Author: DW

A prominent Russian opposition figure has claimed a state-backed hit squad is “physically eliminating” opponents of Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Kara-Murza is urging Russians not to give up following the sudden death of Alexei Navalny. He is a British-Russian citizen who is serving a 25-year sentence for treason, and claims there have been two poisoning attempts against him.War latest: Russia threatened to shoot down French patrol planesThe 42-year-old was found guilty of criticising Russia’s war in Ukraine, and was handed the lengthy jail term as part of a crackdown against freedom of speech. Now behind bars in Siberia, he appeared in…

The Russian war on Ukraine started two years ago. And there is no end in sight. But even if the soldiers stopped firing their guns and stopped dropping bombs today, if there were no more explosions at refineries and other industrial facilities — the people of Ukraine would still not be safe. Research suggests the effects of the war on people, wildlife and the environment will last long into the future. A study into the environmental ramifications of the conflict suggests that the first year-and-a-half of the war alone was responsible for an extra 150 million tons of CO2 emissions —…

Skip next section Bundestag votes against sending Taurus to Ukraine02/22/2024February 22, 2024Bundestag votes against sending Taurus to UkraineA majority of German lawmakers voted against an opposition motion to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The motion was put forward by the center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) bloc.   Only 182 parliamentarians voted in favor of it, while 480 were against. There were 5 abstentions. In the run up to the vote, opposition leader Friedrich Merz had urged members of the ruling coalition to support the motion. The ruling alliance, for their part, are putting forward their own joint motion…

Bobi, who was crowned the world’s oldest dog, has had his title stripped following controversy around his real age. Bobi, who lived in Portugal, was said to have been 30 years and 268 days when he was named the world’s oldest by Guinness World Records (GWR) last February. In October 2023, he died at the reported age of 31 years and 165 days.But, the GWR launched an investigation into the Portuguese canine after doubts were raised over his real age.The probe came despite his birth apparently being confirmed by the Portuguese government’s pet database and the National Union of Veterinarians.…

Two-and-a-half-year-old Enrique sits on the living room floor, his snub nose poking out over a picture book of colorful triangles, circles and squares. “Ou est le triangle rouge?” — “Where is the red triangle?” — his French mother Chloe Bourrat asks in French. “Ici!” replies Enrique as he taps the red triangle with his finger, beaming at his mother. “Donde esta el circulo amarillo?” — “Where is the yellow circle?” — his Spanish father Juan Koers asks in Spanish. “Aqui!” exclaims Enrique. Like Enrique and his 8-month-old sister Alice, who live with their parents near Madrid, more and more children around the world…

Each year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban gives speeches that are eagerly awaited by his supporters. Every February, Orban takes stock of the previous year and announces the kick-off of the new political season. The occasion is usually marked by a triumphant tone on past achievements and combative pronouncements of new iniatives. This year was different. The hotly anticipated event was overshadowed by scandal. President Katalin Novak resigned earlier in February after pardoning a man who had helped to cover up child abuse. As a result, Orban started his address with the following sentence: “The year 2024 could not have started…

Albania’s parliament on Thursday ratified a migration deal with Italy allowing it to host two holding centers for migrants rescued in Italian waters. The deal was approved by 77 members of the 140-seat legislature. What does the deal entail? Under the five-year agreement, Italy will open two camps in the Balkan country, one of which would screen migrants on arrival and the other would detain them while their asylum applications are processed.  Migrants would then either be allowed to enter Italy or be returned to their country of origin. The camps would hold up to 3,000 migrants. As processing of…

Russia has pulled out of a long-standing fishing deal with the UK – and said Britons should “lose weight and get smarter”.A 1956 agreement that allows British boats to fish in the Barents Sea has been ripped up, in the latest sign of growing tensions between Moscow and the West. The fishing deal was signed by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, but Russian politicians have now claimed it was never in the national interest.The UK government said the end of the deal would have “no material impact on our fish supplies”.War latest: Biden brands Putin ‘crazy SOB’ Please use Chrome browser…

Since last year, Chinese-owned TikTok and other large internet platforms have been obliged to comply with the European’s Union’s (EU) Digital Service Act (DSA). Compared to similar regulations around the globe, requirements laid out in the DSA are relatively stringent. Two months ago, the European Commission, which provides oversight, expressed doubt that TikTok was adhering to regulations. It launched preliminary investigations and requested a statement from the platform. According to the European Commission, the statement was unsatisfactory. On February 19, Thierry Breton, EU commissioner for the internal market, announced on X, formerly Twitter, that his office had opened a formal investigation into TikTok. Should…

A Spanish court on Thursday found Brazilian soccer star Dani Alves guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in a Barcelona nightclub, a Spanish court ruled on Thursday. The three-judge panel sentenced Alves to four years and six months in prison. What we know about the case Alves was accused of sexually assaulting his victim in a bathroom of an upscale Barcelona nightclub early in the morning of Dec. 31, 2022. The woman said the soccer star raped her. The 40-year-old had denied any wrongdoing in a trial that took place over three days this month. State prosecutors called for Alves to be handed a nine-year…