Author: DW

Chan Man Ping Philip, a 59-year-old businessman, was officially designated as a “politically significant person” by the Singapore state in February. Chan was born in Hong Kong but later became a naturalized Singaporean. Singapore’s Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement that Chan had “shown susceptibility to be influenced by foreign actors” and has a “willingness to advance their interests.” The Singaporean Parliament passed the Foreign Interference Countermeasure Act (FICA) in October 2021. The law aims to prohibit foreign companies and individuals from influencing the country’s political landscape. Chan is the first person to have been designated under the FICA law.…

A priest in Italy narrowly avoided possible death when he noticed a chalice was laced with bleach just as he was about to sip from it during mass.Father Felice Palamara was leading mass on Saturday at the Nicola di Pannaconi church in Cessaniti, a small town in the Calabria region, as he prepared to drink and noticed a smell. Noticing what is now believed to be a threat from the mafia, the priest told the congregation he was not feeling well and stopped the service.He has railed against crime in the region and says he has been threatened before, with…

The European Union’s citizen energy movement is growing — albeit in fits and starts — particularly in southern and east-central Europe, where clean energy collectives were until recently unknown quantities. The driving force behind this growth is the groundbreaking 2019 EU legislation that stipulates that by 2024, clean energy communities, like the many thousands already scattered across the north of the continent, must be able to operate in every member state. By the end of this year, every EU country should have adopted legislation that enables collectives of renewable energy activists to own and operate their own energy parks and…

At the G20 summit held in New Delhi in September 2023, India announced an ambitious venture called the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC). Backed by the US, EU and Middle Eastern leaders such as Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, IMEC is a proposed ship and rail corridor that would connect India to the Middle East and Europe. US President Joe Biden said the project would offer “endless opportunities.” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called it “the most direct connection to date between India, the Arabian Gulf and Europe.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said IMEC would form the “basis of world…

When Ishan Kumar came to Armenia from southern India early last year, he thought he was coming for a better life. Kumar, who spoke with DW using a pseudonym, said a friend living abroad introduced him to the idea of moving․ “He said I’d earn a lot of money there, about $1,000 dollars per month. He said it’s a European country.” Kumar’s friend organized the trip through an agent in Armenia, and paid more than 650,000 Armenian drams (€1,500/$1,600) for an e-visa, the flight and the provision of a job at a delivery company. There was no agreement other than…

The alleged leader of a crime group described as an “oiled killing machine” faces life behind bars after he was found guilty in what some consider to be the biggest Dutch criminal trial ever.Ridouan Taghi – once the most wanted man in the Netherlands – is one of three people suspected of leading the organisation and had been on the run until he was extradited in 2019. He was among 17 suspects accused of some involvement in six murders, four attempted murders, planning other attacks and being part of a criminal group.A lifetime sentence was handed to Taghi in the…

Turkey and Somalia last week signed a significant defense and economic cooperation agreement. Under the 10-year pact, Turkey will help defend Somalia’s long coastline and also rebuild the naval forces of the fragile Horn of Africa nation. “We will help Somalia develop its capacity and capabilities to combat illegal and irregular activities in its territorial waters,” a Turkish Defense Ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. “With this agreement, Turkey will contribute to the recovery of natural resources within Somalia’s maritime borders,” said Yunus Turhan, a Turkey-Africa relations analyst at Haci Bayram Veli University in Ankara. The Somali government hopes the deal will…

Hungary’s parliament has voted to ratify Sweden’s bid to join NATO, clearing the way for the Nordic country to finally join the organisation almost two years after applying.Overcoming the last obstacle for Stockholm on Monday following months of delays, 188 Hungarian politicians voted to back Sweden’s membership while six voted against. Follow latest: Last hurdle to Sweden joining NATO removedSweden – which has not been at war since 1814 – has historically avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, and at the start of 2022 still ruled out joining NATO.But after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden changed course and…

“I was surprised,” admitted even RB Leipzig head coach Marco Rose when asked about the dismissal of director of sport Max Eberl just one day earlier. “I had a very trusting relationship with Max,” he said after the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich on Saturday. “We value each other privately as people and I value him as an absolute expert. But I can’t make a judgement on the processes and the developments which led to the decision. It’s a shame, but I need to focus on getting the lads to play good, successful football.” His team had done precisely that for…

Skip next section Ukraine’s drone production matches Russia’s: Minister02/27/2024February 27, 2024Ukraine’s drone production matches Russia’s: MinisterUkraine’s minister of strategic industries said his country is producing drones that are a match for the Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia during its invasion. Speaking on Ukrainian television, Oleksandr Kamyshin said the Ukrainian drones were the equal of Shaheds “both in terms of the size of the explosive devices and in terms of range and other technical parameters.”  “This year we are in no way behind Russia in the production of these drones,” he added. Kamyshin said Ukraine was also using other types of…