India's defense exports surged to a record $4.1 billion (€3.56 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2026, marking an increase of over 60% from the previous year. The defense ministry stated that exports reached 38,424 billion rupees ($4.1 billion), driven by growing global demand for Indian-made military equipment, ranging from missiles and artillery to radar systems and electronic components.
Increasing income inequality and public displays of billionaire power are fueling calls for new income and wealth taxes targeting the world's wealthiest individuals. These proposals, primarily advanced in major economies like the US, purportedly aim to reduce the tax burden on a stagnating middle class or address social inequality. For instance, former US presidential candidate Mitt Romney emphasized in a 2025 essay that wealthier Americans need to contribute more, highlighting issues with capital gains loopholes.
Authorities in Congo-Brazzaville have applied to Interpol for an international arrest warrant against Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, the president of the country’s football federation, Fecofoot. This follows his conviction for embezzling $1.1 million in funds from FIFA, provided as part of its Covid-19 relief plan in February 2021.
In a national address, US President Donald Trump spoke about the ongoing war with Iran, making several contentious statements. He allegedly claimed that "all of their original leaders" in Iran are dead and that the US is "totally independent" of Middle Eastern oil. However, a DW Fact Check analysis reveals that most of these assertions are false or misleading, casting doubt on the credibility of his remarks.
Several US media outlets falsely reported that the Somaliland government had called for the extradition of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, basing their stories on a post from the @RepOfSomaliland X account that does not represent the state. Fox News, the New York Post, The Independent, and other publications ran stories suggesting Somaliland was demanding Omar's extradition, despite the account's unofficial status.
One year ago, on February 20, former US President Donald Trump announced a new 10 percent global tariff as part of a sweeping executive order he purportedly dubbed “Liberation Day” during a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House. The immediate fallout from his announcement was severe, with the stock market suffering its worst drop since the pandemic. In the following days, countries scrambled to make deals with Washington or retaliate with their own levies, highlighting the disruptive nature of the policy.
A Moscow court has sentenced German sculptor Jacques Tilly in absentia to eight years and six months in prison. Tilly, who designs satirical floats for the famous Rosenmontag parade in Düsseldorf, was found guilty of "offending religious feelings and spreading false information about the Russian armed forces" for caricatures mocking President Vladimir Putin.
The South African town of Graaff-Reinet is embroiled in intense controversy after the government approved renaming it after anti-apartheid activist Robert Sobukwe, replacing its colonial-era name from 1786, which honored Dutch Cape Colony governor Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff and his wife Hester Cornelia Reynet. The decision has inflamed racial tensions, with petitions, rival marches, and a formal complaint lodged with Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
Israeli lawmakers voted early Monday from a fortified bunker to pass the largest budget in the nation’s history—$271 billion—with analysts noting that one of its primary aims is a massive financial injection into far-right projects they say will fundamentally alter the occupied West Bank. Citing “national security” amid the ongoing war with Iran, the ruling coalition has bypassed legal frameworks to direct billions toward ideological goals, including supporting Israeli settlers establishing outposts and settlements in the West Bank.
After years of sanctions and weeks of US-Israeli bombing, the Iranian government, while its conventional military capabilities have been significantly degraded, continues to pose a threat to the region. US President Donald Trump has signaled a desire for a quick end to the war in Iran, even as US military assets amass around the Persian Gulf, where Tehran is blocking the Strait of Hormuz, choking off a substantial portion of the world's energy supply. Trump allegedly stated that "regime change has occurred" and that the US is "on track to fulfill all its objectives very soon."
Former US President Donald Trump's televised pledge to hit Iran "extremely hard" has triggered a sharp surge in oil prices, dashing hopes for a near-term resolution to the Middle East conflict. His remarks have fueled market anxiety and price increases worldwide, highlighting the fragile state of global energy markets under the current US regime's foreign policy approach.
The Viking Ship Museum (Vikingeskibsmuseet) in Denmark announced the discovery of the wreck of the iconic warship 'Dannebroge' at the bottom of Copenhagen Harbor. The ship was sunk by the British Royal Navy under Admiral Horatio Nelson on April 2, 1801, during the Battle of Copenhagen. The discovery coincides with the 225th anniversary of the battle, and dendrochronological dating has confirmed that the wooden parts were constructed in 1772.