Author: DW

Last month was the warmest January ever recorded globally, scientists say.It follows the trend of 2023 – the warmest year since records began. It also means the global mean temperature for the past twelve months is 1.52C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.More than 190 countries committed under the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to “well below” a 2C rise compared to pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.The countries also agreed to “pursue efforts” to keep warming within the safer limit of 1.5C, after which point climate impacts become even harder to adapt to. Samantha Burgess, deputy…

Ecuador’s high court on Wednesday decriminalized euthanasia following a landmark case brought by a terminally ill patient. In its ruling the court said it “considers that the issue raised relates to the rights to alife with dignity and the free development of personality. Therefore, after carrying out an examination, it concludes that life admits exceptions to its inviolability when itseeks to protect other rights.” The penalty for homicide “cannot be applied to a doctor who performs an active euthanasia procedure in order to preserve the rights to a dignified life,” the court added. The ruling directed lawmakers and health authorities to…

The ballots have opened in Pakistan in a general election which has already been marred by violence and allegations of fraud.On the eve of Thursday’s election, bombs struck two political offices in southwestern Pakistan, killing at least 30 people. Pakistan’s government also decided to suspend mobile phone service across the country in what it described as a “security measure”, media in the country reported.Tensions have been high in the country ahead of the vote.Former cricketer Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, is still the most popular politician in the country, according to polls. However, last week he…

A German Cup quarterfinal between third division side Saarbrücken and Bundesliga team Borussia Mönchengladbach was abandoned shortly before kick-off on Wednesday because of a waterlogged pitch. Stadium staff attempted to dry the heavily drenched pitch with leaf blowers but with no end to the persistent downpour in sight, the match was eventually canceled. The huge puddles formed across the pitch were deemed to make playing the match too dangerous for the players, despite 16,000 spectators having braved the weather at the sold-out match. “It was a brutally difficult decision but the injury risk was too high,” referee Florian Badstübner told reporters. “We tried everything…

Five people were killed and 27 miners are missing after a landslide struck a mining village in southern Philippines, authorities said on Wednesday. Disaster officials also added that 31 people were injured, 11 severely, as the mudslide engulfed houses and two buses in Masara village. The disaster struck the gold mining village in Davao de Oro province following heavy rains that have swamped the region in recent weeks. “There was no sign that a landslide would occur because the rains stopped on Thursday and by Friday it was already sunny and hot,” provincial disaster official Edward Macapili said. What are rescue…

Two people have been killed in Kyiv after Russia launched a ferocious salvo of missiles and drones in attacks across Ukraine.Ukraine’s army chief, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, said Russian forces fired 64 missiles and drones in several waves of attack on Wednesday morning.A total of 29 missiles and 15 drones were shot down by Ukraine’s air defences, Mr Zaluzhnyi added.Follow war latest:’Russian paying Iran billions’, documents suggestIn Kyiv, smoke and flames were seen coming from a tower block, as fire crews worked to tackle the fire.”I was scared when air alerts were announced and we rushed here,” Tetyana, 49, said as she…

Two blasts near electoral candidates’ offices in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan killed 26 people and wounded dozens more, local officials said on Wednesday. The explosions come a day ahead of the country’s general election. What we know about the blasts in Balochistan In the first incident, at least 14 people were killed at the office of an independent candidate in Pishin district. A second explosion left 12 people dead in Qilla Saifullah, a town near the Afghan border. Later on Wednesday, an offshoot of the so-called “Islamic State” group claimed responsibility for the Qilla Saifullah blast online. The group said…

Namibia managed a peaceful power handover in the early hours of Sunday after the death of President Hage Geingob. The 82-year-old leader, in power since 2015, died after a brief battle with cancer. His successor, interim President Nangolo Mbumba, took the helm. But he has no plans to run for the presidential election due in November this year. “I am not going to be around for the elections, so don’t panic,” Mbumba said at his swearing-in ceremony the day his predecessor died. Mbumba’s decision is rare among African leaders, who tend often to take any chance they have of clinging to power. “Our nation remains calm and…

A US drone strike in Baghdad has killed three members of the powerful Kata’ib Hezbollah militia, including a high-ranking commander, according to US officials.The drone strike hit a car in the Iraqi capital – and was in response to a drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan towards the end of January. Sky News’ Alex Crawford arrived at the scene shortly after the blast and said there was “great tension” and a “great deal of anger towards America”.”There has been a furious response about the killing,” she said.”The locals round here are demanding an investigation by the Iraqi…

Senegal’s internet service was restored Wednesday, days after the government suspended it following the postponement of this month’s presidential election. “It remains unclear as to whether the restoration will be sustained,” internet monitor Netblocks said. Unrest erupted in Dakar after President Macky Sall postponed Senegal’s presidential election originally scheduled for February 25. Access to mobile data had been blocked since early Monday when lawmakers backed Sall’s decision to hold the election in December. They took the decision only after security forces stormed the chamber and removed some opposition deputies, who were unable to cast their votes.  It sparked sporadic protests and international…