Germany: chancellor-elect criticises Trump, struggles to form coalition
Following the 23 February election, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz has criticised Donald Trump, calling for European defence independence. He warned that NATO’s future was uncertain and called for urgent action on European security. Despite strong rhetoric, his party won only 28.6% of the vote - its weakest victory since 1949. He is negotiating a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Olaf Scholz, but deep divides remain. Merz favours arming Ukraine, reviving nuclear energy, cutting welfare, and maintaining Germany’s constitutional deficit ceiling, while Scholz has resisted sending missiles to Ukraine and advocates loosening fiscal constraints. Immigration is another battleground, with Merz pushing to curb family reunification. Germany’s role in NATO, economic policy, and military spending hang in the balance as these leaders attempt to bridge their stark differences. The election results, especially the strong showing by the far-right party AfD, highlighted the deep divide between East and West Germany: see
Gaza: hostages’ bodies handed over
On 26 February, the bodies of four Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas, without ceremony, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This marks the final exchange under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, leaving 59 hostages still in captivity with no clear timeline for their release. The truce’s future remains uncertain, as Hamas signals readiness for talks on the second phase, aiming for an end to the war and further prisoner exchanges. Benjamin Netanyahu faces political pressure to resume military operations. Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter. As negotiations stall, families of hostages demand immediate action, urging leaders to secure their return. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has released a bizarre video of his vision for the golden future of the Gaza strip: see
Myanmar: a desperate way of battling poverty
Struggling with debt and rising costs after the 2021 coup in Myanmar, farm worker Zeya decided to sell his kidney, believing it was his only way out of poverty. He found a broker who arranged his travel to India, where illegal organ sales thrive through forged documents. The broker falsified records to present Zeya as a relative of the recipient, bypassing India’s legal requirements. After a brief interview, the surgery was approved, and Zeya received about $2,700. He recovered without major complications but now fears the legal consequences of his actions. Myanmar’s economic collapse has driven many into desperation, fueling a black market in organ sales. Brokers exploit the vulnerable, deceiving them into risky, illegal surgeries. The global demand for transplants far exceeds supply, pushing the impoverished into dangerous choices. In 2007, the WHO estimated that 5-10% of transplanted organs came from the black market, but the figure may be higher.
Australia: couple sentenced for refusing medication to daughter
A court has sentenced Jason and Elizabeth Struhs, members of a sect called The Saints, to 14 years in prison for manslaughter after they denied their eight-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, lifesaving insulin. This resulted in her painful death from diabetic ketoacidosis in January 2022. The sect, led by Brendan Stevens - who received a 13-year sentence - believed in divine healing and rejected modern medicine. Instead of seeking treatment, members prayed and sang as the child suffered. The authorities were only notified 36 hours after her death. Eleven others received six-to-nine-year sentences for their role in the tragedy. Although they claimed religious persecution, the court ruled their faith-based negligence was criminal. Elizabeth’s sister, Jayde, had left the sect years before, condemning its extreme beliefs. The case highlights the dangers of religious extremism and the necessity of medical care in preserving life.
