Author: DW

As well-supplied Russian troops fire away, Ukrainian soldiers are getting pounded. Fighter jets bomb Ukrainian positions with glide bombs triggered from well behind the front lines, beyond the reach of Ukraine’s air defenses. “Without artillery munition, every front is doomed,” an artillery officer in eastern Ukraine told DW on condition of anonymity. “Losses will go up because it is not possible to respond to firepower with firepower appropriately.” “At some point, we will find ourselves in a situation where no one can defend the front, where everyone is either dead or wounded,” the officer said. That would mean “the loss of positions…

On Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, people took to the beach in Tel Aviv. Under the hot spring sunshine, the tensions between Iran and Israel seemed a world away. Most of the people there are hoping that the worst of this phase of the crisis has passed.Follow latest: Ten militants killed in Israeli raid in West BankAs he rested on the sand between surfs, Jonathan Weiss said: “I definitely hope this direct bit is over. “We have enough things to worry about – internally and with our direct borders.”Lebanon, Hamas, Gaza… we don’t want to add anything to that.”Lior…

The US House of Representatives on Saturday approved a bill clearing the way for billions of dollars in funding for Ukraine. The $61 billion (€57 billion) package, that includes economic assistance and weapons, had been delayed by Republicans for months It was passed with a bipartisan majority of 311 to 112 votes. The bill also allows Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets and give the money to Ukraine for reconstruction. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was grateful to the US lawmakers for the decision “that keeps history on the right track.” The bill is part of a foreign aid and arms package valued…

The impact of this American blockage has been profound. I have had multiple conversations with diplomats and military officials in Washington DC and all have said the same thing: the situation for Ukraine is depressing, Russia has the upper hand and prospects for Kyiv, without more weapons, are bleak. The Ukrainians have been running low on all weapons types, even small arms – bullets for their soldiers’ rifles.Before the House of Representatives approved the $60.8bn aid package on Saturday, it had been more than 480 days since Congress last passed a bill allowing for American weapons to be sent to Ukraine.There…

Tens of thousands of people protested across the Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the mass tourism model they say is overwhelming the archipelago. There is a demand for a reevaluation of the tourism strategy in the Spanish archipelago, as well as a pause on the number of visitors. Police said 20,000 demonstrators turned out for the rallies, while organizers put the number closer to 50,000. There were also demonstrations in Madrid and Barcelona in support of the rallies on the Canary Islands.Demonstrators demanded an eco-tax, a tourist moratorium and a better redistribution of incomeImage: Europa Press/ABACA What…

Ireland’s new taoiseach has apologised to the families of 48 people killed in the Stardust nightclub fire in 1981, after a decades-long campaign for justice.Simon Harris held a meeting on Saturday with more than 70 people affected by the fire, which was the worst in Ireland’s history.In a statement afterwards, the taoiseach said he “apologised unreservedly to each family” and promised they will receive a formal state apology in the Irish parliament on Tuesday.The apology came after an inquest earlier this week ruled the 48 victims of the fire were all unlawfully killed.”It was a humbling and emotional meeting,” Mr…

European heads of state and government came together in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss ways to heighten the European Union’s (EU) economic competitiveness. At the special summit, they were issued a stark warning that the EU’s economic performance was falling behind that of other key global players, most notably the  United States and China. In a final joint statement, EU leaders spoke of a new European competitiveness deal and reforming the EU single market. “The European Union is commited to acting decisively to ensure its long-term competitiveness, prosperity and leadership on the global stage and to strengthen its strategic sovereignty.” Mindful of huge subsidies being disbursed…

Though he has yet to lead Germany in a competitive match, Julian Nagelsmann has won a contract extension with the German Football Association (DFB). The former Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig coach, 36, has been in charge since September 2023 and led his team to victories over France and the Netherlands in his most recent matches. As hosts of Euro 2024, Germany have only played friendlies since Nagelsmann replaced Hansi Flick. As such, his first meaningful match will be the Euro 2024 opener against Scotland in Munich on June 14. The Bavarian city is twice implicated, as Bayern Munich’s reported interest in…

Russian national Oleg Ponomaryov’s asylum application was turned down by Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) at the end of February. BAMF said he was at no risk in Russia and should leave Germany within 30 days. If not, he could expect to be deported. Ponomaryov’s despair is palpable. He fears he will be arrested as soon as he arrives in Russia and be sent to fight against Ukraine. “The situation in Russia is getting worse and worse, a total mobilization is on the cards and my fitness level and driving license allow me to drive military vehicles,” says…

Nigerian chess champion Tunde Onakoya appears to have broken the world record for the longest chess marathon, managing to play unbeaten for 60 hours on New York City’s Times Square. Onakoya, who is a child education advocate, bettered the Guinness World Record of over 56 hours in an effort to raise funds for underprivileged children. ‘I just couldn’t give up on them’ An enthusiastic crowd cheered him on as he achieved the feat Friday night. “I can’t process a lot of the emotions I feel right now. I don’t have the right words for them. But I know we did something…