Latest in World Highlight
Latest in World
Analyst:’Nigeria’s new cabinet a blend of experience’
After more than five months, Nigeria finally got a new government. 36 ministers and junior ministers swore the oath of allegiance and were assigned formal roles. DW spoke to Garba Kare, a lecturer of political science at the University of Abuja to hear what he makes of the new cabinet. DW: Were there any surprises …
Syrian refugees stuck in ‘Spanish Guantanamo’
Asif is one of thousands of Syrians who have fled the conflict in their country and chosen this circuitous, overland route to Europe. But unlike the refugees who take a more direct course across the Mediterranean sea, the arrival of Syrians in Melilla is tightly controlled.
Netanyahu in Washington: The charm-offensive
The two leaders’ poor relationship is the stuff of Washington legend, the frequency of their encounters not a sign of mutual affection but the sheer volume of grim business they have dealt with during their overlapping tenures.
Rwanda: Media designers learning “German style”
A new media design program in Rwanda turns its students into media all-rounders. The vocational training includes internships in Germany and gives trainees the skills to shape the future of Rwanda’s media industry. It’s Monday evening and this particular post-production studio in Berlin is packed. Two interns from Rwanda huddle around the sound engineer, looking …
Kremlin: Russia’s Egypt flight ban may last ‘several months’
A top Kremlin official has said that Russia’s ban on Egypt-bound flights will likely remain for ‘several months.’ The British FM said the UK took a similar decision after examining footage from Sharm el-Sheikh airport. Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Ivanov said on Tuesday that a flight ban to Egypt will likely remain in place …
US Congress, White House square off over Guantanamo
President Barack Obama has launched a renewed push to close Guantanamo, but opposition in Congress is strong. Will the president act unilaterally and take executive action to close the prison before he leaves office?
Rising Saudi executions: ‘More than just numbers’
Saudi Arabia has executed more than 150 people already this year, representing a steep rise. Rights groups say the figures – and a raft of judicial shortcomings – should give the West pause for thought.
US Congress passes bill complicating Obama’s plans to close Guantanamo
A bill that extends the ban on transferring Guantanamo prisonors to the US mainland has sailed through Congress. Its passage will complicate President Barack Obama’s efforts to close the notorious prison. The US Senate on Tuesday passed the bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with a vote of 91-3, a week after …
Catalonia: Nationalism with foul roots
Catalonia’s regional parliament has come out and endorsed a split from Spain. It’s rather a surprise that it has come this far. But, it’s no surprise that the separatists’ motives are based on myths and revanchism. Every time there is a home fixture at FC Barcelona and the clock shows 17 minutes and 14 seconds …
Syrian forces break ‘Islamic State’ siege of Aleppo air base
The Syrian army has achieved a major victory at an air base besieged by the “Islamic State” militant group. The victory comes as President Bashar al-Assad’s forces ramp up their fight against the extremists. Assad’s forces on Tuesday broke a prolonged siege by “Islamic State” (“IS”) militants of an Aleppo military air base. Syrian government …
Palestine: Having their say
Encouraging young Palestinians to ask critical questions and voice their opinions has rarely been a priority in the classroom. But new school media groups are now showing youths ways to express their views.
Tough times in Italy’s little China
With a visit to Prato, Pope Francis, a champion for the rights of exploited workers, will likely draw attention once again to a sore spot on the Italian industrial landscape. Megan Williams reports from there. A few years ago, early one winter morning, I sat in the backseat of an Italian police cruiser as it …
Obama talks climate change in first Facebook post
The US president has joined the world’s largest social media platform with a call to action on climate change. The move follows a UN statement that emissions have hit an 800,000-year high. US President Barack Obama announced Monday his entry to social media platform Facebook with a personal page. “Hello, Facebook! I finally got my …
EU must act faster to resolve refugee crisis
The EU seems incapable of making decisions to curb the refugee crisis. Instead, it is pressuring member states to act quickly to at least comply with prior commitments.
Why Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed
Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed by a former military regime in Nigeria for fighting for the rights of the Ogoni. 20 years after his judicial murder, people in the region are still not benefitting from oil revenues.Harry Saro-Wiwa sits beside his brother’s grave. A washed-out, torn flag flutters from a wooden pole. Harry says his brother …
Russia and Iran sign S-300 air-defense missile contract
The deal to supply advanced air-defense systems to Iran is “back in force,” Russian officials say. The Kremlin had suspended the controversial sale during the nuclear row with Tehran. Moscow and Iran will push on with the deal to deliver the missiles, the head of a Russian state-controlled arms manufacturer Sergei Chemezov said at the …
Most Syrian refugee children in Turkey are not in school: HRW
Over 400,000 Syrian refugee children in Turkey are not being educated, Human Rights Watch has said in a new report. Lack of schooling puts a whole generation in jeopardy and threatens to push more refugees to Europe. The 62-page report released by Human Rights Watch on Monday has called for Turkey and the international community …
An ‘unfavorable environment’ for female scientists
Teams of female scientists tend to pursue different questions than teams of men. That alone makes the case for diversity in the lab (and beyond). Emilie Marcus of Cell Press tells DW why it’s not happening yet. DW: Why is it so important to have gender equality in science? Emilie Marcus: Science itself teaches us …
Obama and Netanyahu to meet in Washington to improve US-Israel ties
Obama and Netanyahu will meet in Washington on Monday for the first time in over a year
Opposition party achieves wide margin of victory in Myanmar elections: Reports
Nobel winner Aung San Suu Kyi has suggested her party will win Myanmar’s elections, the freest in the country’s history. Opposition leaders are seeking to take over from representatives of the former ruling junta party.
World Bank: Climate change could push millions more people into poverty
“Without rapid, inclusive and climate-smart development, together with emissions-reductions efforts that protect the poor, there could be more than 100 million additional people in poverty by 2030,” the Bank said in a report.
UK defence chief says Britain should be part of coalition against ‘Islamic State’ in Syria
The UK’s military chief says it ‘makes no sense’ to be in Iraq and not Syria when “Islamic State’s” powerbase is there. General Sir Nicholas Houghton told Sky News, Britain was “letting down its allies”.
EU Parliament chief Schulz: Iran-EU relations at ‘key stage’
During a visit to Tehran, European Parliament chief Martin Schulz has said that relations between Iran and the European Union (EU) are at a “determining stage”. The comments follow a nuclear deal earlier this year.
The China-Taiwan summit – a symbolic meeting
The Taiwan Strait is still a dangerous trouble spot. Now for the first time, China’s and Taiwan’s leaders met in person. While the meeting had little substance, it was still important, says DW’s Matthias von Hein.
US announces enhanced security on in-bound flights from the Middle East
The US has announced it will expand security on incoming flights from the Middle East. The US and UK have said a terrorist attack may have brought down a Russian plane in Egypt, killing all 224 people on board.
Russia slams Charlie Hebdo cartoons mocking plane crash as ‘sacrilege’
A Kremlin spokesman on Friday condemned the cartoons, published in the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which made light of the recent plane crash in Egypt that killed all 224 people on board, most of them Russian.
2 Palestinians killed, 3 Israelis wounded in continuing violence
Israeli soldiers shot and killed 72-year-old Palestinian woman Tharwat Sharawi after she allegedly tried to ram them with her car at a West Bank gas station on Friday.
Russia: Putin’s new pioneers
A new student movement will soon be set up in Russia again. Observers draw parallels to the Soviet era and emphasize the fact that Russian society is profoundly divided over its value system. “The Russian Schoolchildren’s Movement” is the name of the newly founded state youth organization. The day on which Vladimir Putin signed the …
UK begins repatriation of tourists stranded in Egypt’s Sinai
The UK is to begin repatriating British tourists who found themselves stranded in Egypt’s Sinai when flights were canceled two days ago. But Easyjet said Egyptian authorities had suspended some of its flights.
US slams ‘offensive’ comments by Netanyahu’s new spokesman
Netanyahu’s newly appointed spokesman Ran Baratz has apologised for private comments about top US officials. Baratz had accused Obama of anti-Semitism and suggested that John Kerry has a mind of a 12-year-old.