Author: Kontrast.at

– Advertisement – Colombia is facing a defining political choice. Right-wing populist presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella emerged as the frontrunner in the first round of voting. He promises more military force, closer ties with the United States, mega-prisons, and the expansion of oil, gas, and fracking projects. Critics, however, warn of setbacks for […]

– Advertisement – Critics dismissively speak of “luxury prisons” when they see images from Norwegian correctional facilities such as Bastøy: small, bright rooms, televisions, kitchens, workshops, gardens and prison officers who do not behave aggressively. But behind this system is not leniency. It is based on a sober question: What ultimately makes society safer? Almost […]

– Advertisement – France is making major streaming services pay up. Since the start of 2024, platforms such as Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music have been paying a streaming levy on their revenue. The country is using the proceeds to support its own music scene. The money goes directly towards productions, tours and smaller organisations […]

– Advertisement – Spain is regarded in Europe as a leading example in the protection of women against violence. The country combines specialised courts, the police, support services, prevention measures and electronic monitoring into a comprehensive system. At the same time, new forms of digital violence, such as deepfake pornography or the case of Collien […]

– Advertisement – Since 2022, Giorgia Meloni has led Italy’s most stable government in decades. Despite social cuts and authoritarian policies, the opposition has so far been unable to find a way to challenge Meloni’s right-wing coalition. Last year in Genoa, Italy’s sixth-largest city, former Olympic hammer thrower Silvia Salis demonstrated how an independent candidate, […]

– Advertisement – Globally, most energy still comes from climate-damaging fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal. At the same time, the share of renewable energy is growing, especially in the electricity sector. The EU and China are leading this expansion. Economist Nikolaus Kowall explains how far the energy transition has actually progressed and […]

– Advertisement – Good news from Ecuador: rainforests can recover faster than previously thought. A study by TU Darmstadt shows that biodiversity on abandoned agricultural land in Ecuador returned to more than 90 per cent of its original level within 30 years. However, researchers warn that this recovery only works if intact primary forests are […]

– Advertisement – An analysis by Global Witness and the energy information service Rystad estimates that the additional profits of the 100 largest oil and gas companies reached $23 billion in the first month of the war. By the end of the year, this figure could rise to $234 billion. Five EU finance ministers are […]

– Advertisement – Since the beginning of 2026, Zohran Mamdani has been mayor of New York City. The democratic socialist ran on a clear platform and is now starting to implement it. After around 100 days in office, the first figures show the direction: from autumn 2026 there will be 2,000 free kindergarten places, and […]

– Advertisement – There is a side effect of wind turbines and wind farms that is still rarely discussed: offshore wind farms, located in coastal waters, are creating new habitats under the sea. Around their foundations, protected reef-like structures are forming, where more crabs settle than on the surrounding seabed. These wind farms are therefore […]