Author: DW

Japan is selling climate bonds — last week saw the government auction off 800 billion yen ($5.33 billion, €4.95 billion) in 10-year bonds, with the next tranche planned for later this month. And that is only the beginning. The authorities hope to sell sovereign bonds worth 20 trillion yen in total to fund the country’s green transition, which is often referred to in Japan as GX. The Asian country is the first and so far the only country in the world to offer sovereign bonds for funding the reforms targeted toward tackling climate change. These government-issued debt securities are being sold…

Nasser hospital – the main medical centre serving southern Gaza – is “not functional anymore”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has made similar comments. “It’s gone completely out of service,” said spokesperson Ashraf al Qidra. “There are only four medical teams – 25 staff – currently caring for patients inside the facility.”Israeli forces raided the hospital in Khan Younis on Thursday after saying it had information Hamas fighters were hiding there.Hostages may have been kept at the facility, while it is possible some captives’ bodies are there too, Israel added. Hamas has denied the accusations,…

What is the CONCACAF W Gold Cup? This is a brand new tournament which starts in the USA, with three venues in California (Los Angeles, Carson, San Diego) and one in Houston, Texas. It will seek to find the best women’s national team in the CONCACAF region, encompassing North and Central America and the Caribbean. As happens in the men’s version, which has existed for 33 years, South American countries are also invited to compete. The four South Americans in the inaugural tournament will be Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay. There was previously a tournament called the CONCACAF Women’s Gold…

A grand total of 1,776 days: That’s how long Julian Assange will have been detained in Britain’s maximum-security Belmarsh Prison by Tuesday, when he faces what could be the final hearing in the tug-of-war over his extradition to the US. Before that, the 52-year-old founder of the whistleblowing platform Wikileaks had spent seven years under diplomatic asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. And if US prosecutors have their way, he will soon be facing another 175 years in prison. The hearing before the High Court in London will take up the question: Has Assange already exhausted all legal options…

It’s been two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine  and there’s one thing economists agree on: Russia’s economy has not collapsed. That was the outcome many predicted when the EU, the US and others imposed unprecedented sanctions following the invasion in February 2022. Now, debate over Russia’s economy in western capitals has a more sober tone. Few question its resilience anymore. Where there is disagreement is over how solid the foundations are behind the country’s currently strong numbers. The International Monetary Fund recently forecast that GDP (gross domestic product) would rise by 2.6% in Russia this year, a steep increase from its October…

European Union foreign ministers have given final approval to a naval mission to protect international shipping in the Red Sea area. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed Monday’s decision and posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter: “Europe will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, working alongside our international partners. Beyond crisis response, it’s a step towards a stronger European presence at sea to protect our European interests.” The EU-led mission, called Aspides — which is the ancient Greek word for shield — will involve sending three European warships and airborne early warning systems to…

The widow of Alexei Navalny has claimed her husband was poisoned with “some kind of novichok” and says she will “soon reveal details” on why he was killed.In a video statement on Monday, Yulia Navalnaya accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of killing her husband, and subsequently “hiding” his body to ensure traces of the nerve agent disappear. She vowed to name those involved in his death and said he was killed because Mr Putin “couldn’t break him”.Russia-Ukraine latest: Follow live updates Many world leaders have blamed Mr Putin and his government for Mr Navalny’s death, accusations that have been fiercely…

“I wanted a nose job since turning 13. I heard Turkish doctors were good at them. A few girlfriends of mine had similar surgeries; they were very satisfied.” Benita Paloja, a 28-year-old woman from the US, decided to do as her friends had done and flew to Turkey to get cosmetic surgery on her nose. She says she paid just $5,000 (€4,600) and was able to fly home a week later. Paloja, who works in the finance industry and as a part-time model, is pleased she had the surgery. She says she feels more confident today and has been hired for more modelling gigs. She…

Hyperion, the first democratic renewable-energy community in Athens, closely resembles one of Germany’s progressive energy cooperatives. And the idea behind it is much the same as those in Germany, too, namely to create a democratic collective that produces renewable energy for the cooperative’s members and for others in the greater community. With 50% more solar irradiation per square meter than Germany, Greece has some of the highest potential for renewable energy in Europe. Indeed, the country is ranked one of the most attractive investment opportunities for renewable energy in the world. Over the past decade, the share of renewable energy…

A member of Israel’s war cabinet has indicated a ground invasion of Rafah may begin around Ramadan, which is expected to start on 10 March.Retired general Benny Gantz, part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s three-member war cabinet, told a conference of Jewish American leaders: “If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area.” It marks the first time Israel’s leaders have publicly discussed a timeline for a ground offensive on Rafah, where more than half the enclave’s 2.3 million people have sought refuge.Ramadan – the Islamic holy month of fasting – has historically…