Author: DW

02/18/2024February 18, 2024Navalny’s killing will ‘repress the Russian people,’ Putin critic tells DW Bill Browder, the American-born British co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management and an adamant critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, spoke to DW at the MSC regarding the death of Alexei Navalny.  The death of the Russian opposition leader has been confirmed by Navalny’s allies, but they say the Russian government is refusing to hand over his body.  Browder’s anti-corruption in efforts in Russia have drawn scorn from Putin’s governmentImage: DW Browder asserted that “Putin killed Alexei Navalny” and the “purpose of this murder is to send a…

Alexei Navalny may have made fewer headlines in recent years, but news on Friday of his death has still shaken many in Russia. Hundreds brought flowers to monuments honoring the victims of political persecution in solidarity with the country’s most prominent opposition leader, who was being held in an Arctic penal colony at the time of his death. These expressions of public grief are not without danger in President Vladimir Putin’s Russia, where Navalny was treated as the country’s chief public enemy. ‘These things happen’ The Kremlin issued a prompt but terse response: Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov referred to doctors…

Donald Trump is promoting a line of Trump-branded trainers for $399 (£316) a pair.The presidential hopeful appeared at “Sneaker Con” in Philadelphia, a footwear convention which brands itself “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth”. Trump was met with boos and cheers at the Philadelphia Convention Centre as he introduced what he called the first official Trump footwear.The trainers are bright gold hi-tops emblazoned with a “T”, American flag detailing on the back and a red and white sole.They are being branded as “Never Surrender Hi-Tops” on a new website which is also selling other Trump branded products including shoes, aftershave…

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron is set to visit the Falkland Islands this week as part of a tour of South America, the British government said on Sunday. The trip comes after Argentina’s recently elected president, Javier Milei, renewed calls for talks for the islands to come under Argentine sovereignty. Cameron is also scheduled to visit Paraguay this week, which will make him the first British Secretary to do so. He will then attend a foreign ministers’ meeting of the G20 bloc of countries in Brazil. Why is David Cameron visiting the Falkland Islands? Cameron said that he wanted to…

The United States condemned the worsening violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and called on M23 rebels to cease hostilities immediately. In a statement released on Saturday, the US State Department also condemned Rwanda for supporting the rebels.  “The United States strongly condemns the worsening violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caused by the actions of the Rwanda-backed, US- and UN-sanctioned M23 armed group, including its recent incursions into the town of Sake,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. What is happening in eastern Congo? Fighting has flared in recent days around the town…

With the loss of another piece of land to Russian forces, Ukraine’s president urgently needs weapons, not hero-worship, from his Western allies.Volodymyr Zelenskyy was once again the star turn at an annual meeting of world leaders in Munich, receiving standing ovations, handshakes and vows of unwavering support. But despite the warm words, his Western partners are falling short when it comes to action.With a combined economic strength that is some 25 times that of Russia, the allies should be no match for Moscow.Yet they are failing to turn their financial advantage into overwhelming firepower for Ukraine’s outgunned troops on the…

Former US president and presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday advertised a pair of golden sneakers at “Sneaker Con.” “I’ve wanted to do this a long time,” the former president said when he announced the launch of a sneaker line.  The convention is held in the city of Philadelphia in the northeastern state of Pennsylvania. Trump sells sneakers ahead of likely election rematch The shoes, called “The Never Surrender High-Tops,” are to be sold at a price of $399 (€370).  The website selling the shoes says it has no connection to Trump’s electoral campaign. “The Never Surrender sneakers are your…

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on parole. He was seen leaving a hospital, where he had been detained for six months, early on Sunday. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Thaksin had been scheduled to be released on parole on Sunday. Why was Thaksin Shinawatra detained? Former Prime Minister and Pheu Thai party founder Thaksin was ousted in a coup 17 years ago, driving him into self-imposed exile. He was in office from 2001 to 2006. He returned to Thailand for the first time in 15 years in August, only to be quickly arrested and taken to the…

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is set to visit the Falkland Islands – amid renewed calls in Argentina for talks on their future.The visit – the first by a cabinet minister since 2016 – is being touted as a high-profile demonstration that the remote South Atlantic archipelago remains a “valued part of the British family”. It comes after Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, thrust his country’s long-running claim over the British overseas territory back into the spotlight by calling for the islands to be handed over to Buenos Aires.However, Lord Cameron said their sovereignty was “not… up for discussion” while islanders…

Somalia accused Ethiopia on Saturday of trying to annex part of the country’s territory by signing a sea access deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told reporters as he arrived for an African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa that Ethiopia and Somaliland had signed an agreement that is “nothing more than annexing part of Somalia to Ethiopia, and changing the borders of Somalia.” The maritime deal which has not been made public appears to give Ethiopia the right to build a port and naval base along 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of Somaliland’s coast under a 50-year lease. The deal…