Rob Schmitz appears in the following:
Poland To Hold Presidential Election On June 28
Friday, June 26, 2020
Cancellation of the presidential election by Poland's ruling party on May 10 and plans for a new all-postal ballot are raising concerns about the state of Polish democracy.
Germany And France Promise New Financial Support To World Health Organization
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Less than a month after President Trump vowed to stop U.S. funding, Germany promised to give more than half a billion dollars and France pledged $100 million to a WHO research center in Lyon.
How Germany Staffed Up Contact Tracing Teams To Contain Its Coronavirus Outbreak
Monday, June 22, 2020
Staff in over 400 call centers in Germany work around the clock to notify people if they've been exposed to a positive coronavirus case. The country aims to have one contact tracer per 4,000 people.
Germany's Contact Tracers Have Been Vital To The Country's COVID-19 Fight
Friday, June 19, 2020
Since the very start of the pandemic Germany has had armies of tracers following the contacts of every confirmed coronavirus case, keeping the number of deaths there relatively low.
Trump Confirms He Plans To Move Some Troops Out Of Germany
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
President Trump said Monday that U.S. troop deployment in Germany will drop significantly because Germany is "delinquent in their payments to NATO." What are the implications of this threat?
A Possible Plan To Pull U.S. Troops From Germany Causes A Stir In Both Countries
Friday, June 12, 2020
Reports that the White House wants to pull 9,500 troops out of Germany have raised concerns among current and former officials. Russia welcomed the possible move.
Afro-Caribbean Artist Paints George Floyd's Portrait On The Berlin Wall
Monday, June 08, 2020
People across Europe have been gathering to protest the killing of George Floyd and denounce police brutality in the U.S. Artist Eme Freethinker has painted Floyd's portrait on the Berlin Wall.
In Germany, George Floyd's Death Sparks Protests — And Artwork That Honors His Life
Monday, June 08, 2020
Eme Freethinker wanted to commemorate George Floyd alive, rather than show his killing. "Some guy told me, 'You have to do it with the police over his neck,' and I was like: 'No, man. Not like that.'"
Berlin Passes Sweeping Anti-Discrimination Law
Friday, June 05, 2020
The measure bars police and other public authorities from discriminating against anyone based on factors including skin color, religion, disabilities, worldview, age and sexual identity.
Hungary's Government Asks U.S. Media To Apologize For Critical Reports
Wednesday, June 03, 2020
NPR received a letter from a government spokesman late Tuesday saying "Hungary has been subjected to a barrage of attacks" and requesting an apology from American news organizations and think tanks.
European Union Plans $825 Billion Coronavirus Recovery Fund
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
"This is Europe's moment," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. All 27 EU member states must approve the plan, a mix of grants and loans, before it can go forward.
Coronavirus Pandemic Tests Leadership Styles In U.K, Germany
Thursday, May 21, 2020
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel present different visions of leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.
Germany Struggles To Fill Its Farm Labor Shortage After Closing Its Borders
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The government flew in thousands of seasonal workers from Romania and Poland, but that may not be enough. Some farmers are looking to hire Germans for the harvest.
Economic Responses To Coronavirus Pandemic Vary Worldwide
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
NPR Correspondents Rob Schmitz and Scott Horsley talk about stimulus efforts in the U.S. and Europe and how governments are dealing with sharp and sudden economic downturns during the pandemic.
Germany Faces A Shortage Of Seasonal Farmworkers Due To The Pandemic
Monday, May 18, 2020
German farmers are facing challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, as the country is experiencing a shortage of seasonal farmworkers who typically come from Eastern European countries.
Germans Protest Shutdown Even After Easing Of Coronavirus Restrictions
Monday, May 18, 2020
Protesters — including citizens against restrictions, extremists and anti-vaccination groups — have taken to the streets in cities across Germany.
Germany, Europe's Largest Economy, Enters Recession Due To Coronavirus
Friday, May 15, 2020
Germany has seen its biggest quarterly contraction since 2009 when the global financial crisis ravaged the country's economy. Economists expect an even deeper slump in the second quarter.
European Countries Are Bracing Themselves For The Next Wave Of The Pandemic
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Europe starts to loosen up the quarantine restrictions and reopen economies. But some countries are expecting — even planning for — the next wave of the coronavirus outbreaks.
Germany's Bundesliga To Resume Season May 16, But Fans Will Have To Watch On TV
Thursday, May 07, 2020
"The league wants to continue because it still has a potential revenue stream. But to do so when we still know so little about this virus is wrong," says German sports journalist Tim Jürgens.
What Hamburg's Missteps In 1892 Cholera Outbreak Can Teach Us About COVID-19 Response
Wednesday, May 06, 2020
Lesson No. 1: Have "proper precautions in place," says historian Richard Evans. And don't "try to hush it up." Thousands died in Hamburg after the government failed to acknowledge a cholera outbreak.