Author: DW

Donald Trump’s tactic of using threats to get what he wants in business and politics is something political leaders worldwide are gradually growing accustomed to. But the deal to end the Ukraine war the US president is apparently forging behind the scenes with Russian President Vladimir Putin has rattled government leaders, especially in Europe, who fear Trump could withdraw US military protection of the continent. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has responded to these concerns by announcing an increase in the UK’s defense budget to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, up from the current 2.3%. He emphasized that this investment would…

Gene Hackman, who rocketed to fame in 1971 with his Oscar-winning role of hard-nosed New York City narcotics cop Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection,” has been found dead at his home in New Mexico together with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The cause of death has not been provided. Best known for playing cantankerous, often volatile characters who exude a virile and dangerous energy, Hackman was one of a generation of young actors who shook up Hollywood in the 1970s with his gritty, raw approach to performing. From stage to screen Born Eugene Alder Hackman on January 30, 1930, Hackman came…

Earth’s last ice age ended around 11,700 years ago and a new study predicts the next one should be 10,000 years away. But the researchers say record rates of fossil fuel burning that are increasing global temperatures will likely delay this due date. The findings, published in the journal Science, found fluctuations in Earth’s orbit caused Northern Hemisphere ice sheets  to expand and retract in natural cycles every 100,000 years. “We found a predictable pattern over the past million years for the timing of when Earth’s climate changes between glacial ‘ice ages’ and mild warm periods like today, called interglacials,” Lorraine Lisiecki, a paleoceanographer at the University…

Skip next section Vance calls for US ‘economic upside’ in Ukraine03/04/2025March 4, 2025Vance calls for US ‘economic upside’ in UkraineUS Vice President JD Vance called for Washington and Kyiv to sign a rare minerals deal, arguing it would enhance Ukraine’s security. “If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” Vance said in the interview for the Fox News broadcaster. A Ukrainian delegation left the White House on Friday before the agreement could…

North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, on Tuesday threatened with a series of provocations in response to the US deploying its aircraft carrier in South Korea. On Sunday, the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group arrived in South Korea’s port city of Busan for a scheduled visit. This is the latest such deployment aimed at displaying Washington’s firm support for South Korea in the face of North Korea’s growing threats and hostilities. The carrier arrived days after North Korea conducted its fourth missile launch test of the year.  What did Kim Yo Jong…

New York University’s so-called Litigation Tracker website, listing legal challenges to the Trump administration’s actions, already reads quite impressively. First published by the university’s law school on January 29 and last updated on February 27, it records almost 100 cases in which citizens or institutions have taken legal action against decisions made by the new US president. The lawsuits mainly concern the numerous executive orders Donald Trump has issued since taking office. For example, the dissolution of agencies such as America’s international aid organization, USAID, the dismissal of state employees, and the suspension of government payments, to mention a few.…

Weapons companies’ share prices surged across Europe and the UK’s benchmark stock index reached a record high amid talks of increased defence spending.The FTSE 100 index of the most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange hit a level never seen before as arms maker BAE Systems saw its share price rise as much as 17.5% on Monday to its record high. That share price rise added about £5.92bn to the company’s total value on Monday from the close on Friday afternoon.Also boosting the FTSE 100 to a never-before-seen level was defence and aerospace firm Rolls-Royce Holdings whose stocks rose…

“Anora,” a drama about a sex worker who elopes with the son of a Russian oligarch, took home five Academy Awards, including best picture and best director for Sean Baker. First-time nominee Mikey Madison, who won best lead actress for her portrayal of a 23-year-old sex worker in New York, honored the sex worker community in her acceptance speech saying that she will “continue to support and be an ally.” “Anora,” which showcases Madison’s character’s struggles following an ill-fated romance, was made for just $6 million (€5.8 million). Baker, who picked up his first Oscar as best director, added: “I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a truly…

A US private spacecraft achieved its first-ever uncrewed lunar landing on Sunday, marking the second commercial moon landing. Firefly Aerospace’s lunar lander Blue Ghost touched down near an ancient volcanic vent on Mare Crisium, a large basin in the northeast corner of the moon’s Earth-facing side. “We’re on the moon,” Mission Control reported, adding the lander was “stable.” The mission is part of a NASA partnership with industry to cut costs and support the Artemis program, which strives to return astronauts to the moon. “We’re going to be putting America first, we’re making America proud, we’re doing this for the US…

The Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) report into the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in southern Israel made for difficult reading for most Israelis. The conclusions in the report, released last week, were not entirely new, but they added another layer after an emotional few weeks in which 30 hostages were returned alive but eight more came home in coffins. And while the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal has come to an end, the next phase remains unclear. Fifty-nine kidnapped soldiers and civilian hostages remain in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. After the publication…