Author: DW

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…

Four people have been stabbed during a service at a church in Sydney.A video online appears to show Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being attacked during the service at the Christ the Good Shepherd church.It’s not clear what he was attacked with.Members of the congregation can be heard screaming and rushing to help the bishop.A man has been arrested, New South Wales Police said.Four people were injured in the attack, New South Wales Ambulance said.A man in his 50s suffered multiple lacerations and has been taken to hospital in a serious condition, along with a man in his 30s.A man in…

At least 18 people have died and two more were missing after landslides struck South Sulawesi in Indonesia over the weekend. The disaster hit two villages in the Tana Toraja region, authorities said.  What we know so far Police chief Gunardi Mundu said torrential rain had loosened mud on surrounding hills, engulfing four homes in Makele village on Saturday night. Mundu said that a family gathering was taking place in one of the houses when the landslide happened. Soldiers, police and volunteers took part in the search in both Makale and South Makale, and were able to pull out two people, including an…

Polish women had to wait a long time for this day. Some four months after the center-left coalition under Donald Tusk took office, the liberalization of abortion was finally on the agenda for the Sejm, the country’s lower house of parliament. The debate was fierce. “Old men in suits will no longer decide what women must do with their bodies,” shouted Anna Maria Zukowska, a member of parliament for the co-governing The Left alliance, at the presentation of the bill on Friday. “No more hell for women!” Left-wing lawmaker Anna Maria Zukowska spoke during the debate on the amendment of Poland’s…

The parents of the Sydney stabbings attacker say they are “extremely sorry” after their son killed six people.New South Wales Police identified the man behind the attack at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction on Saturday as Joel Cauchi, 40.He was shot and killed by an officer after fatally stabbing six people – five women and one man – and injuring several others, including a nine-month-old baby. Speaking on Monday outside their home, Andrew Cauchi said he was “heartbroken” for the victims and “extremely sorry”.The 76-year-old added: “I made myself a servant to my son when I found out…