Latest in World Highlight
Latest in World
Guantanamo closure unlikely after Obama signs defence bill
Obama’s signing of the Congressional defence spending bill for 2016 on Wednesday reduced the odds that he would see the controversial facility at a US base on Cuba closed before he leaves the White House in early 2017
France, Germany lead in Google ‘forget’ requests
Google’s latest figures, released on Wednesday, showed no let up in the number of people asking the US-based search engine to be forgotten
US sanctions businessman buying oil from ‘Islamic State’, Al-Assad supporters
The US has slapped sanctions on a number of individuals accused of supporting Syria’s government. The blacklisted names include a “middleman” who buys oil from “Islamic State” and the head of the World Chess Federation
Mercedes chief Zetsche seeks female successor
“I think women are not only very good drivers, but very good at parking as well.”
Pope Francis on historic visit to Africa
Pope Francis has arrived in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. The pope came with a clear message to Kenya’s leaders: Fight corruption and poverty. From Nairobi, Daniel Pelz reports
Russa says jet downing a ‘planned provocation’
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey appears to be a planned provocation. Turkey has said it would like to avoid escalation. Russia will “seriously reconsider” relations with Turkey after one of its warplanes was downed by Turkish F-16s, Lavrov said on Wednesday, describing the incident a …
Downing of bomber looks like a ‘preplanned provocation’: Lavrov
Washington, Ankara agree on the importance of avoiding similar incidents
10 or so things you should know about Albert Einstein and his theories of relativity
It’s been 100 years since Albert Einstein completed his theories of relativity. They were radical. They reshaped the way physicists view space, time, gravity, even the universe. But try explaining them to a child. The first thing you should know if you read this is I know nothing about Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity – …
Schools reopen in Brussels but will kids cope?
While keeping the threat level at its maximum, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel is reopening schools and wants the city to “get back to normal as quickly as possible.” But, as Teri Schulz asks, what is normal? Mothers and fathers kiss their kids goodbye at the school gates – schools that are now under terror-threat …
How protests and a blockade are crippling Nepal’s economy
Nepal has lowered its economic growth forecast from six to two percent as a result of strikes, violent anti-constitution protests in the southern plains, and an unofficial trade blockade imposed by India. DW examines. In a televised address on Tuesday, November 24, Nepali Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel indicated that the heavy shrinking of economic …
UN: 2015 on track to be the hottest year ever
The UN weather agency has said that this year will likely be the warmest on record and 2016 only looks hotter. It has called for action to curb the extreme effects of human-induced global warming. This year is likely to be the hottest individual year on record, with 2011-2015 becoming the hottest five-year period, according …
High security and emotion at Scorpions concert in Paris
The terrorist attacks in Paris changed the meaning of going to a concert. But despite the tragedy, nearly 20,000 fans overcame fears and decided to celebrate with Scorpions. A DW film premiere on the band was cancelled. The German hard rock band Scorpions decided to perform, as planned, at a concert in Paris on Tuesday …
Will India cease to be a surrogacy hub?
India is planning to ban the use of surrogate mothers for foreign couples. But experts say that implementing the proposed ban would be difficult as the surrogacy business brings in a substantial amount of revenue. The practice of commercial surrogacy – when women are paid to carry and deliver babies for people who cannot conceive …
Kenyan Muslims ‘will join others to welcome the pope’
Pope Francis is embarking on his first visit to Africa. In the three countries on his itinerary, he is expected to address the challenge of harmonizing relations between Christians and Muslims. Pope Francis is beginning a tour of three African countries, Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Repubublic. DW spoke to Hassan Ole Nado, Deputy …
Opinion: France needs help in Syrian crisis
Turkey’s downing of a Russian fighter jet has sabotaged the French president’s attempt to form an anti-“IS” coalition. This is especially true given France’s lack of political clout, says DW’s Miodrag Soric. As if things weren’t bad enough. Now, the Turkish Air Force had to go and shoot down a Russian fighter jet. Things have …
Obama urges calm after downing of Russian jet
US President Barack Obama has called for a reduction in tensions after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet over Syria. He spoke by phone to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Obama and Erdogan agreed on the need to reduce tensions after Turkish forces shot down a Russian fighter jet, claiming it had entered Turkish …
Attack on Tunisia presidential guard’s bus kills at least 11
Officials said 17 extremists, believed to have been trained in Syria and Libya, were arrested in the week preceding the foiled attack. The militants were reportedly awaiting orders to carry out assaults on politicians, beaches and landmark buildings during November
Ashraf Fayadh sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
The Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh has been sentenced to death for apostasy. In the eyes of Saudi authorities, his involvement in the international art scene may have made him suspicious. It was an argument with extreme consequences. Sometime in the summer of 2013, the poet Ashraf Fayadh got into a dispute with a stranger. The …
‘Shooting down of jet could be game changer for Russia and Turkey’
A Russian warplane has been shot down by Turkish jets after it violated Turkish airspace. Dr. Can Kasapoglu Eisenhower Reasearch Fellow in Istanbul believes that such incident was to be expected. DW: A Russian military jet has reportedly been shot down by Turkish forces. Was such an incident to be expected? Kasapoglu: Turkey made it …
Russian military aircraft shot down near Syrian-Turkish borders
Turkey claims the plane violated its airspace, Russia denies
Militants carry out deadly car bomb attack in Egypt’s Sinai
Unidentified militants have carried out a car bomb attack on a hotel in north Sinai that is housing election judges. Several people were killed and wounded in the attack, which also involved a gunfight with police At least three policemen were killed and around a dozen people, including some civilians, were wounded in the attack …
Turkish F-16 fighter jets shoot down Russian warplane after airspace violation
A Russian warplane has been shot down by Turkish F-16 fighter jets after it violated Turkish air space. The aircraft was reportedly flying close to the Syrian border and repeatedly ignored warnings. Following initial reports on Tuesday that the identity of the warplane was unknown, Turkish presidential sources said shortly after the incident that the …
Yahoo shuts out email users who block ads
Tech giant Yahoo has illicted ire from some of its American users after they found they could not access their email accounts. The company was reportedly testing a new feature barring users who have “ad block” software. Yahoo had the internet in an outrage on Monday following the revelation that while implementing a “test,” users …
Rare white rhino dies, leaving three left in the world
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park announced that a Northern White Rhinoceros died on Sunday after suffering from a bacterial infection. On the brink of extincion, the tragedy has left only three left in the world. “Early this morning, the team made the difficult decision to euthanize her,” zoo officials said in a statement on …
German media report suggests a ‘winter upsurge in refugee numbers’
The German government’s forecast of falling migrant numbers during the winter might be flawed, according to a German media report. Various factors could cause an upsurge in the number of people seeking refuge. The Welt am Sonntag newspaper cited “intelligence services” saying that the worsening situation in Syria could only drive up the number of …
Iran sentences ‘Washington Post’ reporter Jason Rezaian to prison
Iran has sentenced “Washington Post” journalist Jason Rezaian to an undetermined prison term following his conviction last month on espionage charges, Iranian state media has reported. At a press conference in Tehran on Sunday, judiciary spokesperson Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi announced the punishment but failed to specify the length of Rezaian’s jail term. While Ejehi …
Asia-Pacific: Beijing under fire in South China Sea row
China says it will continue to build military and civilian facilities on artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. Beijing told other countries it has no intention of militarizing the vital trade route. Speaking at the conclusion of a weeklong meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in Malaysia, Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin insisted that China …
Putin, Syria and Pandora’s box
Russia plans to hit the “Islamic State” (IS) hard, but will it have the desired effect? Fiona Clark looks at some of the challenges at home and in Syria and what could be a Pandora’s box for the Russian bear. President Vladimir Putin seems to have learnt some verbal self-control since he came to power …
Putin, Syria and Pandora’s box
Russia plans to hit the “Islamic State” (IS) hard, but will it have the desired effect? Fiona Clark looks at some of the challenges at home and in Syria and what could be a Pandora’s box for the Russian bear. President Vladimir Putin seems to have learnt some verbal self-control since he came to power …
Angela Merkel marks ten years as Germany’s first female Chancellor
As German Chancellor Angela Merkel celebrates 10 years as the country’s political leader, domestic and international media have mused over her decennial tour de force. Her legacy is still unfolding. Precisely 10 years ago, a 51-year-old conservative politician took the helm of Europe’s largest economy and most populous country, steering Germany into a new era …