Author: DW

No military options come without complications and though the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are undoubtedly strong, they face many complications in considering whether, and how, to strike back against the barrage of drones and missiles Iran launched against them at the weekend. Many strategic analysts in the IDF argue that the Iranian attack showed that deterrence had failed and therefore must be restored with a strong attack that would make Israel’s enemies fear to provoke it again. Others have maintained that running the risk of Israel being pulled into a greater conflict with Iran at such a critical juncture in the…

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, a 29-year-old Indian living in Germany, has recently set Indian social media humming with a video criticizing the direction his country was moving in under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rathee’s video “Is India becoming a DICTATORSHIP?” (sic) has amassed over 24 million views since it was uploaded in late February. The creator cited instances of media control and claims of state agencies being used against opposition leaders, eventually alleging that these efforts are part of a broader trend to silence Modi’s rivals. Why India’s protesting farmers refuse to back downTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and…

Many investors are holding their breath after Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel starting on April 13. The aerial strike was the first direct attack launched from Iranian territory and came the same day Iran’s Revolutionary Guards forcefully detained an Israel-linked container ship near the Strait of Hormuz.  The Iranian attack had been largely anticipated after Israel destroyed part of the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus, Syria, on April 1. Still, experts are waiting to see if the conflict between the two countries escalates, even as the United Nations and the United States put pressure on Israel to show restraint. Most…

Former US President Donald Trump took his seat Monday at a Manhattan court for the start of jury selection in his hush money trial. This is a historic criminal case stemming from a hush-money payment to an adult actress. It could keep him in court for weeks and complicate his bid to win back the White House. Trump is the first former US president to face a criminal trial, which could last through May. He is required to attend the trial in Manhattan four days a week (the tirial does not take place on Wednesdays). At the outset of court proceedings, Judge Juan Merchan, who…

Donald Trump described the hush money case against him as an “assault on America” as he arrived at court in New York ahead of his historic trial.The former US president is accused of criminally altering business records to cover up a $130,000 (£104,200) payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, during his 2016 election campaign. Ms Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who was paid $150,000 (£120,000), both claim to have had affairs with Trump.His lawyers say the payment was meant to spare himself and his family embarrassment, not to help him win the election.Speaking…

When Europe talks about aid for Ukraine, it looks to itself and the United States. But for months, politicians in Washington have been unable to agree on a new multibillion aid package for Kyiv. As a result, other countries have increased their share of support. Among them is Japan, which, according to Ukraine’s Finance Ministry, has quietly become one of Kyiv’s most important financial backers, leading the way in the first months of 2024. Aid, not weapons At a conference in Japan in February, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the aid provided and pledged would total $12 billion (€11.2…

Many investors are holding their breath after Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel starting on April 13. The aerial strike was the first direct attack launched from Iranian territory and came the same day Iran’s Revolutionary Guards forcefully detained an Israel-linked container ship near the Strait of Hormuz.  The Iranian attack had been largely anticipated after Israel destroyed part of the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus, Syria, on April 1. Still, experts are waiting to see if the conflict between the two countries escalates, even as the United Nations and the United States put pressure on Israel to show restraint. Most…

When the genocide against the Tutsi began on April 7, 1994, Kazimungu Frederick and Nkundiye Tharcien, both Hutu, actively participated and killed their Tutsi neighbors, with whom they had lived in peace for many years in Rwanda. But now both men, aged 56 and 74 years respectively, live side by side with survivors of the genocide whose family members they killed. The two men had been convicted and sentenced to lengthy jail terms, but after asking for forgiveness, they served only nine years and were released back into their community. They live in Mbyo, a village located 40 kilometers (24 miles)…

A Beijing half marathon is being investigated after three runners appeared to let a Chinese athlete win.The 13-mile run on Sunday was won by He Jie, a member of China’s marathon team and national marathon record holder. But footage appears to show three runners – Dejene Hailu Bikila from Ethiopia, as well as Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat from Kenya – slow down and let He run ahead of them.The 25-year-old runner won the half-marathon in a time of 1:03:44, just one second ahead of the trio. All four had run together for the entire race. X This content is…

Skip next section Russian man sentenced to 14 years for collaboration with Ukraine04/15/2024April 15, 2024Russian man sentenced to 14 years for collaboration with UkraineA Russian military court has handed down a 14-year sentence to a man it found guilty of collaborating with a foreign state and “justifying terrorism.” According to Russian media, investigators initially accused Vladlen Menshikov of attempting to sabotage rail lines carrying military equipment near his hometown of Rezh, a small village near the Urals city of Yekaterinburg. He was later charged with the two other counts and the attempted sabotage charge was dropped, the media report said, citing…