Making steel without damaging the climate

The wonder material is single-handedly responsible for almost 10% of global warming — but solutions for cleaning up steel are expensive and hard to scale.

Manufacturing steel relies on heating iron ore with huge amounts of energy

It's a building block of modern life and is both a driver of climate change and vital for stopping it.

Steel — a cheap, strong, and long-lasting metal — is found in everything, from homes and hospitals to cars and kitchen sinks. It is an essential component of the wind turbines and electricity pylons that world leaders are banking on building to end our addiction to fossil fuels.

"It's like the lifeblood of the economy. It feeds into every sector," Gauri Khandekar, an analyst at the Free University of Brussels who studies the decarbonization of heavy industries.

Making the metal is also one of the reasons the climate is changing. The industry is responsible for 7-9% of the greenhouse gas pollution that traps sunlight, heats the planet and makes heat waves hotter and tropical cyclones stronger.

Steel coils: The metal is in everything from laptops to cars but manufacturing

 it releases large amounts of CO2

This decade 'critical' for decarbonizing steel

Steelmaking is so dirty because it involves heating iron ore with colossal amounts of energy in blast furnaces to extract pure iron. The resulting chemical reaction releases carbon dioxide. About 75% of steel is made this way — mostly with coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel — in furnaces that operate for 15-20 years before they need to be retired or repaired at great cost.

Demand for steel is set to grow a third by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Choices made today on how that steel is produced are decisive for meeting Paris Agreement temperature targets, analysts say.

"The 2020s are a very critical decade in this regard because more than 70% of the global blast furnace fleet will reach the end of their campaign life and require reinvestment decisions," said Wido Witecka, a steel analyst at German climate think tank Agora Energiewende.

But in contrast to sectors like power and agriculture, where clean technologies like solar panels and plant-based meats are relatively cheap and easy to scale up, heavy industry's most promising alternatives are mostly still being developed. Many come with logistical challenges that policymakers have been reluctant to address.

Ironically steel is a vital component in wind turbines, for instance, which governments 

are betting on to help limit global average temperature rise

Replacing coal and gas with hydrogen made from green electricity

One solution is to ditch coal-fired blast furnaces. Steelmakers can instead extract iron from ore by reacting the rock with gas in facilities called direct-reduced iron plants. These iron pellets can then be made into steel in an electric arc furnace, which can run on electricity made from renewable energy. Using fossil gas in the first step is cleaner than using coal, though it still pollutes the atmosphere and heats the planet.

European manufacturers like SSAB and ThyssenKrupp are betting they could instead run these plants on hydrogen — a gas that can be made cleanly with renewable energy. Instead of oxygen atoms in the ore reacting with carbon atoms in the fossil fuels to make CO2, as they do today, they would instead react with hydrogen atoms to make H2O.

"The beauty about this concept is, yes, you need a new production process, but as a by-product, you have water instead of carbon dioxide," said Witecka.

Last year, SSAB announced it had delivered its first batch of fossil-free steel to carmaker Volvo, which used it to build a truck.

But producing this much hydrogen cleanly would require colossal amounts of green energy — and could divert supplies away from other sectors that are difficult to clean. Making all of Europe's steel with hydrogen produced from renewable energy would require 340 terawatt-hours (TWh) of green electricity, according to one recent study. Last year, the European Union's wind turbines generated 437 TWh of electricity.

"One of the big challenges is where we build these hydrogen production facilities," said Caitlin Swalec, a steel analyst at US-based non-profit Global Energy Monitor. "It needs to happen in places that have that renewable energy capacity."

Capturing and storing carbon

Another option for steelmakers is to capture carbon coming out of steel plants and store it underground.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies involve catching pollutants before they escape into the atmosphere. But it is unclear what share of emissions CCS can capture from steel — or at what cost. The process is likely to be more expensive than in industries like cement because steel factories have multiple sources of pollution.

Still, a roadmap to meeting temperature targets from the IEA expects carbon capture to cover half of all steel production by 2050. That would free up hydrogen to be used in other processes that are hard to clean like shipping or fertilizers.

Some are hoping CCS could help steel clean up its act

But to get there, analysts say, policymakers would need to incentivize CCS development by taxing emissions so traditional production methods reflect the societal cost of polluting. They would also need to fund research and pilot projects to increase CO2 capture rates.

"One of the reasons why we don't know answers to questions like capture rates or how would it work in a commercial scale is because steel companies haven't had to actually reduce their emissions," said Eadbhard Pernot from the Clean Air Task Force, one of the few environmental organizations calling for more investment in carbon capture technology.

What about recycling steel?

Analysts worry that steelmakers may use the promise of distant fixes to avoid acting now.

If steelmakers stick to blast furnaces but CCS doesn't quickly become cheap or efficient, the coal they burn will keep polluting the atmosphere. If they build direct-reduced iron plants and there isn't enough green hydrogen, they'll keep using fossil gas to purify iron ore.

"It's quite a big risk," said Khandekar. "Companies can't be left alone to take the decisions on their own."

To buy more time, society could use steel more carefully. More than a quarter of steel is already made with recycled scrap. There are limits to how often steel can go through this process — impurities like nickel and copper can sneak in and weaken the metal. But increasing recycling rates would reduce the amount of iron that needs to be purified.

Increasing steel recycling rates and using the metal more efficiently could also help

What's more, the IEA says using steel more efficiently could shave 20% off demand by 2050. Governments could use less of it in public projects, maintain infrastructure for longer and update national building codes to be less wasteful. They could regulate carmakers to build lighter cars instead of heavy SUVs.

"We're not going to get completely away from it and we're never going to reach 100% recycling rates," said Swalec. "But we can certainly do much better."

Edited by: Jennifer Collins

UN urges 'quick' negotiations at start of climate talks in Germany

Delegates from around the world have kicked off talks in Bonn that will lay the groundwork for this year's UN climate summit in Egypt. The UN's climate chief called for countries "not to lose focus."

Delegates from nearly 200 nations are taking part in a UN climate conference

 in the western German city of Bonn

The United Nations urged for countries to redouble efforts to avert global environmental disasters and not to give up hope at the start of climate talks on Monday in Bonn, Germany.

With the world facing a series of pressing crises, the UN's top climate official appealed to delegates not to let these distract them from the intensifying impacts of climate change. 

UN climate chief: 'We must not give in to despair'

Patricia Espinosa, the UN's Climate Change head, opened the conference with an urgent appeal for action and "to move these negotiations along more quickly."

"I appeal to all of you — especially in these difficult and challenging times — not to lose hope, not to lose focus, but to use our united efforts against climate change as the ultimate act of unity between nations," Espinosa told the conference.

Hopes for coming up with unified solutions have dimmed as the world grapples with worsening armed conflicts — including Russia's war in Ukraine — as well as contending with a rise in energy prices, food shortages and dealing with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the UN climate chief said.

High energy and food prices pose a problem to almost all economies but developing ones in particular, and shortages of such core products could start to make spending on the environment feel like a luxury for some countries. 

"We must never give in to despair. We must continue to move forward," Espinosa said

What are the most pressing issues?

Delegates from nearly 200 countries are taking part in the 10-day conference in the western German city of Bonn.

The days of talks seek to lay the groundwork for upcoming negotiations at this year's UN international climate conference, the COP27, which is taking place in November in the Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The main focus of the conference this year will be on implementation — particularly what concrete actions have been taken since last year's climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

During the last international climate summit in Glasgow, countries agreed a set of guidelines for implementing targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions. At the COP26 in Glasgow, countries agreed to cut methane emissions, curb deforestation and several other measures.

The question countries must face, the UN's Espinosa said, is now "what progress have you made since Glasgow?"

The concrete issues facing delegates over the next few days in Bonn concern financial aid to low-income and developing nations that are struggling with the impacts of climate change.

Countries are also expected to show laws, policies and programs that will put the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement into action.

The agreement in Paris saw countries commit to limiting global warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

A landmark climate report this year, however, concluded that immediate action is needed and any further delays will lead the world to "miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable and sustainable future for all."

The world has already warmed nearly 1.2 degrees Celsius so far — while countries are seeing a rise in natural disasters including deadly heatwaves, storms and floods.

rs/msh (AP, AFP, KNA)

India: Why are Punjab singers under attack by criminal gangs?

The murder of rapper-turned-politician Sidhu Moose Wala has drawn global attention to the dark side of the Punjab music industry and the criminal networks operating within India and abroad.

Sidhu Moose Wvala, 28, had a massive fan following abroad,

particularly the UK and Canada

Rapper-turned-politician Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, was shot and killed by unidentified people on May 29 in a crowded marketplace in the Mansa district in Punjab state, a day after his security was downsized by the state government.

The 28-year-old had a massive fan following both in India and abroad, especially in Canada and the UK, which have a sizeable Punjabi diaspora population.

According to Punjab police, Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, and gang member Lawrence Bishnoi, currently in a Delhi prison, were behind the attack. Initial investigations suggest that Moose Wala's death was the result of an inter-gang dispute.

Artists shared condolences online following the death of Moose Wala. Some also expressed concerns over the safety of artists in India's entertainment industry.  

"Most people will never know the extent of what you have to deal with as a Punjabi artist behind the scenes on a daily basis," Amritpal Singh Dhillon, an Indian-born Canadian singer and rapper, and a close associate of Moose Wala, wrote in a post on Instagram. "With constant judgment, hate-filled comments, threats and negative energy directed towards people like us, who are just doing what we love."

Singer Mika Singh also shared his fears about celebrities becoming easy targets.

"Singers in Punjab often get such threats from gangsters. I am telling you from personal experiences, dealing with threats is very difficult," Singh said, while currently filming a reality show in Rajasthan. He has beefed up security measures as a precaution following the killing of Moose Wala.

Punjabi artists under attack

Citing fears for his life, singer Mankirt Aulakh has also increased security. He said he requested Punjab police to step up security measures after receiving threats in April from the Davinder Bambiha gang.

The gang is reportedly engaged in a turf war with associates of Lawrence Bishnoi. Industry insiders say scores of Punjabi singers are being threatened and attacked by gang members, and that extortion calls are seldomly reported. 

 

 10 INFLUENTIAL INDIAN ARTISTS 

Ravi ShankarIn the 1950s, Ravi Shankar (1920-2012) was one of the first to popularize Indian music in the West. The meditative sound and the soaring drive of the ragas of this sitar virtuoso inspired and influenced different musicians, from violinist Yehudi Menuhin to Beatle George Harrison (photo). 

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"Many of the successful Punjabi singers or actors have linkages with Canada. Many of them have either permanent residency permits or have citizenship," Jaideep Sarin, a political commentator told DW, adding that Punjabi singers who have had success abroad are at increased risk of being targeted by gang members.

In 2018, unidentified persons shot Punjabi singer Parmish Verma in Mohali. He sustained a gunshot in the thigh. Gang member Dilpreet Singh, who is wanted on the account of numerous criminal cases including murder, claimed he shot Verma on his Facebook page.

In the same year, the bullet-riddled body of budding singer Navjot Singh was found in an empty plot of land in Dera Bassi. Investigations are still ongoing.

During this time, actor-singer Gippy Grewal said he had also received extortion threats via video call from Dilpreet Singh, seeking protection money. Jalandhar-based Punjabi singer Rai Jujhar, meanwhile, said he received threats by an unknown person over the phone.

A booming industry

Punjabi music is one of India's fastest-growing music industries, according to Ghaint Punjab entertainment news.

The current value of the Punjabi music industry is around seven billion Indian Rupees (€84 million) and is growing at a pace of over 10% annually. The industry has more than 400 registered music labels that release around 15 to 20 songs every day. In 2019, the industry alone released more than 4,000 music videos.

"What we are seeing in the Punjabi music and film industry is what was witnessed in Bollywood years back. Extortion and protection money is now a given and the underworld is now wanting a share," Pramod Kumar, director of the Institute for Development and Communication in Chandigarh, told DW.

"These young musicians also seem to normalize violence through their genre of gangster rap and this is promoting a culture of violence," Kumar said.

'A vicious cycle'

Despite numerous arrests and police encounters in recent years, it has become difficult to rein in gang members, especially those who operate from abroad.

The Indian government has flagged concerns to Canadian authorities over the involvement of gangsters operating violent crimes in Punjab from Canada.

Last year, a team from the National Investigation Agency, India's primary counter-terrorist task force, visited Ottawa and met with Canadian officials to inquire about multiple extradition requests it had put forth related to serious crimes and terrorism.

Punjabi-Canadian criminal gangs are formed of a community based in Canada and primarily made up of young individuals of Punjabi ethnic origin, the India Times reported.

An intelligence official, who requested anonymity, told DW that India's "many instances of singers threatened and at times killed" is "a vicious cycle."

"Some of these singers initially want patronage and meet bad characters. After a while, these bad elements morph into a Frankenstein monster," the official said.

Edited by: Sou-Jie van Brunnersum

Japan: Same-sex couples face resistance to adoption

Conservative attitudes towards the concept of family and a lack of legal rights for LGBTQ+ members of society make adopting in a child a difficult task in Japan.

Public surveys show that the number of people who are positive about the issue is increasing

Ai Takahashi says she has always wanted to have a child but Japan's "traditional" attitudes towards family and only incremental acceptance of equal rights for the nation's LGBTQ+ community means she is losing hope that she might one day be a parent.

That same-sex couples in Japan find it effectively impossible to adopt, she believes, is a pity for the thousands of youngsters waiting in children's homes across Japan for a foster family or adoptive parents.

"I have always wanted to have children," says Takahashi, a 40-year-old writer who lives in Tokyo. "I was once married to a man and even then I thought long and hard about having children. Now I live with my partner, a woman, and I have decided that I would rather live with a child who has already been born than to give birth," she told DW.

"Japan does not allow couples to adopt a child unless they are married. And since same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Japan, we cannot be a married couple," she added.

High hurdles to fostering

An alternative that she has considered is fostering, although that has high hurdles as well. The rules on foster parents were only revised last year, making fostering an option for same-sex couples. But the conditions were excessively strict, Takahashi said, with requirements on annual income, the size of the child's living area, limitations on a foster parent's working hours and the need to guarantee a place at one of Japan's hard-pressed childcare facilities putting fostering out of reach of many couples.

There are more than 45,000 children in an estimated 600 residential facilities across Japan. As elsewhere, the children come from homes where parents are abusive or where they cannot care for their children due to ill-health or financial problems. Others have been simply abandoned.

"I would very much like to adopt, but the reality is that it is tough and I do not know what the future holds. I do not want to just 'give birth,' but if there are children out there who are not in a nurturing environment right now, then I would like to live with those children."

Akikazu Takami and his gay partner have recently been accepted as foster parents in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, but have come up against resistance from parents whose children are being fostered.

"We applied to be foster parents and we finally received a positive response, although the officials did say that issues might come up," he said. "But they said we would figure it out when the time came."

Officials who are tasked with placing children with foster families are still duty-bound to inform the biological parents of where they are going, with many biological parents not considering a same-sex couple.

Opposition from biological parents

"Even when the child guidance center thinks that we are a match for a child, it seems there are many times when the parents simply refuse," he said.

Kumi Matsumoto, a campaigner with Rainbow Family, an advocacy group for sexual minority families who are raising children, says entrenched attitudes and outdated perceptions of what a family should consist of mean that thousands of children who could potentially be growing up with loving foster or adoptive parents are still living in institutions.

"Currently in Japan, only married couples are allowed to adopt children. Foster parents can also register, but in reality, very few are actually entrusted with children. Unfortunately, sexual minorities are not treated equally in Japanese society," she told DW.

"Same-sex marriages are not recognized, and as a result, they are excluded from various legal protections and tax benefits as couples and families," she added.

"I believe that the discriminatory treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals has gradually improved over the past decade, thanks to the efforts of various LGBTQ+ organizations and individuals to raise awareness. However, social human rights remain inhibited because of discriminatory treatment by the underlying national laws," Matsumoto underlined.

And when it comes to orphanages considering whether to allow a same-sex couple to adopt, she says "they may be prejudiced and believe that same-sex couples are not capable of happily raising foster children."

'Lack of understanding'

"I think this is due to a lack of understanding and ignorance on the part of the foster home administrators. In addition, since the Japanese government is riddled with conventionalism, I think that there are no officials who have the courage or the spirit to change the way things have always been done," according to Matsumoto.

"The government gives the excuse of 'a lack of public understanding' as the reason for not recognizing same-sex marriages, even though public awareness surveys show that the number of people who are positive about the issue is increasing, especially among the younger generation," she added. "That is why I believe it is important to make sexual minorities visible, as well as stepping up activities such as lawsuits to permit same-sex marriages."

For Ai Takahashi, change cannot come soon enough.

"The rights of same-sex couples are very weak in Japan. I am very frustrated as a person in a same-sex relationship because we do not have the same rights as married couples. We want to have children in the same way, but we are not allowed to do so. We are a couple, just the same," she asserted.

"Japanese politicians are not really thinking about what is best for families or children, but only about their own position," she added. "It is very sad. I feel there is no future for us. I sincerely hope that things will get better soon."

Edited by: Shamil Shams

Ukraine: German minister of state for culture visits Odesa

Claudia Roth is looking to highlight the destruction of cultural centers under Russian shelling. She is the first German government official to visit the strategic port city.

Claudia Roth in front of a statue of French statesman Armand Emmanuel du Plessis 

covered in protective sandbags

German Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth arrived in the southwestern Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Monday for a two-day visit.

Roth visited at the invitation of her Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksandr Tkachenko. She is the first German government official to visit the city.

"We want to show how culture is under attack," Roth said. Odesa has been the target of Russian shelling.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also sought to highlight attacks on cultural centers in the city over the weekend, saying that artillery fire destroyed a monastery in the city. He called the strike "proof" that Russia had no place within UNESCO, the UN's cultural agency.

Roth is scheduled to meet Odesa regional governor Maksym Marchenko and mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov.

She also plans to visit some of the city's cultural institutions, such as the Odesa Film Studio and the Philharmonic Theater.

Claudia Roth holds up a stamp showing a Ukrainian soldier gesturing to Russia's Black Sea fleet

Which other German officials have visited Ukraine?

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock became the first Cabinet member to visit Ukraine on May 10. She visited Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the nearby town of Bucha, which Ukraine alleges was the site of Russian war crimes against civilians.

Toward the end of May, Development Minister Svenja Schulze also visited Kyiv and urged Russia to allow the delivery of tens of thousands of tons of grain stuck in Ukrainian ports.

Friedrich Merz, head of the conservative opposition bloc, visited Kyiv early in June. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats decried this as a PR stunt ahead of key state elections.

Unlike many European leaders, Scholz himself is yet to visit Ukraine.

dpa contributed to this report

Edited by: Rob Turner

Cardiff abuzz with World Cup joy after Wales qualify for first time since 1958

Fans of ‘bumblebees of football’ prolong the celebration – and hatch plans to get to Qatar in November

Wales fans – including Nicky Wilson, fourth from left – in 

Cardiff the morning after their victory against Ukraine. 

Photograph: Francesca Jones/The Guardian

Steven Morris
THE GUARDIAN

Mon 6 Jun 2022 

The day after the night before, Cardiff was still abuzz. Fans in bright bucket hats and red shirts wandered around the Welsh capital on Monday dazed but joyful at the prospect of their national side taking part in the World Cup for the first time in more than six decades – with many already hatching plans to get to Qatar in November.

“It was fantastic,” said Nicky Wilson, drinking coffee in a Yates bar proudly wearing a “Spirit of 58” T-shirt – a reference to the last time Wales qualified for football’s biggest prize – as she prepared to drive her party back home to north Wales.

“The anthem, the buildup, the game, the celebrations afterwards. It was all perfect. Everybody is having a tough time at the moment – Covid and now the cost of living crisis. This is such a boost to the whole country and, by hook or crook we’ll get to Qatar.”

Wales celebrating after their victory in the World Cup play-off final

 with Ukraine at Cardiff City stadium. 

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Watching the Welsh football team tends to be a family affair. Wilson’s daughter, Annie, a 21-year-old student, started travelling with her mum and the rest of the “Red Wall” when she was 10. “It’s one big, wonderful community,” she said.
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Annie Wilson has watched Wales play Mexico at the Rose Bowl stadium in Los Angeles but Sunday’s 1-0 win against Ukraine at a rain-soaked Cardiff City stadium surpassed that. “Last night was the best, no doubt.”

James Cameron, a transport worker also from north Wales, was to be found tackling a Guinness – a combination of hair of the dog and a determination to keep on partying for a few days yet.

Like Welsh supporters of a certain vintage he has survived a lot of disappointment, his low point a 1-0 loss to Russia that meant his country did not qualify for Euro 2004. The best was the 3-1 win against Belgium at Euro 2016. “But getting through to the World Cup finals is something else,” he said.

While the mood in Cardiff was cheerful, it was also a time for reflection. Peter Hughes, a joiner, talked about how the edge between the large Welsh clubs that used to be felt on international match days had vanished. “It feels like a more united football community in Wales now,” he said.

A Welsh speaker, Hughes praised the Welsh FA for the way it has promoted the language, for example by identifying the team as “Cymru” rather than Wales. After the final whistle the Welsh squad lined up to sing the ballad Yma o Hyd (Still Here) with the folk singer Dafydd Iwan.

Deian, left, and Will, in bucket hats. 

Photograph: Francesca Jones/The Guardian

Politics students Will and Deian, two of those mooching around the capital in bucket hats, said they loved the ethos of the team as well as their skill on the pitch. “The ‘still here’ sentiment is very important,” said Will. “Everyone is together and we always will be.”

Fans were also keen to pay tribute to Ukraine – the team and nation. Deian said there had been a lot of tears shed at the end of the match, not only for Wales’s win but for Ukraine. “It was a surreal, poignant game,” he said.

It had been a fine weekend for the suppliers of hats, shirts and flags in the shops opposite Cardiff Castle and people were still coming in for souvenirs on Monday. “We’ve had a difficult couple of years,” said Bob Rice at Castle Welsh Crafts. “So it’s nice to see a bit of hustle and bustle. The win is good for the country and good for business.”

Bob Rice, who owns Castle Welsh Crafts and has run it for more than 40 years.

 Photograph: Francesca Jones/The Guardian

The soundtrack for many was BBC Radio Wales. The presenter Jason Mohammad played David Bowie’s Heroes and Manic Street Preachers’ version of This Is The Day. “What a day!” he told the Guardian after his phone-in show. “I’ve been following Wales since 1982 and reporting on them for the BBC since 1997 so to be on air and broadcast the words ‘Wales have qualified for the Fifa World Cup’ was incredible. The thought of seeing so many red shirts in Qatar in 2022 is one that fills me with hwyl [a sense of fun, energy, enjoyment, passion], balchder [pride] and joy.”

At Andy’s Hair Hut (suppliers of wigs and extensions) in Cardiff Market, Andy Smith and his son Jacob, 20, were discussing “Operation How-To-Get-There”. Andy has priced the trip at £7,000 each. “But we’re looking for cheaper alternatives,” he said.

Andy Smith and his son, Jacob, at Andy’s Hair Hut in Cardiff Market. 

Photograph: Francesca Jones/The Guardian

He has been researching whether it’s possible to cross from a neighbouring country – or finding a berth in a cruise ship anchored off the coast. “It’ll be worth it. It’s about creating memories. Wales is like a bumblebee. The bee shouldn’t be able to take off and we shouldn’t be able to qualify for the World Cup. But it can and now we have. We’re the bumblebees of football.”

Football in Indonesia: New generation provides new hope ahead of Asian Cup

For years, incompetence, corruption and violence have held Indonesian football back. Now, head coach Shin Tae-yong and a new generation of players are looking to revamp its image, starting with Asian Cup qualification.

New generation, new hope: Indonesia are looking to revampt their football image

With populations of over 1 billion but relative underachievement in football, India and China are often the first names on the list when it comes to Asia's sleeping giants in the sport.

But in truth, that label is better applied to Indonesia, a country with a smaller population (275 million) but with much greater passion for the game.

"Indonesia has never progressed beyond the group stage in the Asian Cup," laments Shin Tae-yong, Indonesia's South Korean head coach and the latest to try and unlock the nation's potential. "If we make it this time, it will have a huge meaning for the country."

Shin is one of Asia's best-known coaches, leading South Korean giants Seongnam FC to the 2010 Asian Champions League title. Beyond the Korean peninsula, however, he is probably most recognizable as the coach who oversaw South Korea's victory over Germany at the 2018 World Cup, sealing a calamitous tournament for Joachim Löw's side.

Shin's next challenge is qualification for the 2023 Asian Cup, the third round of which gets underway on Wednesday.

It won't be easy with Indonesia, ranked 159th in the world, having been drawn in a difficult group. They will be expected to finish above Nepal, but Jordan, ranked 91, and Kuwait ranked 146, will provide tougher opposition — especially as the games will take place in Kuwait.

"We know that Jordan and Kuwait are seen as the two strongest teams in the group," Shin tells DW. "But our team is getting stable and confident and I'm sure we can get through and qualify."

Stability and improvement: Indonesia's South Korean head coach Shin Tae-yong has big plans

Match-fixing, hooliganism and cooking oil

In the past, issues off the pitch have held Indonesia back, with the country's love for the game often attracting less desirable elements that have sought to exploit that passion for their own ends.

Nurdin Halid is the poster boy in Asia for all that is wrong with football governance in Indonesia.

The politician was president of the country's football federation, known locally as PSSI, from 2003 to 2011 but was imprisoned in 2004 after being accused of being involved in a cooking oil distribution scandal. Despite being behind bars, Nurdin continued to run football in the country.

After his eventual removal in 2011, Indonesian football descended into civil war with two rival federations, leagues and national teams. FIFA banned the country from international football from 2014 to 2016.

"It was obviously a very bad time for PSSI and Indonesian football," one PSSI official admits. "There were too many people involved in the running of the game who had their own agendas. There are still issues but the situation has improved and the focus is now on football."

It needs to be but there are other issues that still need addressing. Home to vibrant fan culture and ultra scene, Indonesia also has the highest incidence of football hooliganism in Asia. According to Save Our Soccer, a watchdog organization in the country, 74 fans have died as a result of football-related violence since 1994.

Match-fixing has been a long-running issue also, with six players suspended for attempting to rig results as recently as November 2021. In 2019, several PSSI officials, including the body's temporary chairman, Joko Driyono, were arrested. 

Football is massively popular in Indonesia - but the game has been plagued by 

corruption, incompetence and violence

New generation, new mentality, new hope

But now there is a new regime in charge.

"We are getting lots of support from the PSSI," says head coach Shin. "Since I've joined, we have already shifted our focus to the younger generation."

In December the national team reached the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup, Southeast Asia's biennial tournament, equaling their best-ever performance. And they did so with a squad with an average age of just 23, more than three years younger than that of the winners, Thailand.

"The average age of players in the national team is approximately seven years younger than before," explains Shin. "Each of the players have good skills and they enjoy playing but they need a stronger mentality."

Shin's assistant coach Dzenan Radoncic believes that importing a stronger mentality into Indonesian football is key.

"Indonesian players are calm and have laid-back personalities," the Serbian opines. "I believe it comes from the climate and culture. I keep asking them for endurance and aggression for 90 minutes and not to step back during games, even if they are losing.

"We are trying to change the mindset. The players need to be pushed. They are comfortable playing in Indonesia, but we want to make them more international."

One way to do that is to look for European players who are eligible to play for Indonesia through family ties.

Elkan Baggott, for example, was born in Bangkok to an English father and Chinese-Indonesian mother. The 19-year-old defender grew up in Jakarta but moved to England when he was nine, and currently plays for Ipswich Town in the third division. He chose to represent Indonesia internationally and is now preparing for the Asian qualifiers after arriving back in Jakarta at the end of a long European season.

"I only had a little rest before coming here," says Baggot. "But my condition is getting better."

Indonesia are also looking to naturalize Spanish player Jordi Amat and former Netherlands youth international Sandy Walsh. 

"They are both very good players," says Shin, who has invited them to train with the national team while their naturalization papers are processed.

Head coach Shin Tae-yong oversaw South Korea's victory over Germany at the 2018 World Cup

Under-20 World Cup

A key stage in Indonesia's development will take place next year when the country hosts the Under-20 World Cup, the first ever global tournament to take place in the nation sometimes referred to as the "Brazil of Asia."

"It means we have a lot of games and training and there is more investment," says Radoncic, who is preparing the youth team and who welcomes the $28m earmarked for facilities and stadium upgrades ahead of the tournament.

"This is necessary as infrastructure is a problem. The pitches are not great and this needs to improve."

It also means that the U20 team will perform on the global stage for the first time since 1979. The senior team is still far away from that but if they can qualify for the Asian Cup then the mood really will be upbeat.

"We are looking forward to the challenge," says Shin. "We are improving and this is a chance to see by how much."

Edited by Matt Ford

Europe: Free public transport gains traction

In a bid to reduce global warming and offset rising fuel costs, an increasing number of European countries, cities and regions are making public transport free.

Trams liken these are free to use in Luxembourg

For years, experts and politicians have called for major changes in the transportation sector. While much of the motivation to foster public transport systems largely stemmed from a desire to curb climate change, the war in Ukraine has provided another reason: Using trains, trams and buses, rather than cars, Europeans would reduce their fuel consumption and thus the continent's dependence on Russian energy imports. 

Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, introduced a heavily discounted monthly transportation pass, letting people in Germany ride regional public transport for €9(about $9.65) per month in June, July and August. Lawmakers said they hope the pass will save people some money and encourage them to use public transport rather than drive cars. 

Last year, Germany's national railway company, Deutsche Bahn, recorded some 8 million passengers per day. With the coronavirus pandemic subsiding, passenger figures are expected to rise this year. 

Other European states, meanwhile, have already launched, or are planning to launch, similar measures to promote their public transport systems.

Luxembourg

Luxembourgprides itself in being the first country in the world to offer nationwide free public transport. Since March 1, no one needs to buy a ticket to use the country's public transport network. That applies to international commuters and foreign tourists as well, which comes as no surprise since some 45% of workers commute to Luxembourg from neighboring countries.

Making public transport free for all is a big step for society, Transport Minister Francois Bausch said, adding that "the government wants Luxembourg to become a laboratory for mobility."

It is hoped fewer people in Luxembourg will travel by car

With a population that's grown by 40% in the past two decades, getting around in the small European nation, increases in public transit use would help avoid traffic on the Grand Duchy's roads. 

So far, no reliable passenger figures have been made available by Luxembourg's Transport Ministry. In any case, coronavirus-related lockdowns, introduced shortly after public transport was made free, will have likely suppressed passenger numbers. The country's various public buses, trains and trams are taxpayer-funded.

MOST BEAUTIFUL TRAIN ROUTES TO TRAVEL WITH GERMANY'S €9 TICKET
Ravenna Bridge in the Black Forest
It's probably the best deal in the history of German train travel: For June, July and August 2022 many train rides will cost only 9 euros ($9.50). The ticket is valid for Deutsche Bahn transport offerings such as RB trains, RE trains, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, bus and tram. Don't miss the Black Forest route crossing the Ravenna bridge (pictured) in southern Germany.
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Malta

Malta wants to make public transport free for all as of October 1. This would make it Europe's second country to scrap transport fees for citizens and visitors alike.

Malta's government announced the step back in October 2021. One aim of the initiative is to disincentivize residents from using cars, Times of Malta journalist Bertrand Borg tells DW. 

Residents and tourists will soon be permitted to use Malta's public transport for free

The program is also taxpayer-funded. No exact figures regarding expected costs have yet been published. Residents need to apply for a special ticket that entitles them to ride on buses and trains for free. Tourists may also register for the ticket.

Hasselt, Belgium

While entire countries like Luxembourg and Malta have or plan to make public transport free of charge, some towns and municipalities have also taken the leap. One of them is the Belgian city of Hasselt. It is well known among transport experts worldwide for its 1997 decision to make all buses and trains free to use.

Riding trains and busses is no longer free in Hasselt

City officials, however, reversed the decision in 2013, citing mounting costs. The people of Hasselt now have to buy public transport tickets again.

Tallinn, Estonia

Since 2013, all registered residents of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, may ride buses and trains in the city free of charge. The municipality went ahead with the move in part because ordinary people struggled to pay for travel passes when the financial crisis hit. Considerable tax money has, however, been needed to prop up the scheme.

Two driverless busses waiting in Tallinn

So far, the system has functioned without any major problems. Still, public transport remains a controversial topic in the country, says Estonian journalist Evelyn Kaldoja. "People complain there are too few connections." This, she says, means few chose it for their commute to work.

Despite the scheme, the number of cars on Tallinn's streets has not declined, says the journalist. "Although public transport is free, people who used to drive a car still do." She thinks any drop in traffic may have resulted from a rise in gas prices.

Many parts of Estonia have followed suit and also made public transport free.

Dunkirk, France

In the French city of Dunkirk, steps to provide free buses and trains did lead to less traffic. Since 2018, residents can travel on public transport for free.

Fewer locals now travel by car in Dunkirk, France

A study conducted a few months after the switch found that it had discouraged locals to drive their cars. Although two-thirds of respondents said they had depended on cars, over half said they were now regularly riding buses to get around. About 5% even said the availability of free buses helped convince them to sell their car or not buy a second vehicle.

Danish islands

Certain Danish islands temporarily made public transport free purely for economic reasons.

Lina Holm-Jacobsen, a spokesperson for Visit Denmark, told DW the scheme was devised by the Danish government to bolster the tourist industry after the coronavirus lockdown.

In the summer of 2020 and 2021, catching a ferry to these islands was free for travelers without cars. Ticket costs were also significantly dropped during the summer season.

The ferries, however, are not free of charge in 2022, but visitors still benefit from discounted public transport tickets.

This article was originally written in German.