Author: DW

Coral reefs around the world are experiencing global bleaching as a result of warming oceans and human-caused climate change, top scientists have said.From February 2023 until now, coral reef bleaching has been confirmed across at least 53 countries, territories or local economies triggering the fourth global bleaching event, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and International Coral Reef Initiative said. Bleaching occurs when stressed coral expels the algae that give them their colour when eaten.It was described by ecologist David Obura, director of Coastal Oceans Research and Development, as like a “fever in humans” and if it occurs long…

The criticism began almost immediately. Over the weekend, Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel. Neighboring Jordan played a significant role in fending off the attack and it is likely that it shot down Iranian projectiles. “The Jordanian king dropped missiles on his citizens to protect Israel,” one widely shared post on X, formerly known as Twitter, said. The words were posted alongside a picture of drone wreckage in the Jordanian city of Karak, which is not very far from the border with Israel. The post, in Arabic, was later changed to be less negative of Jordanian leadership, which is known to…

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has opened a criminal investigation into the deadly collapse of a bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, US media reported on Monday. The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on March 26. Six construction workers fell to their deaths in the incident, with divers later recovering three bodies from the wreckage. What is the FBI investigation about? The FBI said on Monday that it had boarded the Dali cargo ship, which rammed into the bridge leading to its collapse, to conduct court-authorized law enforcement activity regarding the crash. Its investigation will focus on whether the crew of the Dali left the port…

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…