Author: DW

Kenya’s military chief was among nine people killed after a helicopter crashed shortly after taking off.General Francis Ogolla, 61, was on a visit to troops stationed in the country’s troubled western region when the aircraft caught fire and crashed shortly after taking off. Announcing the deaths, Kenya’s President William Ruto said: “Today our nation suffered a tragic air accident.”I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Ogolla, the chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.” Image: Eleven other military personnel were in the aircraft with Mr Ogolla. Pic: AP He continued to say: “Our motherland has lost…

The Russian government has all but banned a German free-market think-tank with ties to the Free Democratic Party (FDP), labeling the Friedrich Naumann Foundation “undesirable.” On Thursday, the foundation’s board announced that the organization had been blacklisted by the Russian Justice Ministry the day prior. “For Russians in particular, especially the foundation’s long-standing partners, working with an undesirable organization poses a high risk,” a statement from the foundation’s executive board said. The statement condemned what members called a Russian threat to “the worldwide, resolute commitment to civil and human rights,” and vowed, “We will not be deterred by this and will stick to our…

Netflix’s first quarter report for 2024 exceeded expectations, as it reported 9.3 million new subscribers and profits of roughly $2.3 billion (around €2.2 billion).  The Silicon Valley streaming company now boasts 269.6 million subscribers in all. North America, with some 83 million, is its biggest market. “With more than two people per household on average, we have an audience of over half a billion people,” Netflix said in a letter to investors. “No entertainment company has ever programmed at this scale and with this ambition before.” Crackdown on account sharing, service with ads to boost revenues Netflix took in more…

The European Union is trying to improve mobility between its 27 member-states and the UK, particularly for people between the ages of 18 and 30. But whether such a proposal would be welcomed by London remains to be seen. The EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, is trying to open bloc-wide talks with the UK on allowing youth from EU countries to study or work and live in Britain for up to four years, with the same arrangement for British youth. The proposal would largely revert youth mobility to pre-Brexit times, when members of the then-28-member EU, including Britain, were…

Donald Trump described the hush money case against him as a “mess” after the jury who will decide his fate has been selected.Leaving the court in New York after proceedings were adjourned for the day, Trump addressed reporters, saying he was supposed to be in states like Georgia, New Hampshire and North Carolina as part of his campaign for the 2024 presidential election. “[But instead] I’ve been here all day,” he said, labelling the trial as “unfair”.Trump trial as it happened: Former president looks ‘bored’ in courtTrump held up a stack of news stories and editorials that he said were…

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…

The European Union is trying to improve mobility between its 27 member-states and the UK, particularly for people between the ages of 18 and 30. But whether such a proposal would be welcomed by London remains to be seen. The EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, is trying to open bloc-wide talks with the UK on allowing youth from EU countries to study or work and live in Britain for up to four years, with the same arrangement for British youth. The proposal would largely revert youth mobility to pre-Brexit times, when members of the then-28-member EU, including Britain, were…

A Polish man has been arrested and charged with plans to help Russia’s military intelligence carry out an alleged plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, say prosecutors.The suspect, identified only as Pawel K, was allegedly seeking contact with Russians directly involved in the war in Ukraine and planning to pass on detailed security information to agents about Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland. The man’s tasks would help Russian special services plan a possible assassination of Mr Zelenskyy, said prosecutors.He was arrested in Poland on Wednesday, the office of the country’s national prosecutor said in a statement.If convicted, he could…

The nationwide doctors’ strike in Kenya began on March 12, with at least 4,000 medics demanding higher salaries as part of a 2017 collective bargaining agreement, better working conditions and the employment of intern doctors. Five weeks later, there is no sign of a compromise as the government claims it cannot allocate the necessary funds. DW has put together a timeline of the row so far. Week 1: Demand for higher wages Led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), 1,210 intern doctors, medical doctors, pharmacists and dentists laid out their demands. These included a salary increase of up…

Kenyan military chief Francis Ogolla and several others were killed when their helicopter crashed in western Kenya shortly after take-off on Thursday, President William Ruto said. The aircraft was on a visit to troops in northwest Kenya, deployed to combat endemic cattle rustling, when it crashed, killing nine other military personnel alongside Ogolla, Ruto said. Two soldiers survived the crash and were hospitalized. An air investigation team has been sent to find the cause of the incident, Ruto said. “Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals,” Ruto told a news conference. “The demise of General Ogolla is…