Family Minister Proposes Major Parental Leave Change as Trump Warns Hamas
Family Minister Claudia Plakolm has proposed a significant change to parental leave, while the red ministry of labor and health expresses skepticism. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned Hamas and offered a 'small chance' for compliance with a Gaza Strip ceasefire. Energy prices are set to rise for gas and electricity consumers, with a 'sun discount' introduced for solar power users.
Plakolm's initiative aims to extend parental leave entitlement to anyone who becomes a parent after the 13th week of pregnancy. This includes women who suffer a miscarriage after this point. However, the red ministry of labor and health is skeptical about the proposal, raising concerns about its feasibility and potential impact on businesses.
In international news, Trump has threatened Hamas with annihilation if it fails to 'behave'. He also reiterated that no US troops would be deployed against the radical Islamic organization. Trump offered Hamas a 'small chance' to comply with the ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip.
Energy prices in Austria are set to change in 2026 and 2023. According to a draft regulation by the E-Control, gas network charges will rise by an average of 18.2 percent in 2026. In contrast, electricity network charges will increase by an average of 1.1 percent next year, with some federal states even experiencing a decrease. To incentivize solar power usage, the E-Control is introducing a 'sun discount' of 20 percent between April 1 and September 30, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Psychologist Katrin Glatz Brubakk, working with Doctors Without Borders, has reported on the devastating situation in Gaza. She highlighted how a simple cardboard dollhouse can bring a little hope to children in the conflict zone.
Plakolm's parental leave reform proposal faces skepticism from the red ministry of labor and health. Trump's warnings to Hamas and offer of a 'small chance' for compliance have raised tensions in the Middle East. Energy consumers in Austria can expect price changes, with gas prices set to rise significantly in 2026 and a 'sun discount' introduced for solar power users. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with simple acts of kindness like providing a dollhouse offering hope to children.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
