Author: DW

Vladimir Putin has cemented his place in Russian history, with a controversial reelection victory securing him a fifth term as the country’s president. With opposition nonexistent and the media completely under his control, the 71-year-old’s win was no surprise.   Putin begins this next term at the helm facing huge challenges triggered by his 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has made relations with the West increasingly belligerent. Breakup with the West  As the war continues, Russia’s break with the West seems unbridgeable. A new Putin term is likely to see increased emphasis on Moscow’s ties with Eastern powers, experts have observed. International conflict and war have made relations between Russia and the…

A man has died after falling from a hot air balloon in Australia.The aircraft had only been in the air for around 30 minutes when the passenger went over the side of its basket above the city of Melbourne on Monday. Police said the man’s body was found in a residential street at around 7.30am, while the balloon later landed safely in a park a few miles away.There were several other people in the balloon at the time, including the pilot.They were said to have been left “traumatised” after witnessing the tragedy and counselling is being arranged for them. Image:…

After 88 caps, 14 goals, a European Championship win and an Olympic gold, Germany women’s vice captain, Svenja Huth, has called time on her international career.  Huth said she will look back on her time playing for the national team with “pride and humility.” She will continue playing for Wolfsburg in the Women’s Bundesliga but believes the time is right to exit the international stage. “I’m all the happier that we managed to qualify for the Olympics together at the end. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for the girls in front of the TV and cheering them on,” Huth said. Huth…

A Taliban government spokesperson said on Monday that Pakistani airstrikes killed at least eight people, including three children, in border regions of Afghanistan. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, said Pakistani aircraft struck civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan at around 3:00 a.m. local time (2230 GMT).  According to Mujahid, all eight people killed were women and children. Mujahid condemned the airstrikes saying Kabul “does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory.” President promises retaliation The airstrikes targeted multiple suspected hideouts of Pakistani Taliban inside Afghanistan, two Pakistan security officials told AP news agncy.…

The European Union will provide Egypt with a funding package of €7.4 billion ($8.06 billion) from 2024-2027, a senior European Commission official told several news agencies on Sunday.  The funding is intended to assist Egypt in stabilizing its economy while reducing its dependence on Russian gas. It includes a grant to help address the flow of migrants from the region into Europe. The deal includes €5 billion of macro-financial assistance, €1.8 billion of investments and €600 million in grants over the next three years to support Egypt’s faltering economy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and several European prime ministers will meet…

Kim Jong Un has taken a ride in a luxury black limousine gifted to him by Vladimir Putin.The high-end motorcar is likely a token of appreciation from the Russian president for the purported million or more shells that North Korea has sold to Moscow. Although both countries deny Pyongyang is supplying shells and missiles used in Mr Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.Mr Kim was sent the Aurus Senat limousine in February after being shown the vehicle during a visit to Russia last year.Observers said the shipment violated a United Nations resolution aimed at pressuring North Korea to give up its nuclear…

Russian opposition members called on eligible voters to join the “Noon against Putin” protest at polling stations across the country on Sunday, the final day of voting in Russia’s three-day presidential election. Voters were asked to crowd polling stations at exactly noon in Russia’s 11 time zones to protest without endangering themselves by violating Moscow’s strict anti-protest law. Many protests have erupted since Russia’s presidential election started on Friday, where President Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win. Several arrests have been made, including against Russians accused of pouring dye into ballot boxes and arson attacks.Russia holds second day of…

Niger’s ruling junta broke off its military cooperation agreement with the United States “with immediate effect” on Saturday. Junta spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said the deal had allowed US military personnel and civilian staff stay on Nigerien soil. Niger has forged closer ties with Russia since a July 2023 military coup, while cutting ties with the West which led to the withdrawal of French troops that had been present for decades.ECOWAS: What next after Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso quit?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video What’s behind the…

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald says the Middle East is at “a tipping point” and “words are not enough” from the United States.Speaking ahead of the annual White House reception marking St Patrick’s Day, she told Sky News that America had got it “dangerously wrong” on the Israel-Hamas conflict.Referring to the “ongoing, vicious, criminal bombardment of Gaza”, she urged US President Joe Biden to “take a firm position” with Israel and demand an immediate ceasefire.Analysis: US-Irish relations are creaking under the weight of the elephant in the roomShe said: “The world watches in absolute horror, we’re at a tipping…

The cast of “The Color Purple” movie took home the 55th annual National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) award for outstanding motion picture on Saturday. “If nobody gonna see us, I’m glad that our people see us,” said actor Danielle Brooks from the cast. The NAACP awards are considered as top honors for Black artists in the US entertainment industry. Who won the NAACP Image Awards? Fantasia Barrino, who starred as Celie in the film, won the outstanding actress award. “Rustin” actor Colman Domingo won the outstanding actor award. Damson Idris won best actor in a drama…