Author: DW

NATO “cannot be an ‘a la carte’ military alliance, it cannot be a military alliance that works depending on the humor of the president of the US,” Josep Borrell, the foreign policy chief of the European Union (EU), told reporters in Brussels in response to Donald Trump’s recent  comments about NATO.  On Saturday, at a campaign rally in South Carolina, Trump had told the crowd that, as president, he had warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that did not “pay [their] bills.” His comments sent a chill across Europe, alarming NATO’s European members,…

Indian police erected barricades on key highways on Monday as farmers threaten to march to the capital, New Delhi. Farmers have called for a “Delhi Chalo” — or “March to Delhi” — on Tuesday to demand better crop prices as well as pensions and the writing off of loans. “Farmers from across the country are prepared to march on Delhi starting Tuesday if the government doesn’t meet our demands,” Swaran Singh Pandher, leader of a nationwide farmers’ association, told the AFP news agency. In addition to placing cement blocks and metal spikes along major roads, authorities have also banned gatherings…

Sir Richard Branson has suffered “nasty” injuries after hitting a pothole and falling off his bike in the British Virgin Islands, the billionaire has revealedThe Virgin founder said he took “quite a big tumble”, posting a photo on Instagram showing him with a bloody elbow alongside a fellow cyclist who also came a cropper. Sir Richard posted: “I hit a pothole and crashed hard, resulting in another hematoma on my hip and a nasty cut elbow, but amazingly nothing broken.”We were cycling with Alex Wilson, who fell after me, but thankfully he was ok as well.”I’m counting myself very lucky,…

In the end, the Nigerian Super Eagles didn’t stand a chance against host nation Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara stadium was engulfed in a sea of orange. Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the Ivorian Elephants came back determined, borne to victory by the cheers of tens of thousands of supporters, with Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller marking the goals that secured their 2-1 win over the Eagles. For countless supporters in the streets of Abidijan, the joys and woes of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) culminated in jubilation after the final whistle. It had been a rocky road, with…

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday called on Germany to help the island overcome its decades-old division, since Berlin maintains better relations with fellow NATO member Turkey. Christodoulides discussed the issue at a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who became the first German president to visit Nicosia on Monday. “Our message is that the solution lies in Ankara,” Christodoulides said after the meeting.Cyprus is separated by a demilitarized buffer zone that stretches across the islandImage: Sean Gallup/Getty Images Steinmeier said that Turkey’s actions on the island of Cyprus should be taken into account when assessing its overall relations with…

Israel’s worst-ever security disaster happened on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s watch on October 7. He may now preside over one of the most grave diplomatic setbacks in its history.The Egyptian-Israeli peace deal forged between sworn enemies in 1978 has survived decades of war, intifadas and revolution – but Egypt is now threatening to suspend it over Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Follow latest: Biden ‘insults Netanyahu in private’The agreement, sealed at Camp David, Maryland in September 1978, stunned the world.Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat, whose military had invaded Israel with other Arab forces only five years earlier, made peace with hardline Israeli…

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, is holding elections on February 14 in which people will cast their ballots to elect not only a new president and vice president but also members of parliament and local legislative bodies.   The election is a massive undertaking, with over 204 million of the country’s 270 million people registering to vote across an archipelago made up of some 17,000 islands. The voters are spread across three time zones, from Papua in the east to the tip of Sumatra over 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) away in the west. Young people make up the majority of the registered voters, with…

The Dutch government must halt all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel due to concerns over the military offensive in Gaza, an appeals court ruled on Monday. “It is undeniable that there is a clear risk that the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law,” Judge Bas Boele said in the ruling. “Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences for the civilian population when conducting its attacks,” the court added. Israel denies that it has committed war crimes in Gaza. The Dutch government must now comply with the order “within seven…

Israel should “stop and think” before taking any further action in Rafah, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has said.The former prime minister said the UK was “very concerned” about the situation on the Gaza-Egypt border.Local health officials have said 37 people were killed in strikes on the city.Middle East latest: Biden reportedly insults Netanyahu in private Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:55 ‘We want Israel to stop and think’ The foreign secretary said it was “impossible to see how you can fight a war amongst these people”, referring to the civilians in Gaza.”There’s nowhere for them…

Pope Francis and Argentina’s President Javier Milei held their first at-length meeting at the Vatican on Monday. The two Argentinians spoke for 70 minutes with no translation required, although the content of the meeting has not immediately been made available. Milei’s shift from criticism to cookies Libertarian economist Milei — who was sworn in as Argentina’s new president in December — had previously been critical of the pope while campaigning during the election. Milei had accused the pope of political interference and called him an “imbecile” who “promotes communism.” The two briefly met after Sunday mass that saw Argentina’s first female…