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Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Georgian national and ethnic Chechen, who had once fought against Russia in the Second Chechen War, was shot dead in broad daylight with three bullets to the head and back in Berlin's Tiergarten Park. The killer, Russian intelligence agent Vadim Krasikov, was arrested at the scene and sentenced to life imprisonment two years later. Now police officers, judges and politicians in Germany are surprised by talks of a possible exchange of the Russian killer Krasikov for Americans arrested in Russia.

Chinese warships surrounded Taiwan as Beijing said the military exercises were a "strong punishment for the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' forces." Taipei has condemned the drills.

A tornado devastated a good portion the small US town of Greenfield, killing multiple people and leaving at least a dozen injured. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a disaster emergency proclamation for 15 counties in response to the extreme weather. This includes Adair County, which covers Greenfield. The town is home to around 2,000 people and lies 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. Its hospital was one of the buildings that sustained the worst damage, and injured people had to be taken to facilities elsewhere.

Emmanuel Macron says he will delay reforms that sparked days of deadly riots in the faraway French territory of New Caledonia. The French President flew nearly 17,000 kilometers from Paris to the archipelago, which lies east of Australia. At least six people have died in more than a week of violence over plans that would allow more French residents of New Caledonia to vote in local elections. President Macron said he would take stock of the situation within a month. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 2:41 Samuel Gorohouna, University of New Caledonia 10:29 Nathalie Mrgudovic, Researcher of French Overseas Territories

Two weeks ahead of European elections, Germany's far-right Alternative for Deutschland – or AfD – has been expelled from the far-right Identity & Democracy grouping at the European Parliament. This follows a series of scandals largely centering around the party's lead candidate in the election. Maximilan Krah was recently quoted as saying that not all members of Nazi Germany's 'SS' were criminals. The AfD responded by banning Mr Krah from making public appearances. Last month, German police arrested one of his assistants on suspicion of espionage. For more on this, we speak with Nicolai von Ondarza. He heads the Europe Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), a think-tank that advises the German Parliament and federal government on foreign & security policy issues. And we talk to DW correspondent Bernd Riegert in Brussels.

reland, Norway and Spain announced earlier this week that they will recognize Palestinian statehood. Many Western countries have resisted recognizing an independent Palestinian state for years – but Israel's war against Hamas after the October 7 terror attack has put renewed focus on the issue. This package was part of our reporting on Wednesday, following the announcements by Ireland, Norway and Spain. Israel has condemned those announcements, warning the recognition could lead to "more terrorism and instability." Our livestreamed and televised coverage on Wednesday included an interview with Noura Erakat, a Palestinian-American activist and legal scholar. Many people have reached out to DW saying they would like to see that live interview online. We are making it available here in the full context of our coverage from Wednesday's news show at 16:00 UTC. 00:00 Intro 02:28 DW correspondents Jack Parrock in Brussels and Rebecca Ritters in Jerusalem 05:36 Palestinian-American activist and legal scholar Noura Erakat 08:38 DW Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner

As tensions continue to rise between the Philippines and China over their mutual claims to parts of the South China Sea, in a conflict with the potential to pull in Washington, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez outlines what’s at stake for his country - and as he argues, for the world. In 1999, the Philippines deliberately marooned the BRP Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal, along with its crew to act as an outpost and to further its territorial claims. As Chinese ships step up present-day attempts to block resupply missions to the Sierra Madre, news of a so-called “gentlemen’s agreement” between former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and Chinese government officials has created a furor. Chinese officials claim the existence of an audio recording where the Duterte government essentially agreed to a less vigorous pursuit of the Philippine claim to the Second Thomas Shoal and to refrain from bringing construction materials to the outpost. The current tensions, in China’s view, are a product of Manila’s reneging on the agreement. For its part, the present administration under Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has denied knowledge of any such deal and has generally been taking a different tack from the previous government. Marcos has pivoted back to the United States, reaffirming defense ties with the United States, and with partners in the region like Japan. The hope is that there’s safety in numbers - that stronger alliances will raise the costs of aggression for China.

Israeli far-right extremists, many of them settlers residing in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, have been attacking aid convoys bound for the Gaza Strip. But they are met with opposition from Israeli and Palestinian peace activists — members of a group called "Standing Together," which calls for a cease-fire as well as increased humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. These activists are trying to salvage what they can after aid trucks were attacked and their shipment of food and supplies looted and vandalized. In other cases, group members have accompanied aid convoys to crossings into Gaza. Israeli security forces have faced allegations of not stopping or even aiding the attacks. Earlier this week, the British Guardian newspaper reported on incidents in which Israeli police and soldiers had allegedly tipped off the location of aid convoys to Israeli settlers. The UN has warned that the situation in northern Gaza amounts to full-blown famine, while the International Rescue Committee (IRC) says that 100% of Gazans are facing crisis levels of food insecurity. The UN has reported that 5,600 aid trucks have entered Gaza in April via the Kerem Shalom and Rafah Crossings, but only 1,400 trucks have entered so far in May, partly due to an increase in fighting in Rafah as the Israeli military seeks to eliminate Hamas battalions in the area. UN aid agencies working in Gaza just recently said that their warehouses in Rafah are inaccessible and that they have suspended humanitarian aid distribution due to concerns over the safety of their staff and lack of supplies.

Chinese State TV is reporting that dozens of Chinese fighter jets, carrying live missiles, have been conducting mock strikes in the airspace and water around Taiwan. The latest military drills have been described by Chinese military spokesman Colonel Li Xi as “strong punishment for the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan's independence forces’ and a stern warning against interference and provocation by external forces.” Taiwan, which is a self-governing island, has mobilized its military forces in response. The military drills come just days after Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, was inaugurated and called on the mainland to stop making such threats. Taiwan presents a real challenge to the United States, as keeping China at bay militarily embodies the triumph of American dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. Protecting Taiwan from a perceived Chinese threat, as well as competition with China on various economic, technological, and military fronts, are important policy goals for the United States. Washington official policy on Taiwan is one of "strategic ambiguity," which was put to the test when former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei in August 2022. Both politicians in Taipei and Beijing are unsure as to how the U.S. would respond if China were to invade Taiwan or if Taiwan were to declare its independence. In the first scenario, an American military response could potentially spark a war with China, while in the second, uncertainty as to whether the U.S. would come to Taiwan's aid could prevent Taiwan from declaring outright independence from China.

Russia's military says it has begun tactical nuclear weapons drills near Ukraine. The exercises are taking place in Russia's Southern Military District which, according to the Kremlin, includes parts of Ukraine under occupation. Moscow says the drills are in response to threats from some Western officials. It's the first time Russia has publicly announced drills that involve tactical nuclear weapons while its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises. For more on this, we talk to Katarzyna Zysk. She is professor of International Relations and Contemporary History at the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies. And we talk to Mark Cancian. He's a retired Colonel in the US Marine Corps, and a senior Adviser with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 00:00 Intro 00:33 Interview with Katarzyna Zysk 04:49 Interview with Mark Cancian

Washington’s former Middle East negotiator, Dennis Ross, told DW that the Israeli-Palestinian situation is currently worse than he has ever seen. Ross said he believed the two sides did not even “believe in peace” right now. Speaking to DW’s Tim Sebastian, the veteran diplomat, who previously took part in US-led negotiations, added that Palestinian statehood was needed if the Palestinians chose it — but that it could not be produced overnight. Ross also said he thought the arrest warrants sought by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant would lead Israel to continue the war in Gaza because for many Israelis it seemed to imply a “moral equivalency” between Israel and Hamas. Ross said the sour mood in US-Israeli relations was “leadership” driven and that Washington had red lines for Israel in its military operations in Gaza.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been performing prayers at the funeral service of president Ebrahim Raisi. Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Tehran for the funeral procession. Raisi, along with the foreign minister and other officials, died in a helicopter crash in northern Iran on Sunday. 63-year-old Raisi was widely expected to succeed Khamenei as supreme leader. For more on this, we talk to Sara Bazoobandi who joins us from the Hamburg-based German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

The first of several funeral ceremonies for president Ebrahim Raisi has taken place in Iran. Crowds of mourners filled the streets of the city of Tabriz, near the site where Raisi and his entourage died after their helicopter went down in heavy fog on Sunday. Later, a funeral procession brought the coffins though the holy city of Qom. Iranian state media said the crash was the result of a technical failure. The army says it's launched an investigation. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 3:04 Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Political Scientist 10:15 Arash Azizi, Iran Analyst

Iran has held the first funeral services for president Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday along with other top officials. Raisi became president in 2021 and was seen as a deeply conservative and hardline leader.

A group of suspected coup plotters has gone on trial in the German city of Frankfurt. The so-called Reichsburger, meaning citizens of the Reich, were arrested in December 2022 during nationwide raids. Their plot included imposing harsh military law over Germany after a coup. This is the second such trial to get underway, following that of the group's alleged military wing, which began at the end of April. Among those on trial is Heinrich the 13th Prince Reuss - one of the leaders of the group, who was allegedly intending to head an interim German government. And a former AfD member of the Bundestag, Birgit Malsack-Winkemann. Altogether, Germany's federal prosecutor has charged 27 suspects.

Iranian state media are reporting that a 'technical failure' caused the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and the foreign minister. It happened Sunday in a remote region near the border with Azerbaijan. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed an interim president who must hold elections within the next 50 days. He's also ordered five days of national mourning. Raisi's death has prompted mixed reactions from governments and world leaders. What does his sudden death mean for the regime? 00:00 Background & international reactions 04:01 Ali Fathollah-Nejad, Center for Middle east and Global Order 07:52 Kamran Matin, University of Sussex 12:35 Maziar Bahari, Journalist

The International Criminal Court's top prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and defense minister, as well as for three Hamas leaders. Karim Khan says they all bear responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the war in Gaza and the October 7 attacks in Israel. 00:00 Background 02:42 Chile Eboe-Osuji, Former President of the International Criminal Court 10:02 Sir Geoffrey Nice, Former War Crimes Prosecutor 17:20 Aya Ibrahim, DW Correspondent

One person has died and several more were injured during "severe turblence" on a flight from London to Singapore. The Singapore Airlines Boeing was diverted to Bangkok, where emergency services were on the ground. A witness said turbulence led to those not wearing seatbelts hitting overhead cabins. An airline spokesman has confirmed the fatality and injuries. There were 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's term in office would be ending if Russia had not invaded Ukraine. Elections are suspended while martial law is in force. But Russia has been trying to undermine popular support for Zelenskyy by running a social media campaign for fresh elections. Chapters: 00:00 Intro and report 03:26 Yevheniia Kravchuk, Member of Ukrainian Parliament 06:43 Kira Rudik, Member of Ukrainian Parliament

Taiwan has a new president. At his inauguration, Lai Ching Te called for peace with China – and for Beijing to dial back its confrontational stance against the democratic island, which it regards as a renegade province. China is dependent on Taiwan for the latest in computer chips, and it also buys the majority of its exports. Europe is a key business partner of both sides – and has urged dialogue, rather than confrontation. Daniel Winter asks Zsuzsa Ferenczy, assistant professor at Taiwan’s National Dong Hwa University, if the new leadership in Taipei could mean more trade and less tension.

Iranian state media say President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister and several others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash. Teams searched for hours in bad weather, and the wreckage was eventually found in the mountains in Iran's East Azerbaijan region. Officials say the aircraft crashed into a mountain peak. 00:00 Intro 00:34 Analysis from Niloofar Ghoolami of DW's Persian Service

Iran's president Ibrahim Raisi has been killed in a helicopter crash. Iran's state TV says Raisi, his foreign minister and others died in a remote region near the border with Azerbaijan. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has appointed an interim president who must hold elections within the next 50 days. He's also ordered five days of national mourning. 00:00 Intro and report 02:41 DW speaks with Sara Bazoobandi of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been involved in an "accident" in the north of the country. Rescue and relief teams have been dispatched to the area, according to state media. The helicopter was carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati and several other passengers, state media reported.Raisi was in Azerbaijan early Sunday to inaugurate a dam with the neighboring country's president, Ilham Aliyev.

Heavy rainfall and storms wreak havoc across northern Italy, France and Germany. According to experts, climate change is likely fueling a surge in extreme weather events across the planet.

Cracks have begun to show in Israel's war cabinet over the future of the Gaza Strip. Former defense minister Benny Gantz is threatening to resign from the cabinet unless the government comes up with a concrete plan for a post-war Gaza. He had joined as a show of unity after Hamas launched the October 7 terrorist attack. Now, Gantz has set a three week deadline, ramping up the pressure on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, fighting between Israel and Hamas is intensifying. Northern Gaza is seeing some of the fiercest battles of the war so far, months after Israel declared the end of operations in the area. While in the south, hundreds of thousands flee fighting in Rafah, many of them not for the first time. 00:00 Intro and report 03:14 DW's Schani Rozanes provides analysis 07:16 DW speaks with Ahmed Bayram from the Norwegian Refugee Council