Author: DW

Israel has vowed a response to Iran’s massive missile and drone attack over the weekend, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying in a meeting of Israel’s war cabinet on Wednesday that the country will do “everything necessary to defend itself.” In the early hours of Sunday morning, Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel in an unprecedented strike launched directly from Iranian territory. Almost all of the drones, rockets and cruise missiles launched by Iran were intercepted by Israeli air defenses with the help of the US, UK, and several Arab countries. Iran has said the attack was in retaliation for a suspected Israeli…

Myanmar officials have confirmed that ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi is now under house arrest after spending years in prison. Former Myanmar President Win Myint has also been transported out of prison. Their present whereabouts were not clear. According to a representative of the Myanmar’s State Administrative Council (SAC), the two politicians were moved to shelter them from sweltering temperatures, which recently hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in the capital, Naypyidaw. But some are now speculating that the ruling junta might use Suu Kyi in a bid to sow disunity among its opponents, as it faces escalating…

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…