Author: DW

Iran, home to the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, has been repeatedly subjected to sanctions since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. In 2012, for instance, the US and EU embargoed Iranian oil exports over the country’s controversial nuclear program. In response to a massive April 14 Iranian drone attack on Israel, the US and EU again revved up sanctions against Tehran. But how are they being implemented?    The Biden administration and the UN’s Iran arms embargo Claim: “Reminder: Biden allowed the UN sanctions on Iran’s drones and ballistic missiles to expire less than six months ago. The very same drones…

Spain will scrap a top prize for bullfighting, Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun said Friday, marking a significant cultural shift in the country. “I think that’s the feeling of a majority of Spaniards who can understand less and less why animal torture is practiced … and much less why that torture gets awarded with public money,” Urtasun wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. In Spanish-style bullfighting, the animal usually ends up killed by a sword wielded by a matador in shining garb. The annual prize came with a government check of €30,000 ($32,217) and in the past has been awarded to famous bullfighters like Julian Lopez, known as “El…

Iran, home to the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, has been repeatedly subjected to sanctions since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. In 2012, for instance, the US and EU embargoed Iranian oil exports over the country’s controversial nuclear program. In response to a massive April 14 Iranian drone attack on Israel, the US and EU again revved up sanctions against Tehran. But how are they being implemented?    The Biden administration and the UN’s Iran arms embargo Claim: “Reminder: Biden allowed the UN sanctions on Iran’s drones and ballistic missiles to expire less than six months ago. The very same drones…

A Kenyan tour guide has rescued 14 tourists after heavy rains caused devastating floodwaters to crash through the Maasai Mara national reserve.James Apolloh Omenya’s quick thinking also helped rescue 25 staff members at the Talek Bush Camp in the wilderness reserve in southwestern Kenya. The West African nation has been battered by heavy downpours since rainy season started in March.Flooding and landslides have killed more than 200 people and destroyed homes, roads and infrastructure across the country.Mr Omenya was asleep in his tent at the camp on Wednesday when his driver woke him up at around 1.20am local time to…

DW: You won the competition last year and brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Kyiv. Are you satisfied with the way your country is hosting the finals? Jamala: Of course, I am very happy. It’s a celebration not only for my team and my family but for the entire country. My country is happy. Look on the streets today – they are decorated and everyone is walking around, everyone is singing. It doesn’t matter what you think of the Eurovision contest, it’s an honor to welcome so many guests.Eurovision in KyivTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading…

Flash floods and heavy rains in Kenya that began in the middle of March have killed more than 200 people, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Friday. It said 22 were killed in the last 24 hours. Kenya and neighboring Tanzania have been grappling with devastating flooding and downpours since the onset of the rainy season. The severe weather has killed some 155 people in Tanzania so far. “Sadly, we have not seen the last of this perilous period, as the situation is expected to escalate. Meteorological reports paint a dire picture,” Kenyan President William Ruto said.The heavy rains have caused devastating flash floods in…

Russia has denied allegations of breaching the international chemical weapons ban by deploying chocking agents against Ukrainian troops.The Kremlin on Thursday responded to claims by the United States that it had used choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops – the same agent used by German forces against Allied troops during the First World War. The United States also accused Russia of using riot control agents “as a method of warfare” in Ukraine, which according to Ukrainian military cited by Reuters earlier this month, is being increasingly used in the country.Follow live: ‘Large fire’ as Russia hits port city with ballistic…

It’s a question that has arisen time and again: Is the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) political or not? The  European Broadcasting Union (EBU) , which organizes the competition, keeps repeating that the ESC is only a cultural event with no place for politics. Its rules clearly state that political statements or even slogans are not allowed at the competition. Netta of Israel won in 2018 with a clearly feminist songImage: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS/dpa/picture alliance This might be especially difficult to follow through this year. Following the Hamas’ terror attacks in October 2023 and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war, Israel has been criticized for the impact of its military campaign on…

China launched a lunar mission on Friday to collect samples from the far side of the moon, the first attempt of its kind. A rocket carrying the Chang’e-6 lunar probe took off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China’s Hainan province on Friday around 5:30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT), Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. After orbiting the moon to reduce speed, the lander will separate from the returner. The uncrewed mission is meant to last for around two months.China launches unprecedented moon mission To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web…

After the worst drought in decades, East Africa is now being pounded by heavy rains. At least 180 people have died in floods and landslides in Kenya since the rainy season began in mid-March, with hundreds of thousands forced to leave their homes. “The flooding in Kenya is absolutely out of control,” reporter Andrew Wasike told DW’s Africalink program. “The rains just won’t stop. Whole villages across Kenya have just disappeared. And the worst part? Roads are gone, bridges are completely washed out, people are cut off. It’s heartbreaking, and the forecast says this rain isn’t going to let up anytime…