What if the identity you were given at birth didn’t fit with how you felt on the inside? And try as you might, dressing, speaking and existing in a certain way just didn’t feel right in fact, it felt wrong. Millions of people share this struggle worldwide, and for those living in Iran, the fight for transgender equality is shaped by the country’s determination to prevent same-sex relationships.
As the war in Ukraine rages on, we look at the fallout in Ukraine's neighboring countries Belarus and Russia. Russians in opposition to President Vladimir Putin have fled the country in fear of repression. And in neighboring Belarus, Putin's ally Alexander Lukashenko is clamping down on Belarusian language and heritage. Many were arrested and their books destroyed.
As Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko continues to up the pressure on freedom of expression, it becomes increasingly dangerous to voice any sort of dissent. The European Writers' Council wants to give writers their voices back and has launched its 'Free all words' program to translate as many of their works as possible. DW speaks to Nina George, President of the European Writers' Council.
As Russian attacks on Ukraine continue, Russians opposing the war look on in shock. Those who couldn't take it anymore have fled the country – either, because they feared for their own safety since they've openly criticized the Putin regime or because they simply couldn't bear being in the country anymore.
Despite reaching retirement age, work never stops for civil servants in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many civil servants are well past 70, sometimes even over 100 years old. They hold on to their jobs and their salaries. In Japan, some seniors also choose to continue working part-time jobs – to boost their pensions and because they believe it helps stave off dementia.