World | Deutsche Welle

UK: Defense Secretary John Healey quits in military spending dispute Britain's defense minister has abruptly quit his post, saying the government's plans to bolster defense spending in the coming years are inadequate. This could prove a further source of pressure for PM Keir Starmer. India: West Bengal deportations raise human rights concerns Deporting thousands from India's West Bengal state fulfills a key Modi promise but strains ties with neighboring Bangladesh over verification and repatriation. DRC referendum bill intensifies constitutional standoff Congolese lawmakers this week passed a referendum bill that could lead to constitutional reform ahead of the 2028 elections. The opposition has warned of a "constitutional coup." Hungary makes major deal with Ukraine, its former enemy Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar announced an agreement with Kyiv about rights for a Hungarian minority in Ukraine. It paves the way for Ukraine to start EU accession talks — unthinkable under Hungary's last PM Orban. Canada introduces bill to ban social media for under-16s Canada is seeking to ban social media accounts for children under 16 with a new bill. The government also wants to regulate AI chatbots. Why is Hezbollah still important for Iran? Although weakened, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group remains a central piece of Iran's power projection in the Middle East. Tehran has insisted they be included in any peace deal with the US and Israel. Rising cyberscam losses expose gaps in EU response Europeans are losing billions to online scams, yet the EU has been slower than the US, the UK and China in targeting the Southeast Asian networks behind many of them. Philippines: Farmers race to keep up with global 'ube' craze Ube, also called the purple yam, went from a nostalgic treat in the Philippines to an exotic item in cafes around the world. But the popularity means the crop supply is under pressure. Kenya: LGBTQ+ community still here, still queer despite cuts LGBTQ+ organizations in Kenya are struggling: Deep funding cuts, not just during Pride, have forced layoffs, shrinking services and tough choices. But organizations that serve queer communities are adapting. War in Ukraine: Kyiv strikes key Russian supply lines Russian troops rely on supplies via the land corridor to Crimea, but Ukrainian forces are now able to launch concentrated attacks along the critical route. Experts say this indicates growing Russian vulnerability. NASA picks first European astronaut for Artemis mission Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano will be the lead pilot for the Artemis III test flight. The NASA mission is expected to launch in 2027 to test technology for a future moon landing.