Author: DW

This week, British newspaper The Guardian revealed allegations that the former chief of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad, Yossi Cohen, pressured former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Fatou Bensouda to stop investigating in the Palestinian territories.  Fatou Bensouda opened preliminary investigations into the situation in the Palestinian territories in 2015. In March 2021, the former chief prosecutor launched a formal investigation. In June 2021, the current chief prosecutor Karim Khan took over the baton from Fatou Bensouda. Two weeks ago, these investigations culminated in a request by Khan for arrest warrants to be issued against Israeli and Hamas leaders. On May 20, Khan…

Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann on Sunday described a survey that asked participants if they would like more white players to represent the national team “racist.” The poll, which appeared during a WDR documentary, saw 21% vote yes. Joshua Kimmich condemned the survey and Nagelsmann agreed with the versatile Bayern Munich and Germany player. ‘I agree that it is racist’ — Nagelsmann on survey “Josh responded really well, with a very clear and thought-out statement,” Nagelsmann said. “I agree that it is racist. I have the feeling that we need to wake up. Many people in Europe had to flee… searching for a safe country.”On Saturday, Kimmich…

Tens of thousands of protesters have rallied in Tel Aviv to call for the resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu and the immediate release of hostages.An estimated 120,000 people took to the streets of the Israeli city to call on the far-right governing coalition to accept a ceasefire deal outlined by Joe Biden on Friday, according to local media. The deal would see the staggered release of hostages captured on 7 October – the day of Hamas’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people – in return for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the besieged enclave of Gaza.Skirmishes…

At the height of the tension between Albania and Greece surrounding the conviction in April of Fredi Beleri, a mayor-elect from Albania’s Greek minority, the party of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis nominated Beleri as a candidate for the EU elections, which are due to take place June 6–9. News of the nomination, which put Beleri 25th on the party’s list of 42 candidates, placed a strain on relations between the two neighboring countries and sparked intense debate on both sides of the border. Beleri, who also holds Greek citizenship, was the candidate of the Albanian opposition party in the…

South Africa’s National Results Operation Centre in Johannesburg has been the site of collation, criticism and chaos, and now, a ceremony declaring the historic election outcome that has been steadily shared with the world from its main room.One that sees the African National Congress (ANC) lose 17% of its 2019 vote share and lose 71 seats in parliament. The highest ranks of the ANC government gathered to hear the outcome and a speech from their party leader and sitting President Cyril Ramaphosa in the front rows of neatly-placed chairs.It was a line of the country’s liberation leaders who were now…

Spain fined four budget airlines, including Ryanair and Easyjet, more than €150 million ($163 million) on Friday over luggage fees that consumer groups deemed “abusive.” The airlines affected are Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling and Volotea, Spanish media reported. Spain’s Consumer Affairs Ministry issued the fines after consumer watchdog Facua launched a campaign six years ago, alleging that the airlines violated passengers’ rights when charging extra fees to print boarding passes at the airport or to bring larger pieces of carry-luggage. It looked into seat selection fees for people who are accompanying minors or those who require special assistance. “This is exactly what we are campaigning…

South Africa is entering a new political period after the African National Congress (ANC) lost the parliamentary majority it had held for 30 years.Official results announced on Sunday showed it had taken 40.2% of the vote in the country’s general election – down from 57.5% in 2019. It means the party of Nelson Mandela has won 159 seats in the 400-seat National Assembly – a steep drop from the previous 230.The ANC must now share power – a new development in South Africa’s post-apartheid history.Its closest rival – the broadly centrist Democratic Alliance (DA) – received 21.8% of the vote.…

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday called for members of the military alliance to maintain current levels of aid for Ukraine as Russia continues its invasion. He made the comments in the Czech capital, Prague, following an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers. What did Stoltenberg say about Ukraine aid? Stoltenberg said that NATO will take on a greater role in coordinating the provision of military aid to Kyiv and the training of Ukrainian forces. He argued that such a move will “provide more predictability for Kyiv and address both immediate and longer-term needs.” The NATO chief pointed to the…

“No one is looking at the sofa or the television. Everyone is searching for photos or keepsakes. Absolutely everyone,” says Gustavo Oliveira, the founder of a volunteer group helping clean up flood-ravaged homes in the southern Brazilian city of Novo Hamburgo. People here have lost not only material possessions, but spaces and memorabilia that define their identity and the meaning of their lives. “One of the most impressive scenes I saw was a man who found his wedding ring in the mud. He immediately put it back on his finger,” added Oliveira, whose group has already helped clean up more…

A police officer who was stabbed during an attack at a far-right rally in Germany has died.The 29-year-old was one of six people who suffered serious injuries in the central square of Mannheim on Friday. He was placed in an artificial coma but died on Sunday, officials said.Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was “deeply grieved” and said the officer’s “commitment to the safety of us all deserves the highest recognition”.The officer was stabbed several times in the head and neck. A 25-year-old suspect from Afghanistan was shot and wounded at the scene.He remains in hospital…