SOUTH KOREA DIVIDED, TROUBLED South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung sought to project a message of unity as he took office on Wednesday in a country wracked by political division since a short-lived martial law declaration in December. "No matter whom you supported in this election, I will serve as a president for all, to embrace and serve every citizen," Lee said during his swearing-in ceremony at the National Assembly. He also pledged to reinvigorate the nation's economy and pursue policies that help ordinary people, both at home and abroad. His declaration comes as multiple national and international organizations, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), are downgrading growth forecasts for the South Korean economy. The OECD this week predicted only a 1% GDP growth in 2025. "It is time to restore security and peace, which have been reduced to tools of political strife, to rebuild livelihoods and the economy damaged by indifference, incompetence and irresponsibility, and to revive democracy that has been undermined by armored vehicles and automatic rifles," Lee said. The reference to vehicles and weapons is a barb against his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office and is still on trial for briefly declaring martial law six months ago. While the move sparked outrage across the country, some members of the military, the Presidential Security Service (PSS) and sections of the public sided with Yoon before his eventual arrest. 4th June,2025

WORSENING DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY Water scarcity is a fact of life in Malta. The island in the middle of the Mediterranean, between Italy and North Africa, has no lakes or rivers and doesn't get much rainfall. And with a hot, dry climate, a population of 563,000 — and more than six times that in yearly tourist visits — every drop counts. "We have lived forever without enough water," said Thomas Bajada, a marine biologist and recently elected member of the European Parliament. But, he told DW, that scarcity has forced his country to innovate. Today, around two-thirds of its drinking water comes from the sea, desalinated water that's blended with a minimal supply of groundwater. Investment in other technical solutions — smart water meters, leakage management, wastewater reuse — also helps keep the taps from running dry. For now, at least. Farmers in Cyprus struggle with water shortages 03:43 One-fifth of Europe already under water stress But as temperatures rise and weather patterns become increasingly unreliable due to climate change, Malta's water challenges are expected to spread. With many European cities and regions still relying on outdated water management practices, around one-fifth of the continent already faces water stress every year, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported. It noted that Europe is anticipating water demand to double by 2050, leading to severe water shortages in the future. "Europe is at the forefront of a growing water crisis — one that threatens industry, agriculture, ecosystems and citizens' access to water," said Loic Charpentier, advocacy head at industry body Water Europe, which promotes water technology. Extreme heat and prolonged periods of drought, once rare in Europe, are becoming a yearly problem in many regions. Multiple heat waves in 2024 shattered temperature records, with Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region suffering the most from heat stress and shrinking water reserves, according to data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The first-ever European Climate Risk Assessment, released by the European Environment Agency in March 2024, stressed that these new weather extremes were already severely disrupting ecosystems, agriculture and economic activity, human health and water supplies. Drought and extreme heat could also "exacerbate existing risks and crises … leading to water and food insecurity, disruptions of critical infrastructure, and threats to financial markets and stability." Water scarcity leaded to 'rising conflicts' "No one sees what is coming when we speak about water, both water pollution and water scarcity," said Athenais Georges of the European Water Movement advocacy group. "It's a huge environmental and social justice issue, because if you have scarce water, you have rising conflicts. [We've seen] that already in other regions in the world." In 2012, the European Water Movement spearheaded the Right2Water campaign, signed by more than 1.6 million EU citizens, which called on the European Commission to make sure water remains a public service and "ensure that all inhabitants enjoy the right to water." The Drinking Water Directive, the EU's main law on drinking water, was revised following the campaign and entered into force in 2021. It obliges EU member countries to "improve access to safe drinking water" for all citizens. And yet, EEA data shows that some 30% of EU citizens still suffer water scarcity every year. 4th June,2025

UKRAINE'S AUDACIOUS DRONE ATTACK It's hard to exaggerate the sheer audacity - or ingenuity - that went into Ukraine's countrywide assault on Russia's air force. We cannot possibly verify Ukrainian claims that the attacks resulted in $7bn (£5.2bn) of damage, but it's clear that "Operation Spider's Web" was, at the very least, a spectacular propaganda coup. Ukrainians are already comparing it with other notable military successes since Russia's full-scale invasion, including the sinking of the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, the Moskva, and the bombing of the Kerch Bridge, both in 2022, as well as a missile attack on Sevastopol harbour the following year. Judging by details leaked to the media by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the latest operation is the most elaborate achievement so far. In an operation said to have taken 18 months to prepare, scores of small drones were smuggled into Russia, stored in special compartments aboard freight trucks, driven to at least four separate locations, thousands of miles apart, and launched remotely towards nearby airbases. 1:28 Watch: Footage shows attack drones homing in on their targets as they sit on the tarmac. "No intelligence operation in the world has done anything like this before," defence analyst Serhii Kuzan told Ukrainian TV. "These strategic bombers are capable of launching long-range strikes against us," he said. "There are only 120 of them and we struck 40. That's an incredible figure." It is hard to assess the damage, but Ukrainian military blogger Oleksandr Kovalenko says that even if the bombers, and command and control aircraft were not destroyed, the impact is enormous. "The extent of the damage is such that the Russian military-industrial complex, in its current state, is unlikely to be able to restore them in the near future," he wrote on his Telegram channel. The strategic missile-carrying bombers in question, the Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160 are, he said, no longer in production. Repairing them will be difficult, replacing them impossible. The loss of the supersonic Tu-160, he said, would be especially keenly felt. "Today, the Russian Aerospace Forces lost not just two of their rarest aircraft, but truly two unicorns in the herd," he wrote. Beyond the physical damage, which may or may not be as great as analysts here are assessing, Operation Spider's Web sends another critical message, not just to Russia but also to Ukraine's western allies. My colleague Svyatoslav Khomenko, writing for the BBC Ukrainian Service website, recalls a recent encounter with a government official in Kyiv. The official was frustrated. "The biggest problem," the official told Svyatoslav, "is that the Americans have convinced themselves we've already lost the war. And from that assumption everything else follows." Ukrainian defence journalist Illia Ponomarenko, posting on X, puts it another way, with a pointed reference to President Volodymyr Zelensky's infamous Oval office encounter with Donald Trump. "This is what happens when a proud nation under attack doesn't listen to all those: 'Ukraine has only six months left'. 'You have no cards'. 'Just surrender for peace, Russia cannot lose'." Ukraine drones strike bombers during major attack in Russia Even more pithy was a tweet from the quarterly Business Ukraine journal, which proudly proclaimed "It turns out Ukraine does have some cards after all. Today Zelensky played the King of Drones." This, then, is the message Ukrainian delegates carry as they arrive in Istanbul for a fresh round of ceasefire negotiations with representatives from the Kremlin: Ukraine is still in the fight. The Americans "begin acting as if their role is to negotiate for us the softest possible terms of surrender," the government official told Svyatoslav Khomenko. "And then they're offended when we don't thank them. But of course we don't – because we don't believe we've been defeated." Despite Russia's slow, inexorable advance through the battlefields of the Donbas, Ukraine is telling Russia, and the Trump administration, not to dismiss Kyiv's prospects so easily. 2nd June,2025

STORMS CAUSED DAMAGE IN PARTS OF GERMANY OVERNIGHT Strong thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail, and gusty winds caused chaos in parts of Germany over the weekend. In the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in particular, the storms have flooded basements and streets and uprooted trees. Within a few hours, there were hundreds of emergency calls. However, no injuries were reported. Some outdoor events had to be canceled at short notice, including an open-air concert on Münsterplatz in Ulm in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg and the 3RIDES Gran Fondo race in Aachen. Today, the weather is expected to be warm, but occasionally unpleasant. The south, central, and eastern parts of the country are mainly affected, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). 2nd June,2025

TIGHTENED BORDER CONTROLS National police chief Dieter Romann has given a favorable initial assessment of the tightened border controls and dismissed the police union’s concerns about overburdened personnel. "Why shouldn't the Federal Police, with around 56,000 employees, achieve what we used to achieve with 10,000 or 30,000 officers?" Romann told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. Romann said he has spoken with all of his counterparts several times. "With some of them weekly. I've received a lot of support for our measures. One person put it simply: 'About time!'" The Federal Police permanently has around 9,800 officers in their regular stations along the national borders, Romann said. Germany ramps up border checks 2nd June,2025

GERMAN HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD Mayor of Kyiv and former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko was awarded the Franz Werfel Human Rights Award in Frankfurt on Sunday. Klitschko had entered politics after retiring from boxing, and has become a prominent figure during Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion. He accepted the award on behalf of all Kyiv residents and the Ukrainians fighting to defend the country. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius spoke at the ceremony. He said that the Kyiv mayor stood for those who had not lost faith in a free and democratic Ukraine. "Klitschko has decided to accept responsibility — for his homeland, his brothers and sisters in Ukraine, for freedom and human rights. He is an example to all Ukrainians, to all of us," Pistorius said. "Vitali has fighting spirit. He does not give up," he added. The award comes with €10,000 ($11,350) and is given out every two years by the Wiesbaden-based Centre against Expulsions, which documents expulsions and ethnic cleansing. 2nd June,2025

WOMAN CHARGED FOR MANSLAUGHTER A 70-year-old German woman has been charged with manslaughter over a death of a German police officer last year. The policeman was escorting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a trip to Germany. On June 24, 2024, Orban was on his way to Stuttgart airport, returning home after watching a Hungary national team match during the European Cup hosted by Germany. German police officers were blocking an intersection on Orban's route when the woman allegedly crashed into a police motorbike, seriously injuring the 61-year-old officer and propelling him into his 27-year-old colleague. The 61-year-old later died in hospital. Prosecutors in Stuttgart did not say how the defendant responded to the charges. 2nd June,2025

SEVERE STORMS HIT SEVERAL STATES Severe weather has caused chaos across several parts of Germany. Meanwhile, three adult patients were killed in a fire at a hospital in Hamburg. More rounds of thunderstorms, showers, and hail are expected in the south, central, and eastern parts of Germany 2nd June,2025

DOZENS OF PALESTINIANS KILLED The Israeli army said its initial findings suggest it had not shot civilians, neither at the humanitarian aid distribution center nor in close proximity to it, calling the reports saying it did "false." "In the past several hours, false reports have been spread out with severe accusations against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)," the statement read. "The findings of an initial investigation suggest that the IDF did not shoot civilians while they were near or in close proximity to the humanitarian aid distribution center." Health officials in Gaza said up to 31 people were killed by an IDF shooting. Later, the Guardian quoted off the record comments from the IDF admitting that shots were fired "to prevent several suspects from approaching the troops." Skip next section Activists to sail to Gaza with humanitarian aid to break Israel's blockade 06/01/2025June 1, 2025 Activists to sail to Gaza with humanitarian aid to break Israel's blockade An international activist coalition is planning to sail to Gazato break Israel's blockade on the enclave. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition departed from Sicily on Sunday, carrying a dozen people, including environmental activist Greta Thunberg. The coalition was established in 2010 as a non-violent international movement supporting the Palestinian cause through the combination of humanitarian aid and political protest against Israel's blockade of Gaza. According to journalist Andrea Legni — who is on board the "Madleen," the small sailboat being used by the group — the vessel is carrying "fruit juices, milk, rice, tinned food and protein bars donated by hundreds of Catania residents." A similar ship carrying aid to Gaza was hit by a drone while on its way to the war-embattled Strip last month. 2nd June,2025

TRUMP'S TARIFFS CAN STAY IN PLACE The latest turn in Trump's tariffs drama saw a federal appeals court reinstate his tariffs plan - after the Court of International Trade on Wednesday ruled that the US president did not have the authority to slap nearly every country with tariffs. The Court of Appeals accepted the White House's appeal to the earlier ruling - the one that requested they halt their tariffs within 10 days - saying that the tariffs plans could remain in place while the court "considers the motions paper". While Trump is yet to directly comment - on the trade court ruling yesterday or the appeals court ruling - one of his top advisors, Peter Navarro, took to the White House driveway to say the administration was prepared to take the case "up the chain of command" after the appeals court if necessary. This would mean asking the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of its tariff plan. Meanwhile, here's a quick reminder of what the markets looked like earlier today, following the trade court's ruling last yesterday: Asia's markets were up, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index up by 1.9%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng by 1.1%, and South Korea's Kospi index by 1.8% When the UK markets opened, the FTSE 100 was up by about 0.3%, but flattened within hours - while the pound was down 0.1% and trading between $1.34 and $1.35 The US markets also opened in positive territory, with the Nasdaq up 1.1%, the Dow Jones rising 0.2%, and S&P 500 gaining about 0.9% And with that, we will be ending our live coverage for the day. If you'd like to keep up with the latest on this story, the following article will be kept up to date: Trump tariffs reinstated as legal battle erupts 30th May,2025

PAUL DOYLE ACCUSED OF USING CAR AS WEAPON A former Royal Marine who is accused of "deliberately" driving his car into a crowd after Liverpool FC's trophy parade leaving 79 people injured has appeared in court. Paul Doyle, 53, appeared at both Liverpool Magistrates' Court and Liverpool Crown Court on Friday where he faced seven charges including wounding with intent, causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, attempting to cause GBH with intent and dangerous driving. The court heard the prosecution allege the father-of-three used his car "as a weapon" when it was driven into the crowds. Mr Doyle, of Burghill Road in West Derby, Liverpool appeared emotional as he appeared in court for the first time, speaking quietly only to confirm his date of birth and age. No family members or friends were present in either court rooms. Philip Astbury, prosecuting, said: "This defendant, it is the prosecution's case, drove deliberately in that car at people amongst that crowd as they tried to leave the area. "Six charges of assault reflect the most seriously injured of those who were struck by the vehicle. The first count of dangerous driving reflects the manner of driving before and up until the point he used his vehicle deliberately as a weapon to injure those individuals." Mr Doyle faces charges relating to six victims, including two children aged 11 and 17, after a total of 79 people were injured in the city centre on Monday evening. The father-of-three of Burghill Road in West Derby, Liverpool was escorted into the dock at Liverpool Magistrates Court wearing a black suit, grey tie and white shirt. Paul Doyle has short dark greying hair with sunglasses on his head and is wearing a white T-shirt. Mr Doyle did not apply for bail at either hearing His case was then fast-tracked to Liverpool Crown Court, where more serious offences are dealt with. Mr Doyle was not asked to respond to the charges at the hearing. He sat with his head down as the charges were read to him, and was told he would next appear on 14 August for a plea hearing. Judge Andrew Menary KC said that reporting restrictions, introduced when Mr Doyle appeared before magistrates earlier, would remain in place. Those restrictions prohibit the identification of the six victims named in the charges so far from being published. 1:19 Footage shows car plough into crowd at Liverpool FC parade Philip Astbury, prosecuting, told Judge Menary: "This is an ongoing investigation and there are a great deal of witnesses to be interviewed and footage to be reviewed." The court heard that the dangerous driving charge included Mr Doyle's home street of Burghill Road and Water Street, as well as unnamed roads in between. Damian Nolan, defending, said there would be no application for bail at the hearing. Judge Menary set a provisional trial date for 24 November, with an estimated length of three to four weeks. Mr Doyle stood with his hands clasped and nodded as he was remanded in custody. Hundreds of thousands of jubilant Liverpool fans packed the city centre on Bank Holiday Monday and lined the 10-mile (16km) parade route as Liverpool FC celebrated winning their second Premier League crown and 20th top-flight league title. Reports of a car colliding with pedestrians along Water Street, just off the parade route, were first received by police at about 18:00 on Monday. Ambulances arrived to take people to hospital, with a nine-year-old among the youngest victims of the incident. A pram carrying a baby boy was spun metres down the street when it was struck, but the child was not hurt. A fundraising campaign set up for those affected by the incident has raised more than £30,000, including a £10,000 donation from ex-player Jamie Carragher's charity foundation. 30th May,2025

ISLAND EMBODIES BERLIN'S TUMULTUOUS Berlin's Museum Island uniquely encapsulates Germany's modern history — from the ideas of the Enlightenment to the destruction of World War II, from the Cold War era to its current ultra-modern restoration that has turned the ensemble of museums into a tourist magnet. Standing as a testimony to Europe's architectural and cultural developments, the historical complex of museum buildings was recognized by UNESCO in June 1999 as a World Heritage Site , and this year it is celebrating its 200th anniversary since the first building's foundation stone was laid. #DailyDrone: The Museum Island Berlin 01:00 A legacy of the Enlightenment During the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), when the French invaded the historic German kingdom of Prussia, many artworks were plundered from its capital, Berlin. When the looted works were returned after the war, Prussian leaders decided to create a museum to showcase the treasures publicly. The Altes Museum (Old Museum) was the first building in the series of five institutions that would later become known as Museum Island. Simply called the "Museum" in its early years, the Altes Museum's foundation stone was laid in 1825, and it opened in 1830. A historic black-and-white illustration from 1885 shows the Altes Museum, part of Berlin's Museum Island, and a treelined park in front of itA historic black-and-white illustration from 1885 shows the Altes Museum, part of Berlin's Museum Island, and a treelined park in front of it A historic illustration from 1885 shows the Altes Museum, the oldest building of Berlin's Museum Island complexImage: imageBROKER/picture alliance At the time, after decades of war, Prussia was economically and financially ruined, "and yet they invested in such a cultural building, hiring the best architect of the time, [Karl Friedrich] Schinkel," Hermann Parzinger, outgoing president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, tells DW. It's a fact he particularly likes to point out in the current context, as politicians question the importance of funding culture. Amid the ideals of the Enlightenment, education was recognized as a priority. Thinker and statesman Wilhelm von Humboldt viewed museums as an important pillar of the educational reform he developed. "The museum, as a space of the citizen's aesthetic education, was very important to him," explains Parzinger. "So it was more than just building a museum; there was a vision behind it, and art, together with science, played a very central role." 30th May,2025

GAZA AID GROUP STRUGGLES TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which claimed to have begun delivering large-scale aid to Palestinians in Gaza, has come under scrutiny after announcing it had launched operations this week. On Tuesday, the group said it distributed about 8,000 food boxes, equivalent to about 462,000 meals. The aid comes after an almost three-month Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. GHF added that the "volume of people at the SDS (distribution center) was such that the GHF team fell back to allow a small number of Gazans to take aid safely and dissipate." The AFP and Reuters news agencies reported that thousands of people had rushed the food distribution center in Rafah. How will aid in Gaza work under group backed by US, Israel? 02:53 Military fired near aid distribution center The Israeli news portal ynet reported that shots were fired from Israeli helicopters, and the Associated Press said Israeli tank and gunfire could be heard as large crowds of Palestinians tried to reach an aid center. There were initially no reports of injuries in the incident in the city of Rafah. The Israeli military said soldiers fired warning shots in an area outside an aid distribution center, but did not carry out aerial fire toward the center itself. GHF said "normal operations" resumed later on Tuesday. The group blamed "blockades imposed by Hamas" for hours of delays in distributing aid. The Hamas-run media office said Israel's new efforts to distribute aid in Gaza had "failed miserably." UN calls on Israel to reopen Gaza crossings to aid deliveries UN chief Antonio Guterres's spokesman called images of thousands of people rushing the aid distribution site "heartbreaking." "We have been watching the video coming out of Gaza around one of the distribution points set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. And frankly, these video, these images, are heartbreaking to say the least," Stephane Dujarric said. "As the Secretary-General noted last week, we and our partners have a detailed, principled, operationally sound plan supported by Member States to get aid to desperate population." The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday criticized a US and Israel-backed humanitarian group operating in Gaza, saying its work is a distraction from what is urgently needed: the full reopening of aid crossings. Critics say its political backing from the US and Israel, lack of transparency and bypassing of established UN aid systems raise serious questions about the organization's neutrality, operational legitimacy and ability to have an actual positive impact for people in desperate need of aid. Jens Laerke, an OCHA spokesperson, said the organization does not support the aid model used by the GHF. "We do not participate in this modality... It is a distraction from what is actually needed," Laerke told reporters in Geneva. He called for Israel to fully reopen all crossings and stop restricting the types of aid allowed through, describing the current vetting as "cherry-picked" and misaligned with humanitarian needs. Israel has defended its system, saying it aims to prevent aid from falling into the hands of Hamas, which it accuses of diverting supplies. The director of the World Food Program on Monday said there was no evidence Hamas was seizing humanitarian aid. 28th May,2025

GLOBAL WARMING TARGET UNLIKELY TO BE REACHED The chance that average warming from 2025 to 2029 is to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) benchmark stands at 70%, the United Nations (UN) said. As a result, the Earth is expected to remain at historic levels of warming. This comes after the planet experienced the two hottest years ever recorded in 2023 and 2024, according to a report published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UN's climate agency. Show additional content? This content is part of the text you are currently reading. The provider X / Twitter provides this content and may collect your usage data directly when you click “Show content”. Always show content from X / Twitter. WMO deputy secretary-general Ko Barrett said the past ten years have been the "the warmest on record," adding a warning that no respite is expected. "This means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet," Barrett warned. What is the 1.5C target? The 1.5-degree target was set as part of the 2015 Paris climate accords, which aimed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celcius above pre-industrial levels. It was calculated in relation to the 1850-1900 average, before humanity began industrially burning coal, oil and gas, all of which emit carbon dioxide (CO2), the greenhouse gas largely responsible for climate change. A growing number of climate scientists now hold the 1.5-degree target to be impossible to achieve due to the increasing levels of CO2 emissions. Temperatures soar in Pakistan heat wave 28th May,2025

VIETNAM COURTING TRUMP FAMILY Although officially a private venture, the Vietnamese government significantly facilitated the Trump Organization's golf resort plans. In mid-March, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met Charles James Boyd Bowman, head of the Trump Organization's projects in Vietnam, and promised to "conduct a thorough review to fast-track the project." He called on the Trump Organisation to "position Vietnam as a business base and expand its investment footprint in the country," according to Vietnamese media reports. Vietnam has indeed delivered on its promise, achieving record-breaking speed for regulatory approval, Abuza noted. Typically, projects of this scale take years; this one reached groundbreaking within three months of initial filings. In March, Hanoi also gave permission for SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, Trump's efficiency tsar, to launch its Starlink satellite internet service on a trial basis. Earlier this week, the New York Times newspaper revealed a letter from Vietnamese officials that explicitly stated that the project required support from senior members of the Vietnamese government because it was "receiving special attention from the Trump administration and President Donald Trump personally." According to the New York Times' report, the Vietnamese government has "ignored its own laws" by granting concessions to the Trump Organization that are "more generous than what even the most connected locals receive." Moreover, the entire project runs counter to the housing master plan of Hung Yen province, where it is located, and potentially the state's environmental and safety regulations. According to the aforementioned letter by Vietnamese government officials, the groundbreaking event was also brought forward to avoid "missing the window to capitalize on the support of the Donald Trump administration." 28th May,2025

FOREIGN POLICY BATTLES WAIT FOR NEW PRESIDENT South Korea: Foreign policy battles wait for new president https://p.dw.com/p/4v1j8 POLITICSSOUTH KOREA South Korea: Foreign policy battles wait for new president Julian Ryall 05/28/2025May 28, 2025 Millions of South Koreans will vote for a new president next week, as Seoul deals with a mercurial US, faces the rising power of China and an aggressive North Korea, and negotiates always delicate ties with Japan. https://p.dw.com/p/4v1j8 Lee Jae-myung celebrates Budhha's birthday in Seoul by holding his hands together Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung has a wide lead in polls Image: Kwak Kyung-keun/Matrix Images/IMAGO ADVERTISEMENT With South Koreans due to vote for a new president in the first week of June, analysts warn that the winner of the vote will immediately face challenges in the international arena from friends and rivals alike. Seoul is already under pressure on trade and security issues from the US administration of President Donald Trump, its most important ally against the regime in North Korea. At the same time, South Korea aims to keep essential trade ties with US rival China. Furthermore, its relations with another regional player — Japan — could show cracks depending on the outcome of the vote. Most recent polls put Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-Myung in favor with 49.2% of voters, significantly ahead of his People Power Party (PPP) rival Kim Moon-soo, at 36.8%. The PPP party's image has been tarnished by now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol who is on trial over his attempt to impose martial law in December. Impeached South Korean president arrested 02:46 Kim has been narrowing the gap, however, and a third party, the conservative New Reform Party, currently boasts 10.3% support, possibly giving it a say in the make-up of the new government. "The winner is going to face a lot of big issues very quickly," said Choo Jae-woo, a professor of foreign policy at Kyung Hee University in Seoul. "My feeling is that the incoming president will have to first of all engage with Trump and hope to take the rest of his policies from there," he told DW. "For Korea, the most serious worry is the tariffs on exports to the US and the changing role of the military alliance, including the US forces in Korea." 28th May,2025

TRUMP SAYS PUTIN IS 'CRAZY' AFTER STRIKES Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the Russian army has launched the largest number of drones against Ukrainian cities and communities since the start of the full-scale war. The attack included 355 attack UAVs, mostly "Shaheds," as well as nine cruise missiles. Zelenskyy reported that there had been injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure, and noted that the geography of the strikes extended across northern, central, eastern, and southern Ukraine. He added that it marked the third consecutive night of combined Russian attacks involving both drones and missiles. "Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to carry out such strikes and continue increasing their scale," said Zelenskyy. "There is no real military logic to this, but there is significant political meaning." Show additional content? This content is part of the text you are currently reading. The provider X / Twitter provides this content and may collect your usage data directly when you click “Show content”. Always show content from X / Twitter. "In doing this, Putin shows just how much he despises the world — the world that spends more effort on 'dialogue' with him than on real pressure." "Like any criminal, Russia can only be constrained by force. Only through strength — the strength of the United States, of Europe, of all nations that value life — can these attacks be stopped and real peace achieved." Zelenskyy added that the increase in Russian strikes and Moscow's "disregard for diplomacy" should be met with tougher sanctions. 26th May,2025

ARAB NATIONS TO PRESSURE ISRAEL Spain has called for an arms embargo against the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Sunday. He also suggested targeted sanctions could be imposed on individuals "who obstruct the two-state solution." "We must all agree on a joint arms embargo," Albares told reporters at the start of the ministerial meeting of the Madrid Group in the Spanish capital, which he said aimed to halt Israel's "inhumane" and "senseless" war in the Palestinian enclave. "The last thing the Middle East needs right now is weapons," he added. Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares gives a press conference during the Madrid+ For the Implementation of the Two States Solution meeting of European and Arab nations in Madrid on May 25, 2025. Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares gives a press conference during the Madrid+ For the Implementation of the Two States Solution meeting of European and Arab nations in Madrid on May 25, 2025. Spain has been one of the EU's harshest critics of IsraelImage: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images What else did Spain's top diplomat say? Albares also said Spain would propose the immediate suspension of a trade partnership between the European Union and Israel, which Brussels is currently reviewing. Spain, one of the EU's toughest critics of Israel, angered Benjamin Netanyahu last year when it officially recognized Palestine as a state. Ireland, Slovenia and Norway also recognized Palestine in 2024. Pressure grows on Israel over conduct of war in Gaza 02:32 "Nothing that is being discussed here is directed against the State of Israel," Albares insisted, but he added that the "Palestinian people have exactly the same right to peace and security as the Israeli people." International pressure on Israel mounts The meeting in Madrid comes as several of Israel's Western allies have joined international calls for it to relent in its military offensive against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the de facto rulers of Gaza, whose attack on southern Israel in October 2023 triggered the ongoing war. That terror attack killed 1,218 people, mainly civilians, while the Palestinian militants also took 251 people hostage. Israel's military says 57 hostages are still in Gaza, including 34 who Israel says have died. Israel's response has killed almost 54,000 people in the Gaza Strip, the majority civilians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry figures. Over 122,000 people have been injured and most of the enclave's buildings and infrastructure have been devastated. After a ceasefire collapse in early March, Israel imposed a blockade on the besieged enclave, blocking entries of food, water, medicine and fuel supplies, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation and provoking fears of a looming famine. Israel said last week that it would allow a "basic amount" of food supplies into Gaza, but aid organizations and the UN have said that the aid is nowhere near enough to alleviate the humanitarian situation. "Silence in these moments is complicity in this massacre... that is why we are meeting," Albares said. Ministers and senior representatives from countries and organizations in Europe — including France, the UK, Germany and Italy — and the Arab world were taking part in the meeting. Brazil and Turkey were also involved. France and Saudi Arabia will preside over a UN conference next month on the conflict. 26th May,2025

FINLAND SUMMONS RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR Finland summoned Russia's ambassador on Monday after two Russian military aircraft allegedly violated Finnish airspace near the southern coast last week. The incident has ramped up rising tensions as Helsinki deepens its NATO integration and bolsters defenses against potential threats along its shared border with Russia. The suspected breach was off the coast of Porvoo, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Helsinki, and is under investigation by Finnish authorities. The country's defense ministry first reported the incident on Friday. "The foreign ministry of Finland has today summoned the ambassador of Russia and requested an explanation regarding the suspected violation of airspace," the ministry said in a post on X. 26th May,2025

MALAWI-ISRAEL HEALTHWORKERS DEAL With high unemployment among healthcare professionals, an agreement between Malawi and Israel will see the Southern African nation send trained nurses and midwives to Israeli health institutions. The Malawian government says the bilateral deal, signed in April, will benefit healthcare workers by giving them a job, new skills and help them support their families through remittances. Several Malawian nurses, like Christina Jere, are excited about the prospect of working in Israel. "I would definitely go. I have been qualified for three years and I haven't even been called for an interview," Jere told DW. "Malawi is my home, but why would I stay in a country where I have spent so much on college fees without a job? Elizabeth Gondwe—another trained nurse—has similar aspirations. "I've stayed for a long time without being employed. I'm so excited because here in Malawi I was unable to help my family," Gondwe explained to DW, adding that she eventually envisions returning to Malawi with more skills and experience. Criticism of the Malawi-Israel healthcare workers' deal Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of sending skilled healthcare workers abroad. A similar deal agreed in 2023, in which Malawians went to work in Israel's agricultural sector, caused uproar amid reports of exploitation, poor working conditions, and Malawian workers being deported for breaching their work contracts. Critics also say Malawi's health system is under-resourced and cannot afford to lose trained personnel. Malawi's nurse-to-patient ratio is about one-third below that of the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended ratio of at least one nurse per 1,000 patients. While the deal has been seen as a win for the Malawian government, Malawian observers have also questioned the government's motives, seeing this as a political move, rather than taking the interests of Malawian citizens into account. 26th May,2025

POWER OUTAGE IN NICE A second major power outage in two days hit southeastern France Sunday, this time in the city of Nice, after an electrical facility was damaged by suspected arson. In a post on X, the mayor of the coastal city, Christian Estrosi, blamed "malicious acts." The Nice public prosecutor said a criminal investigation has been opened for "organized arson." The blackout in Nice started around 2:00 a.m. local time (0:00 a.m. GMT) and left approximately 45,000 households without electricity. The city's trams stopped, and power was briefly cut to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport during its overnight closure. According to the energy provider company Enedis, power was fully restored by 5:30 a.m. The police have not yet determined whether the blackout that affected parts of Nice and two nearby cities is linked to the power outage that disrupted the final day of Cannes' renowned film festival. 26th May,2025

FRIEDRICH MERZ IN FINLAND FOR NORDIC SUMMIT Conservative German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is traveling to the Turku in southwestern Finland in order to meet with the prime ministers of the Nordic countries. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia and has warned of Moscow's military build-up. Health Minister Nina Warken is calling for Germany to impose tighter restrictions on the online prescription of medicinal cannabis. Meanwhile, Greens parliamentary leader Katharina Dröge called a plan by Merz's government to abolish a 3-year accelerated path to German citizenship "senseless." 26th May,2025

VW MANAGERS GUILTY OF FRAUD Four former Volkswagen executives have been found guilty of fraud in a criminal trial relating to the "Dieselgate" scandal. https://p.dw.com/p/4uuCl Volkswagen logo and red light in Wolfsburg on February 5, 2025 The scandal surrounds the manipulation of diesel car emissions tests Image: Moritz Frankenberg/dpa/picture alliance ADVERTISEMENT The Braunschweig Regional Court in northern Germany on Monday convicted four former Volkswagen executives of fraud over the "Dieselgate" scandal. The verdict brings a massive trial to an end after almost four years. The scandal surrounding the manipulation of diesel car emissions tests came to light in September 2015. The Wolfsburg-based automaker had shortly before admitted to false test results in the US. Prison time for Volkswagen executives Two of the executives were sentenced to several years in prison, with two other former employees receiving suspended sentences. A former head of diesel engine development was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The former head of drive electronics received two years and seven months in prison. The highest-ranking defendant, a former member of the Volkswagen brand's development board, received one year and three months' probation. A former department head was sentenced to one year and ten months' probation. The global scandal, widely known as Dieselgate, plunged the Wolfsburg-based carmaker into a deep crisis. Volkswagen has faced countless lawsuits and estimated the total cost of the scandal at more than €30 billion ($34 billion). The public prosecutor's office had demanded between two and four years in prison and considered probation appropriate in only one case. The defense, however, pleaded for three acquittals and one warning. Proceedings against former CEO unclear Former chief executive Martin Winterkorn was originally due to stand trial alongside the four, but proceedings against him were suspended for health reasons before they began in September 2021. Winterkorn has since appeared in court as both a witness and a defendant, repeatedly denying any responsibility for the scandal. 26th May,2025

MACRON HOPE TO GAIN IN HANOI Hanoi has shown diplomatic skill in juggling its partnerships with the US, the EU, China and Russia. The French president aims this week to boost trade ties with Vietnam, but defense is also very high on the agenda. https://p.dw.com/p/4uvL5 Leaders of France and Vietnam, Emmanuel Macron and To Lam, smile during a luncheon in Hanoi Emmanuel Macron (r) described France as a 'familiar, safe, and reliable friend' to Vietnam while meeting Vietnamese leader To LamImage: Chalinee Thirasupa/Pool/AFP/Getty Images ADVERTISEMENT French President Emmanuel Macron has made Vietnam the first stop in his weeklong tour of Southeast Asia, as he seeks to reinforce the EU's strategic position in a region already caught up in the US-China rivalry. Meeting Vietnam's top leader To Lam on Monday, Macron was quick to capitalize on the insecurity created by US President Donald Trump's trade wars and Beijing's aggressive posturing in the disputed areas of the South China Sea. "With France, you have a familiar, safe, and reliable friend (...) and in the period we are living in, this alone has great value," Macron told To Lam, who serves as the secretary general of Vietnam's Communist Party. This is the first visit by a French president to Vietnam in nearly a decade. 26th May,2025