

The reasons why US producers fall fowl of places like Australia, Argentina, the EU and UK are varied, but could be addressed with changes to agri practices.

www.dw.com/en/trumps-ta...

Comments from @gesineweber.bsky.social @gmfus.bsky.social, Jacob Ross at @dgap.org

Could France's Macron be the new leader of Europe? – DW – 04/07/2025 French President Emmanuel Macron is Europe's "point man," and in the absence of a formal German government, he is driving France's vision of Europe amid war to its east and incoming tariffs across the...

"Europe has become very French over the last five years"
www.dw.com/en/france-em...

Climate change making heart disease worse among Australians – DW – 03/25/2025 Climate change will affect human health as well as the environment. An Australian study shows millions will be at greater risk of heart trouble as temperatures rise.

Climate change poised to double heart disease in Australia, and the trend is likely applicable everywhere else says Euro cardiologist. @escardio.bsky.social journal editor.

www.dw.com/en/climate-c...

For US amb to Poland and @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social fellow Daniel Fried says Ukraine ceasefire deal is a good outcome considering Oval Office setback.

@wgreaves.bsky.social @maltehumpert.bsky.social

US-Russia meeting on Ukraine: What is at stake? – DW – 03/12/2025 The planned meeting between the US and Russian leaders to discuss the war in Ukraine signals a sea change in US foreign policy that will have a profound global impact.

As reports of a Witkoff meeting in Russia emerge, what's at stake for Europe? @news.dw.com www.dw.com/en/us-russia...

What's driving the changing face of Arctic geopolitics? – DW – 03/12/2025 Rarely in the news, the Arctic has returned to the spotlight following the return of Donald Trump as US president. But who owns this polar region, and why is it so important to Arctic nations?

Are the Arctic's relatively peaceful days -- once described as "Arctic exceptionalism" -- soon to be a thing of the past? @news.dw.com
www.dw.com/en/whats-dri...

Is there a shared psychology behind car attacks in Germany? – DW – 03/04/2025 Another car ramming attack has struck a German town but with no clear motive. Is there a way of understanding why these attacks keep happening?

Three fatal public attacks where a car was weaponized have happened in Germany these past three months. None appear to share motivations, save to harm innocent people using an auto.
Rather than looking to a shared psychology, the perpetrators may share something else.

www.dw.com/en/is-there-...

Mannheim attack: 'It's daily news now, here in Germany' – DW – 03/04/2025 Locals express dismay at another public attack after two people were killed and around a dozen were injured in a car attack in Mannheim on Monday.

Though authorities have ruled out political motives behind Monday's tragedy here in Mannheim, locals are saddened, shocked and resigned to another public attack.

"It's daily news now, here in Germany."

www.dw.com/en/mannheim-...

Another mystery disease outbreak in DR Congo: What we know – DW – 03/03/2025 Is a new virus causing a disease outbreak and deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or is the cause already known to science?

WHO says potential toxic contamination at play in DRC disease outbreak that's killed 60.

www.dw.com/en/another-m...

Comment from Stephen Maher
@tcddublin.bsky.social, Jose Luis Montoya Mira and Jared Fischer @ohsuknight.bsky.social, Andreas Trumpp @dkfz.bsky.social