Author: DW

Joe Biden has said the US “shall respond” after three American troops were killed and dozens more were injured in a drone strike on Saturday night in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border.The president blamed Iranian-backed militias for the first US fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East.Mr Biden, who was travelling in South Carolina on Sunday, asked for a moment of silence during an appearance at a Baptist church’s banquet hall.”We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one…

Skip next section Putin says Russia finalizing investigation into military plane crash01/26/2024January 26, 2024Putin says Russia finalizing investigation into military plane crashPresident Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the results of Russia’s investigation into one of its military planes that came down in Belgorod would be published in two to three days.  Russia claims Ukraine shot down the plane, killing 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. “The main intelligence department of the Ukrainian army knew that we were taking 65 servicemen there. They did it by mistake or thoughtlessly, but they did it,” Putin said without…

Animal rights activists protested outside the world’s largest bullring in Mexico City on Sunday, as bullfighting resumed following a nearly two-year hiatus due to a court suspension. Dozens of protesters marched to the city’s Plaza de Toros Mexico bullring, decrying the event. Chants included: “Torture is not art, it is not culture,” and “Yes to bulls, no to bullfighting.” “We are completely against the fact bullfights have returned, and that these events continue to be held where only pleasure is sought through the torture of an animal,” Jeronimo Sanchez, director of the NGO Animal Heroes, told the French AFP news…

Israel’s war against Hamas could be paused for two months should US negotiators reach a deal where dozens of hostages captured in the 7 October attack would be released, according to two senior administration officials.The American officials, who wished to remain anonymous, said the terms of the deal in progress would play out in two phases.In the first phase women, the elderly and wounded captives would be released by Hamas as fighting would pause.During this hiatus, Israel and Hamas would have to figure out the second phase in order for Israeli soldiers and civilian men to be freed.In total, more…

Skip next section Zelenskyy says income declined after Russia invasion01/29/2024January 29, 2024Zelenskyy says income declined after Russia invasionUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made public his income over a two-year period, in an effort to promote transparency after a slew of corruption scandals hit his government. Zelenskyy said his income had declined in 2021, and dipped further in 2022 after Russia invaded his country. The president and his family reported income of 10.8 million hryvnias ($286,168, €263,874) in 2021, down 12 million hryvnias from the previous year.  This fell further to 3.7 million hryvnias in 2022, Zelenskyy said, as he earned less rental…

A person has died after two masked gunmen attacked a church in Istanbul during Sunday services. Two “masked assailants” attacked the Santa Maria Church in the Sariyer district at around 11.40am, Istanbul officials have said. Turkish broadcaster T24 confirmed reports that one person died after being shot in the head during the attack.They also reported that the attackers escaped, and others in the church threw themselves on the ground to protect themselves. No other injuries have been confirmed.It is unclear what the motive behind the attack was and whether it is linked to any group. An investigation has been opened…

French President Emmanuel Macron was chief guest at India’s annual Republic Day celeberations on Friday in the capital New Delhi. Indian President Draupadi Murmu escorted Macron in a ceremonial horse-drawn carriage from the nearby president’s palace to the viewing stand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Macron there. Macron and Modi attend the parade Friday morningImage: Manish Swarup/AP Photo/picture alliance “A great honor for France. Thank you, India,” Macron wrote online, sharing a video clip of part of the parade. A French 30-member band and 90-member marching group joined the parade. A French transport aircraft and two fighter jets from the French air force joined 54…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on donor states to “guarantee the continuity” of the operations of the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA). The plea came after multiple countries paused their funding for the organization following Israeli allegations that some of the agency’s staffers were involved in the terror attacks on Israel carried out by Hamas militants on October 7. “While I understand their concerns — I was myself horrified by these accusations — I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations,” Guterres said in a statement. He also vowed that…

This is a troubling moment on many levels.It represents yet another clear indication that America and its allies are facing a regional conflict in the Middle East. It is a conflict in which they are protagonists, a conflict they are struggling to influence and a conflict which they have not contained.It’s moments like this which will come to mark turning points; a shifting of the dial, an attack which will force President Biden to respond.Follow live: Biden blames ‘radical Iran-backed militant groups’ for drone attack The moment presents him with a complex range of challenges.In an election year and with…

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, said Sunday they are leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) immediately. All three countries, which were founding members of ECOWAS in 1975, are currently led by militaries that seized power from civilian leaders. “After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organization has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” Colonel Amadou Abdramane, Niger junta spokesman, said in a statement. The three countries were suspended from ECOWAS following the coups, and relations between them and the…