Rob Schmitz appears in the following:
Biden administration considers sending up to 5,000 troops to Eastern Europe
Monday, January 24, 2022
Russia continues to amass more than 100,000 soldiers along its border with Ukraine, and the country has announced plans for naval exercises along Ukraine's southern coast.
Threat of Russian invasion escalates as both sides amass troops at Ukraine border
Sunday, January 23, 2022
Ukraine's military is preparing for a potential Russian invasion. Meanwhile, the UK's foreign ministry issues a communique on Russian plans to install a pro-Moscow leader after a possible invasion.
France ramps up nuclear power as Germany closes plants in the name of clean energy
Monday, January 17, 2022
As Europe strives to curb carbon emissions, Germany and France are at odds over whether nuclear power is clean. German public opinion has forced the closure of nuclear plants as France forges ahead.
More than half of Europeans could be infected with COVID-19 in the next two months
Saturday, January 15, 2022
Coronavirus cases are surging in Europe. German and Austrian leaders are calling for mandatory vaccinations of their citizens. Spain is taking a far less aggressive approach.
Germany's new chancellor has some huge tasks ahead of him
Wednesday, December 08, 2021
Germany's new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, took office on Wednesday, replacing Angela Merkel. Little known outside his homeland, Scholz has some huge tasks ahead of him.
What you need to know about Germany's new chancellor and coalition government
Wednesday, December 08, 2021
Social Democratic politician Olaf Scholz takes over from center-right Angela Merkel as chancellor to lead a coalition of three different parties in government.
Berlin voted for the city to seize apartments owned by developers to lower rent costs
Friday, December 03, 2021
Voters in Berlin, Germany, want the city to expropriate hundreds of thousands of apartments to stop speculation by big property developers — but it's too costly and probably illegal.
Germany is tightening its restrictions on people who haven't gotten a COVID vaccine
Thursday, December 02, 2021
The German government is imposing tighter restrictions on people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, and is planning legislation to make vaccination mandatory in early 2022.
How chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border fits into the international picture of migration
Thursday, December 02, 2021
As the U.S. struggles to cope with a surge of immigration at its southern border, the European Union is faced with its own crisis — the weaponization of migration by Belarus.
Germany's post-Angela Merkel government has agreed on a new direction for the country
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Leaders of the three parties set to form Germany's new government have announced a coalition deal to make Social Democrat Olaf Scholz the country's next chancellor.
Austria is going into full lockdown and will mandate vaccines as COVID cases surge
Friday, November 19, 2021
The Austrian government is putting the entire country in lockdown starting Nov. 22 and is planning legislation to make vaccination compulsory for all Austrians in February.
Here's what it's like for migrants trapped between Belarus and Poland
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Thousands of migrants are camped along the border of Belarus and Poland, trapped between the countries. EU officials accuse Belarus of luring them across the border.
As COVID-19 cases surge, Austria orders a lockdown of the unvaccinated
Monday, November 15, 2021
Austria is moving to put millions of unvaccinated citizens under lockdown as European countries take measures to try to control a new surge in COVID-19 infections.
EU leaders consider sanctions on Belarus for migrant crisis at Poland's border
Thursday, November 11, 2021
There's been sharp criticism by European leaders of attempts by the regime in Belarus to push migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere over its borders with European Union countries.
Poland is trying to curb an influx of migrants being assisted by Belarus
Tuesday, November 09, 2021
Poland is sending more troops to its border with Belarus. Thousands of migrants are trying to cross the frontier there, apparently at the instigation of the Belarusian regime.
The WHO says COVID cases in Europe have risen steadily over the past 5 weeks
Thursday, November 04, 2021
Record numbers of COVID-19 deaths in Russia are being blamed on low vaccination rates. At the same time in Germany, which has a high vaccination rate, breakthrough infection rates are rising.
The EU accuses Belarus of luring global migrants into other European countries
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Poland has stopped some 16,000 migrants crossing its border from Belarus since August, and accuses Belarus' authoritarian regime of facilitating illegal migration into the European Union.
Poland says Belarus has turned human trafficking into a business
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Belarus is sending migrants across its border with Poland to pressure the EU, and when Poland illegally sends asylum-seekers back across the border, they face mistreatment by Belarussian police.
Who Will Replace Angela Merkel?
Monday, September 27, 2021
Election results from Germany, where voters cast their ballot for new leadership. Plus, a look at outgoing chancellor Angela Merkel's legacy.
Smaller, Younger Parties Will Likely Determine Who Runs Germany's Next Government
Monday, September 27, 2021
It will likely take three parties to form a government. Two smaller parties — an environmentalist, progressive party and a libertarian party — appear to be banding together to call the shots.
