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SpaceX rocket ship blasts off on historic flight to ISS

After being delayed by bad weather, the Falcon 9 rocket has lifted off from Florida — the first launch of astronauts into orbit by a private firm. It's also NASA's first human spaceflight from US soil in nearly a decade. Go to article

A protester in a mask stands before police in Minneapolis (Reuters/Y. Gripas)

Trump threatens military action over protests

Trump said he was willing to use the military if state leaders don't get "tougher" on anti-police brutality protests. The unrest began after George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis and has since spread across the US.

A man in a mask walks down a sidewalk in Sao Paulo (Imago Images/Agencia EFE/S. Moreira)

Coronavirus latest: Global cases pass 6 million

Brazil has recorded a record number of new cases within 24 hours. Europe remains the hardest-hit continent, and the United States the worst-affected country. Follow DW for the latest.

Hong Kong officials denounce US response to security law

Top Hong Kong officials have sharply criticized US President Trump's threat to strip the city of its special status.

Competition blastoff? The end of Russian space monopoly

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launches in Florida behind a USA flag (Reuters/T. Baur)

The US is resuming crewed space travel with American spacecraft after nearly a decade of relying on Russian aid to reach the ISS. The era of space cooperation between Moscow and Washington may be reaching its end.

A protester holds a sign at the Datteln coal power plant (picture-alliance/dpa/G. Kirchner)

Protests at Germany's new coal power plant

Germany has pledged to phase out coal production by 2038. Protesters think the new Datteln 4 coal power plant in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia should not have been fired up.

CORONAVIRUS AROUND THE WORLD

India to ease lockdown despite daily infections record

An Indian man wears a mask (AFP/A. Sanukar)

COVID-19 infections have jumped by almost 8,000 in a day. Despite warnings that the pandemic is not at its peak, the New Delhi government plans to lift more lockdown rules from early June.

Virologists face death threats during pandemic

Deutschland Coronavirus Christian Drosten (picture-alliance/dpa/C. Gateau)

Experts were drafted in to advise governments on how to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and have become targets for critics. In Germany the attacks on virologist Christian Drosten have been hotly debated on social media.

Coronavirus: Germany 'can avoid second wave'

Is social distancing causing more suicides?

Sad looking woman with bottle of pills (Imago-Images/Panthermedia/A. Guillem)

Early figures suggest that despite warnings, Germany's suicide rate has actually decreased during social distancing measures. But mental health is still a concern, and some say its still too early to know the full toll.

NEWS REPORTS

Afghan journalist killed in Kabul roadside blast 49m ago

A minibus damaged in a blast in Kabul (picture-alliance/AP/R. Gul)

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a minibus explosion that left two dead and seven injured in Kabul. The vehicle was carrying employees of a local television station.

Germany, France, UK slam Pompeo's Iran sanctions move 9h ago

Iran's nuclear water reactor in Arak (picture-alliance/abaca/SalamPix)

Washington says it plans to revoke sanction waivers for firms from the three European countries operating in Iran. Their foreign ministries say the joint projects ensure the Islamic Republic's nuclear program is safe.

Pianist Igor Levit to play 20-hour coronavirus music marathon 15h ago

Coronavirus: German pianist's 20-hour concert to raise awareness of artists' plight

The musician will perform "Vexations," by Erik Satie, one of the longest pieces in the history of music. Levit wants to raise awareness of the struggles musicians are enduring amid lockdown.

German minister plans huge infrastructure package 11h ago

German transport minister proposes massive infrastructure package: report

Germany's Transport Minister Andreas Sheuer is proposing a multibillion-euro stimulus plan aimed at boosting investments in digital infrastructure and rail transport, according to a media report.

STORIES & ANALYSIS

Polish priests defy bishop amid pedophilia scandal

Priests in the Polish diocese of Kalisz refused to sign letters of loyalty to their bishop after a child abuse cover-up. More and more Catholics in Poland are calling on the Church to properly investigate such crimes.

DR Congo UN-Soldiers in Djugu, Ituri province (AFP/S. Tounsi)

DRC: Governor calls for help to stop 'genocide'

In an interview with DW, Jean Bamanisa Saidi, the governor of Ituri Province in northeastern DRC, has called for international troops to the troubled region. Thousands have been killed by militia in the past three years.

A Finnish flag flies from a ship on a body of water

Does Finland show the way to universal basic income?

For two years Finland's government gave 2,000 unemployed citizens €560 a month with no strings attached. It was the first nationwide basic income experiment. The concept is slowly becoming difficult for people to ignore.

Black-and-white image of a Russian fighter aircraft in Libya (DVIDS)

Russia expands war presence in Libya

The US has identified over a dozen Russia warplanes in Libya, marking Moscow's first direct venture into the North African country. Experts say it is part of a larger Russian plan to expand its influence in the region.

Perspectives

An empty stadium (Getty Images/AFP/I. Fassbender)

The coronavirus time machine

Amid the pandemic we're nostalgic for the way things were. But the past is never innocent, says Georgi Gospodinov.

Why are Pakistan's generals taking up top civilian posts?

Angela Merkel rejects Trump's G7 summit invite: report

Minneapolis police officer charged with murder of unarmed black man George Floyd

Coronavirus latest: Angela Merkel says Germany has 'passed' COVID-19 test so far

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A member of a rebel militia in Libya (Getty Images/AFP/J. Moore)

Why Russia exports arms to Africa

Along with natural resources, arms exports are a key component of Russia’s economy. In the last two decades, Moscow has managed to deepen its connection with Africa and became the biggest arms supplier on the continent.

Fussball - SC Freiburg - Bayer 04 Leverkusen (picture-alliance/M. Gilliar)

'Ghost games' have killed home advantage

Since the Bundesliga has returned without fans, home teams are winning only 20 percent of the time. This phenomenon puts smaller clubs at a disadvantage — and could play a part in the relegation battle.

Watch video 02:40

Young photographers in Hamburg

A photo show in Hamburg’s Deichtorhallen focuses on global disinformation in times of war and peace.

Watch video 03:04

WWII veteran in Ghana joins COVID-19 fight

Ghanaian war vet Joseph Hammond, 95, was inspired by a UK army officer's walk to take his own steps to fight COVID-19.

A guard measures the body temperature of customers entering a shopping mall in Krakow

Contact tracing reignites Polish privacy debate

In Poland, the official contact-tracing app released by the government has spurred the debate on privacy and surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics see ample opportunity for abuse.

Berlin Corona-Proteste | Verschwörungsmythos Bill Gates (AFP/T. Schwarz)

Latest conspiracy theories repeat old stories

The COVID-19 pandemic has helped congeal numerous fringe conspiracy theories that tend to rise up from the internet's darkest corners. But such paranoia has been around for centuries, and once was much more prevalent.

Sereetsi and the Natives (Moses Maruping/BWUnplugged)

How Botswana artists earn a living in lockdown

The coronavirus pandemic has hit hard on all sectors of Botswana. But for artists, social media has become the new way to connect with fans and make money.

German athlete wins scoring title in N. America for first time

Leon Draisaitl has just achieved something no other German has — winning a scoring title in a major North American sports league. Still, the 24-year-old still has his feet planted firmly on the ground.

Coronavirus | Flugzeuge | Flughafen Frankfurt am Main (Reuters/A. Dedert)

Ethnic German late repatriates left in limbo

Dozens of families of ethnic Germans from post-Soviet countries are in distress. Unable to travel to Germany due to the coronavirus pandemic, they have no fixed home and own little else apart from packed suitcases.

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