Author: DW

Through its financial strength, political connections and media, India has long had a considerable influence over how cricket is played, broadcast, and governed across the globe. Concerns over what that means for other competing nations have increased following the unopposed election of the politically-connected Jay Shah as the chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) last December. Shah still serves as secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Billion-dollar stake in the ICC The BCCI is the richest cricket board in the world and runs the Indian Premier League (IPL), one of sport’s richest and most successful…

Voters in Poland go to the polls on May 18 for the first round of the presidential election. But the ballot is not just about whether the left-wing liberal Rafal Trzaskowski or the national-conservative Karol Nawrocki, the two front-runners, will become the country’s next president. There is much more at stake in this election. The outcome of the presidential election will determine whether the pro-European, center-left government led by Donald Tusk can take forward its plans, which have been stymied by President Andrzej Duda since the government was elected about 18 months ago. Although the Polish head of state does…

Former FBI Director James Comey was interviewed on Friday by the US Secret Service following an Instagram post that supporters of President Donald Trump claimed was a veiled threat on the president’s life. The now-deleted post showed seashells arranged to form the shapes “86 47.” Comey posted it with a comment: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Trump supporters interpreted it as a call to harm the 47th president. Merriam-Webster dictionary says 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” The dictionary publisher also said one of the recent adoptions also means…

A man convicted of stabbing Salman Rushdie, leaving the author blind in one eye, has been jailed for 25 years.Hadi Matar was found guilty of attempted murder and assault in February. Prosecutors had been seeking the maximum sentence of 25 years for the attack in August 2022, along with an additional seven-year term for injuring a second man. Image: Hadi Matar. Pic: AP During the trial, Sir Salman revealed he feared he was dying when the masked attacker plunged a knife into his head and body more than a dozen times.The attack happened as the 77-year-old was introduced on stage…

Eager to avoid a looming 20% tariff on its trans-Atlantic exports, the European Union has agreed to “intensify” trade talks with the United States after being accused of moving too slowly. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic gave the update Thursday before a meeting of EU trade ministers in Brussels, adding that he and his US counterpart Howard Lutnick were due to meet “very soon.” The EU summit was expected to solidify the bloc’s position in negotiations to avoid the additional levies that kick in from July, after US President Donald Trump sealed his first deals since announcing so-called reciprocal tariffs on most global imports last…

On May 17, 1900, US author Lyman Frank Baum published a tale that has since enchanted readers and viewers over generations with its unforgettable characters, magical settings and universal themes of courage, friendship and the search for home. At the heart of the story is Dorothy Gale, a young girl living on a quiet Kansas farm. When a powerful tornado sweeps her and her dog Toto away, she finds herself in the fantastical Land of Oz, where wonder and danger lurk. Advised by a kind witch, Dorothy sets off for the Emerald City by following a Yellow Brick Road, hoping that the mysterious Wizard of…

What has happened between India and Pakistan? India and Pakistan are engaged in conflict in Kashmir, a disputed territory between the two countries. Parts of Kashmir are controlled by India, Pakistan and China. India has carried out airstrikes, which it says targeted militant groups in the region in recent days, with Pakistan describing them as an “act of war” and vowing to retaliate. Both sides have since been launching attacks on each other. The current flashpoint started in April when 26 tourists in India-administered Kashmir were killed. But the region has been disputed for centuries, eventually leading to the current uneasy three-way administration.How India-Pakistan tit-for-tat military…

Japan’s economy contracted at a higher page than expected in the first quarter of 2025, according to official data for the January to March period released on Friday.  Japan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 0.2% compared to the previous quarter, the first quarterly drop since the January-March period in 2024.  However, compared with the same quarter in the previous year, Japan’s economy shrank by 0.7% — much steeper than the forecast 0.2% contraction  Sluggish exports, Trump tariffs  The decline was largely due to a fall in exports, which drive the Japanese economy. Data shows demand for exports was waning even before US President Donald Trump…

A court in Thailand issued arrest warrants on Thrusday for 17 people in connection with the deadly collapse of a Bangkok skyscraper. The 30-story tower, which was under construction and intended to house the State Audit Office, was reduced to rubble in seconds when a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Thailand and neighboring Myanmar on March 28. Authorities say they have recovered 89 bodies from the rubble of the collapsed tower. Seven people are still missing. The tower was the only building in Bangkok that collapsed. The suddenness and speed of its collapse has raised questions about the quality of its construction. Deputy Bangkok…

A senior Hamas official has confirmed the militant group is in direct talks with the United States over peace in Gaza, adding that it believes Donald Trump can help broker a deal. Speaking to Sky News’ lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim, Dr Basem Naim said Hamas has shared its proposed agreement both through mediators and “directly with some persons in the US administration”. They are calling for “a prisoner exchange, total withdrawal of Israeli forces, allowing all the aid to get into Gaza and rebuilding of [the] Gaza Strip without forceful immigration,” he said. Image: Basem Naim Dr Naim…