Author: DW

India took a lot of flak in the West for increasing imports of Russian fossil fuels in the face of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The world’s third-largest oil importer saw deliveries from Russia jump tenfold in 2022 and double again last year, thanks to heavy price discounts. India’s coal imports from Russia rose threefold over the same two-year period. Despite accusations of funding Putin’s war machine, New Delhi has justified the increase by citing India’s traditional “stable and friendly” ties with Moscow and its heavy reliance on imported oil.  As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow next…

A Norwegian court has found a man guilty of carrying out a deadly gun attack at a gay bar in Oslo in 2022. The shooting took place during the city’s annual Pride celebrations. Zanier Matapour killed two people and seriously injured nine others after opening fire into a crowd outside the London Pub, a popular gay bar in the Norwegian capital. The Oslo District Court said Matapour, fired 10 rounds with a machine gun and eight shots with a handgun into the crowd. Conviction ‘a great relief’ — head of victim support “This is a great relief,” the head of the support group…

A candidate for Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance has been attacked while campaigning, just days before the second round of voting in France’s election.Government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot and a handful of fellow campaigners were putting up posters when they were surrounded and set upon by a group in Hauts-de-Seine near Paris. Ms Thevenot escaped uninjured but her deputy Virginie Lanlo and a party activist were taken to hospital following the attack at around 8pm on Wednesday. Image: Prisca Thevenot escaped uninjured but two of her fellow campaigners were taken to hospital. Pic: AP Four people, including three minors, have been taken…

With only seven matches left until a winner of Euro 2024 is crowned, anticipation and nerves are rising for players and fans alike. The quarterfinals have thrown up some mouthwatering fixtures. Spain vs Germany, Stuttgart Germany facing Spain would have been a worthy pairing for July 14’s showdown in Berlin. Instead, the hosts face tournament favorites in the first quarterfinal with a nation’s hopes hanging on the line. Spain  Although they sailed through group without conceding a single goal, Spain found themselves behind in the round of 16 against minnows Georgia. However, the three-time Euros winners displayed exemplary presence of mind and patience…

Skip next section French researcher to remain behind bars in Russia07/04/2024July 4, 2024French researcher to remain behind bars in RussiaA Moscow court on Thursday ordered French citizen Laurent Vinatier to remain in pre-trial detention. The French researcher is accused of gathering military information and failing to register as a “foreign agent.” He was arrested in Moscow in June and, if convicted, faces a maximum prison sentence of five years. Vinatier made his court appearance via video link, wearing a black T-shirt and sitting behind bars, speaking accented Russian and visibly emotional.   “I will try to speak Russian. I am an…

The European Commission on Wednesday announced it would impose new tariffs of up to 37.6% on Chinese electric vehicles starting on Friday. The Commission said the new duties are to counteract what it called “unfair” subsidies Chinese electric vehiclemakers receive from the Chinese government. The subsidies, according to the EU, create a “threat of economic harm” to European car manufacturers. As of Friday, the new provisional tariffs will be added to the existing 10% import duties. A final decision on the tariffs is set for November as Brussels and Beijing aim to resolve the conflict through negotiations.  What did the EU say? “There is no basis…

Analysis: Is an Israeli invasion of Lebanon inevitable? The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) was anticipating a heavy response from Hezbollah after they killed a senior commander in southern Lebanon yesterday. However this is the second incident of its kind in three weeks and each time it happens, tensions ratchet up and the possibility of all-out war gets closer. If the damage to Israel is minimal – few or no casualties, limited impact on infrastructure – then the situation should remain contained for now. But more than 200 rockets and drones have the potential for mistake and there are voices in…

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday attended a regional security summit created by the two countries to counter Western alliances. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit is being held in Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana. Putin says SCO will promote ‘multipolar world’ Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s opening remarks hailed the SCO as “one of the most authoritative and influential international structures.” The states observing and participating include Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt Image: Turar Kazangapov/REUTERS The alliance claims to represent 40% of the global population and about 30% of its GDP. Chinese state television quoted Xi as telling…

Granted, the sober facades of Götene’s large housing blocks have little in common with the classic ideal of the traditional Swedish cottage in red and white. But on the other hand, with land selling at less than 1 krone (about 10 cents) per square meter, prices in the southeastern Swedish town — population 5,000 — make it attractive. Buyers looking to procure a 150-square-meter (1,615-square-foot) plot, about the size needed to build a single-family home, can currently get one for less than €15 ($16). That extremely cheap price applies to 30 lots abandoned in Götene decades ago. But no one seems interested in…

Keir Starmer’s lackluster persona doesn’t seem to have turned off British voters determined to push out the conservative Tories.  The latest polls gave him a significant lead, despite scant details on how he intends to deliver on the promise of sustainable growth and salvage Britain’s economy, still reeling under the effects of Brexit. Starmer, 61, who opposed Brexit, conspicuously remained quiet on whether he would revisit the 2016 referendum to leave the EU throughout much of the election campaign, ultimately ruling out a return to the customs union and a single market.  “There are a lot of things he hasn’t mentioned that need addressing,”…