Author: DW

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…

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced plans to lift crippling sanctions on Syria, marking a major policy shift by Washington after 14 years of civil war. The country has been isolated by United States and European Union sanctions over the conflict, a 1979 designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and close ties between Damascus and Iran. These curbs blocked exports, froze assets and restricted access to global payment systems, which further decimated an economy wracked by war. The sanctions also exacerbated humanitarian crises that the UN estimates pushed 90% of Syrians below the poverty line. Trump agreed to lift the sanctions despite reported…

The Eurovision Song Contest is heading into the home stretch, with the second semi-final taking place on May 15, ahead of the final on Saturday, May 17. Before the week of competition, the artists from the 37 participating countries all gathered at the official opening ceremony last Sunday on the stage of the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland. The event was designed to reflect the festive and inclusive nature of the competition. But it did not remain unclouded. Disrupted start to Eurovision For this year’s edition, the organizers came up with something special. Instead of having the artists walk across a turquoise Eurovision carpet in the…

In Kenya last week, four young men were found guilty of attempting to smuggle ants. In two separate incidents, the men — two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan — were given the choice of a fine of $7,700 (€6,911) or a year in prison for their misdeeds. The Belgian suspects admitted that they had the ants in their possession but said they were collecting them as a hobby. One of the men is a long-time ant fan and belongs to a Facebook group called “the Ant Gang.” However the Kenyan judge didn’t believe them.  The Belgian men, both 19…

Although no major policy decisions are pending at the FIFA Congress to be held in Asuncion on Thursday, the meeting still stands to cast a shadow over the future of the beautiful game. This is mainly due to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s keenness to curry favor with the powers-that-be in the countries set to host the next two World Cups – particularly with President Donald Trump of the United States, primary host of the 2026 tournament. Also to be discussed is a possible further expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams. What decisions are to be made at the FIFA…

After 41 years of armed insurgency against the Turkish state, the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) has announced that it will disband. Representatives of the Turkish government and politicians in opposition parties have all greeted the decision and the likely end of a long and bloody conflict, one where an estimated 40,000 people lost their lives. The PKK’s announcement set off celebrations but also brought up many questions. Political experts say that the dissolution of the group, which is classified as a terrorist organization by Germany and other countries, could fundamentally alter the balance of political power in Turkey. How would Turkish…

Since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, there have been many attempts to implement a lasting end to the violence of its ongoing war in Ukraine . Over more than a decade, Ukraine, its European supporters and the United States have tried to resolve the crisis. All have been unsuccessful. What is the latest ceasefire proposal? Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a new round of ceasefire negotiations in Istanbul on May 15. His announcement came as Russia commenced a fresh drone attack on Kyiv  following the end of a unilateral three-day “truce” declared by Russia. European leaders rebuffed the proposal of direct talks, however, without…