Author: DW

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…

A high number of high-speed Intercity Express trains were canceled between Frankfurt and Stuttgart on Monday after metal thieves vandalized key infrastructure. Rail operator Deutsche Bahn said the theft of metal was discovered on Monday morning between Mannheim Central Station and the nearby town of Lampertheim. The rail network would likely not be restored until the evening, Deutsche Bahn said. Further details were not immediately available. What trains are canceled? Deutsche Bahn said all ICE trains operating on the Berlin-Frankfurt-Stuttgart route would be canceled between Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Some ICE trains traveling from the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia to Munich  in…

The world in 2024 will be characterized by a “downward trend in world politics, marked by an increase in geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty,” Christoph Heusgen, chairman of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), wrote in the conference’s new security report, released on Monday ahead of this week’s high-profile gathering in Bavaria. From February 16 to 18, military personnel, security experts and high-ranking politicians from all over the world will once again meet in Munich, southern Germany, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expected to attend. In a Munich Security Index survey published ahead of last year’s conference, Russia’s war on…

A woman wearing a trench coat was shot dead by two off-duty police officers after she opened fire inside a Texas church run by celebrity priest Joel Osteen.Worshippers at the Lakewood megachurch in Houston ran to find safety after the women began firing a long gun shortly before a 2pm Spanish-language service on Sunday. Two people were injured in the shooting, including a five-year-old boy, who remains in a critical condition, and a 57-year-old man, who is in a stable condition and being treated for a hip injury.The woman was shot by two officers from the Houston Police Department and…

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on Sunday and admitted to critical care for an emergent bladder issue, Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said. “Tonight, after a series of tests and evaluations, the Secretary was admitted into the critical care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for supportive care and close monitoring,” the statement read. In a statement earlier, the Pentagon said Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center around 2:20 p.m. local time. According to Ryder, Austin later transferred the duties of his office to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. “The…

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on Sunday, following symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said. In a statement, the Pentagon said Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center around 2:20 p.m. local time. According to Ryder, Austin later transferred the duties of his office to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. “The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been notified. Additionally, White House and Congressional notifications have occurred,” Ryder said. “At this time, the Secretary is retaining the functions and duties of his…