Author: DW

Some 100,000 people were left without power after a Russian drone strike hit an energy facility in the northeastern Sumy region, Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday. Meanwhile, Russia claimed its forces had captured a village in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. What do we know about the strikes? National grid operator Ukrenergo said the energy facility in the region was damaged, forcing blackouts in the regional capital, called Sumy. A Russian strike also hit the provincial capital, also called Sumy, cutting off the water supply. Repair teams were working to restore supplies. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Ukraine’s air force…

Joe Biden is the latest world leader to react to Sir Keir Starmer’s election victory – but while many congratulated the new prime minister, one has insisted: “I don’t care.”Labour’s landslide win became clear in the early hours of Friday morning and Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy soon shared congratulatory messages on social media. The US president followed suit later, with the White House confirming he had called Sir Keir to congratulate him.Follow general election fallout live Image: Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his first day in office. Pic: 10 Downing Street Mr Biden…

The main international airport in Italy’s northern city of Milan is to be renamed after former Italian Prime Minister and business tycoon, Silvio Berlusconi. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini made the announcement while addressing a conference in southern Italy. Why was the name chosen? “Seeing as the final decision rests with the transport minister, I really think it will go ahead,” said Salvini, leader of the rightist League party and a long-time Berlusconi ally. “In memory of my friend Silvio, a great businessman, a great Milanese citizen and a great Italian,” Salvini later posted on social media platform X above a…

French rider Julien Bernard was fined on Saturday for stopping to kiss his wife during the Tour de France. The penalty from the International Cycling Union (UCI) amounts to 200 Swiss francs (€205, $222). What was Julien Bernard fined for? Fifteen minutes into the time trial seventh stage of the Tour de France on Friday, Bernard stopped to kiss his wife and young son amid a group of family and friends. The leg of the race was in the rider’s home region of Burgundy in eastern France. The UCI said that the behavior was inappropriate and damaged the sport’s image. In…

This was an upset, by Iranian standards, though all things are relative. Pezeshkian is a reformist and his election is a surprise.Iran has successfully but brutally crushed a popular uprising and many had expected his hardline rival to prevail. The presidency has control of foreign policy and some domestic matters so many expect a shift in Iran’s diplomatic outlook now – perhaps a more conciliatory tone towards the West.Read more: Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian elected Iran’s new president Image: Pezeshkian greeted by his supporters as he arrives to vote on Friday. Pic: AP But any immediate race back to nuclear negotiations…

Germany’s police union (GdP) on Saturday urged Turkey fans to avoid displaying the controversial gray wolf gesture during an upcoming Euro 2024 match against the Netherlands. It comes after Turkish player Merih Demiral was banned from two games for showing the gray wolf sign, which is associated with Turkey’s far-right, while celebrating his team’s Tuesday victory over Austria.German police are worried about the possible presence of extremist symbols after Turkish ultras urged fans to make the controversial ‘wolf’ gestureImage: Akin Celiktas/Anadolu/picture alliance What did German police say about the gray wolf sign? “Politics has no place on the football field,”…

Police in India’s southern city of Chennai on Saturday said they had managed to arrest eight suspects in connection with the murder of a local political leader. K. Armstrong, the Tamil Nadu state leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was hacked to death with machetes near his home in Chennai on Friday night. What is known about the killing Local media reported that Armstrong had been talking to friends and supporters near his home, when he was set upon by men with knives, traveling on motorbikes who then reportedly escaped before any intervention could be made. Armstrong was taken…

More than 50 candidates and their supporters have been attacked ahead of a second round of voting in France’s parliamentary elections.Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said politicians from across the spectrum had faced verbal and physical abuse – often while they were putting up campaign posters. He told BFM that several of the attacks had been “extremely serious” – with the three-week campaign overshadowed by violence that left some victims in hospital. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:05 Emmanuel Macron’s biggest gamble? Confirming there will be a greater police presence on the streets during Sunday’s vote,…

Niger on Saturday is hosting the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — the first gathering of its kind since military coups in all three countries ousted civilian-led governments. The meeting is being held on the eve of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit in Nigeria. The three juntas left the bloc in January accusing it of being manipulated by former colonial ruler France. They have also shifted away from Western allies, favoring partnerships with Russia and Iran. What’s on the agenda at the talks? Statements on public radio earlier in the week stated that Saturday’s talks would be the first…

A dam break in China’s Hunan province forced almost 6,000 people to evacuate, even as authorities rushed to stem the resulting floods, state media reported on Saturday. According to state news agency Xinhua, the breach at China’s second-largest freshwater lake, Dongting Lake opened up on Friday afternoon. How bad was the breach? The rupture across a 226-meter (740-foot) span pressed authorities to relocate around 5,700 residents. There were no injuries reported as of early Saturday. Videos showed water flooding through the fissure, overturning trucks, and inundating houses. According to Xinhua, the emergency management ministry sent more than 800 staff and almost 150 vehicles, and…