World | Deutsche Welle

Kazakhstan's future after the elections: Russia, EU or China Kazakhstan, where power is being continuously consolidated in the president's hands, will have to continue its tough balancing act between the EU, Russia and China following the parliamentary elections this Sunday. Spain battles forest fire a short drive from flash flood The blaze, near Valencia, forced more than 1,000 people from their homes. In nearby Catalonia, civil defense teams carried out 200 rescue operations after floods trapped residents in cars and homes. Myanmar military airstrike kills 14 at Buddhist monastery: reports Around 100 people were attending a meditation retreat in central Myanmar when the building was targeted by military planes, witnesses said. Small German airplane crashes in Croatia, killing 2 The two-seater motor glider went down in the Velebit mountains, near Zadar, killing both passengers. 'Masha and the Bear': Ukraine sanctions Russian cartoon Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the hit Russian children's cartoon "Masha and the Bear," a step towards banning it. The culture minister called the show propaganda. Russia said the move showed Kyiv's "ugly nature." German army helps Poland protect itself against Russia Poland is building a defense system along its northern and eastern borders to protect itself from Russia. Since June, German sappers have been assisting their NATO ally with the construction of the East Shield. France issues warning over thousands of substandard condoms French anti-fraud and health agencies have issued a recall order for roughly 260,000 condoms. They advised users to consider sexually transmitted infection and pregnancy tests amid risks of bursting or perforations. Iran's president: Time to end war in 'position of strength' Iranian media cite Masoud Pezeshkian as saying it would be a good time to end the war with the US, "as we are in a position of strength and dignity." He also said Tehran would never "bow to intimidation." 40 years after the Lake Nyos disaster in Cameroon On August 21, 1986, a silent cloud of carbon dioxide swept through villages around Lake Nyos in Cameroon, killing nearly 2,000 people in their sleep. Four decades later, survivors are still living with the trauma. Ukraine's farmers struggle to sell harvest amid war, drought Russian attacks on ships and ports in the Black Sea are threatening Ukraine's agricultural sector. Grain exports are severely restricted, and Kyiv is seeking solutions. Panama Canal to cap ship transits due to El Nino drought Panama Canal will cut daily transits of ships from September because of low rainfall and amid an intensifying El Nino event. North Korea: Will Trump-Kim talks happen anytime soon? As Donald Trump claims a meeting is planned with Kim Jong Un, North Korea's response sends a signal that it wants maximum concessions in return for talks with the US.