Author: DW

Employees at Ukraine’s well-known investigative outlet Bihus.Info have been covertly wiretapped and filmed. A video leaked online, purportedly showing team members consuming illegal substances at a New Year’s party, has caused a scandal. The video was released on January 16 on a little-known YouTube channel called Narodna Pravda (Ukrainian for “national truth”). It ostensibly also contained snippets of private conversations between Bihus.Info employees as they discussed buying drugs. The video has since been removed. A group of journalists founded the investigative outlet in 2013 under the aegis of editor-in-chief Denys Bihus. One of its reports uncovered the financing schemes of Ukrainian…

Yemen’s Houthis launched a drone attack on a British warship which was “successfully repelled”, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.The ministry said HMS Diamond used its Sea Viper missile system to shoot down a drone “illegally targeting” it, with no injuries or damage reported. Follow Middle East latest: Anti-Netanyahu protesters clash with Tel Aviv police”These intolerable and illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and it is our duty to protect the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” the MoD said.”We want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for their service to defend British and international interests.”…

Skip next section Turkey finalizes Sweden NATO accession ratification01/25/2024January 25, 2024Turkey finalizes Sweden NATO accession ratificationTurkey’s government took the final step in ratifying Sweden’s bid to join NATO late on Thursday, publishing the bill that approves its accession to the military alliance in its official gazette.  Sweden, like Finland, applied to join NATO in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, having remained neutral throughout the Cold War.  Turkey had held up the Swedish bid for months, claiming that the country harbors individuals — very often Kurds — who it considers terrorists. All NATO members must approve any prospective member joining the…

China’s real estate giant Evergrande was ordered on Monday to liquidate, after it failed to present creditors a viable restructuring plan for its debts. Judge Linda Chan at a Hong Kong court said it was appropriate for the court to order the company to wind up its business given a “lack of progress on the part of the company putting forward a viable restructuring proposal” as well as Evergrande’s insolvency. Fergus Saurin, a lawyer representing an ad hoc group of creditors, said he was not surprised by the ruling. “The company has failed to engage with us. There has been a history of…

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…