Latest in World Highlight
Latest in World
Business and migration to shape Merkel‘s trip to West Africa
Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal are the three countries on Merkel’s upcoming trip to Africa. Her itinerary is filled with business and trade meetings but migration is also expected to be on the agenda.For Chancellor Angela Merkel, the past weeks have been Africa weeks. She first hosted leaders from Niger and Angola in Berlin and on …
John McCain: Caller for all wars
John McCain: The biggest and most romantic conservative
India refuses international aid for Kerala flood relief
The decision to refuse aid has drawn ire with the funds pledged by New Delhi falling far short of the amount requested by the state. Some now say the Indian policy not to accept foreign disaster money needs to change.India has declined relief assistance from foreign governments for the flood-hit southern state of Kerala following …
German minister pushes for free trade deal ahead of Africa trip
Germany’s development minister Gerd Müller is promoting a “customs-free trade deal in Africa” ahead of his seven-nation Africa visit. Experts say the real issues are being ignored.When it comes to the economic relationship between Germany and Africa, the issue of customs exemption is no longer an important topic. At least that’s what renowned development economist …
Brexit Diaries 42: The Muppet Show continues
Summer break is over and Brexit continues: shock and awe about Brexit plans, no deal is no problem and the inevitable return of Nigel Farage. DW’s Barbara Wesel writes from Brussels.Michel Barnier and Dominic Raab courteously stepped out after their short meeting in Brussels on Tuesday and told the press that they had nothing to …
French energy giant Total officially pulls out of Iran
France’s Total had signed up last year to a $4.8 billion Iranian gas field project. However, it was forced to backtrack after the US threatened to impose penalties on any business found still doing business with Iran.Total, France’s largest energy company, announced on Monday it was pulling out of a $4.8 billion (€4.1 billion) Iranian …
WHO: Measles infections surge in Europe in 2018
The World Health Organization has warned of a “dramatic increase” in measles infections in Europe in the first half of 2018. It said the situation was most alarming in Ukraine, and urged countries to boost immunization.Measles outbreaks have killed at least 37 people in the European region so far this year, the European branch of …
Death toll due to floods in Kerala reaches 324
The death toll resulted from floods and torrential rains in Kerala state in south-western India rose to 324. The flooding further resulted in damaging dams and roads, and the demolition of houses. The state government chief Pinaray Vijayan, said that “324 lives have been lost” in 10 days of floods in the state, particularly in a touristic …
Hajj set to begin amid Qatar-Saudi tensions and Egypt’s economic woes
The six-day Muslim pilgrimage known as the hajj will welcome 1.6 million Muslims as relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia remain tense. Many Egyptians have been unable to afford the journey as the economy splutters.Qatar has accused Saudi Arabia of blocking its citizens from attending this year’s hajj because of the ongoing diplomatic feud. The …
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan dies aged 80
The 7th UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan died in Switzerland after a short illness, according to a statement by his family and foundation of Kofi Annan, which announced his death on Saturday morning. In a statement via social media, they said, “it is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce …
Remembering Kofi Annan: A smooth negotiator
Kofi Annan has died at the age of 80. For 10 years, he was at the forefront of world politics. He continued to work as an ambassador for peace even after leaving his post as secretary-general of the United Nations.Kofi Annan — a small man with a grey goatee, smiling from behind his desk in …
Australian teen hacks into Apple’s main network
Hacking by an Australian teenager into Apple’s main network has prompted the Californian computer giant to reassure customers that their data was not compromised. The teen is due for sentencing in Melbourne next month.An Apple spokesman in San Francisco insisted Friday that the Australian teen’s unauthorized access had been contained and the incident had been …
Stolen Buddha statue spotted in UK, returned to India
A miniature Buddha statue stolen from India over five decades ago has been handed back to the country’s high commission in London. Police said it was spotted at a British trade fair.London police said the 12th-century bronze statue was returned at a ceremony in London to mark India’s Independence Day, prompting Michael Ellis, a British …
The special ‘zombie gene’ that protects elephants from cancer
Elephants die of cancer much less often than humans of the same age. The reason for this is that they have revived a special gene that kills off damaged DNA.Approximately 17 percent of people worldwide die of cancer. The figure for elephants is only five percent, although on average they live to about the same …
Kenya: A ‘sweet’ deal gone sour
Kenyans are outraged by reports that legislators took bribes to bury an investigation of a dodgy sugar trade deal involving government representatives. The issue also threatens Kenya’s trade relations in East Africa.”It’s a disaster.” That’s what Samuel Nyandemo, senior lecturer on economics at Nairobi University, calls the refusal by lawmakers to investigate Finance minister Henry …
Chinese tourist dies in hippo attack in Kenya
The man was taking pictures on the shores of Lake Naivasha when he was attacked by a hippo. Rising water levels at the lake have led to a rise in hippo attacks which have claimed six lives this year, local media said.A Chinese tourist died after being attacked by a hippo on the shores of …
Singapore film about modern slavery and love wins at Locarno Film Festival
A Land Imagined, a thriller by Yeo Siew Hua of Singapore, has won the top prize at the Locarno Film Festival. The film contrasts Southeast Asia’s rich hub with the exploitation of impoverished migrant workers.A thriller/love story about modern slavery and a migrant Chinese construction worker who vanishes in Singapore has won the Golden Leopard …
European Athletics Championships: Germany’s Mateusz Przybylko, Malaika Mihambo win gold
Germany has taken back the European title for men’s high jump and women’s long jump with two home-crowd wins. For the long jump, German record holder Heike Drechsler was on hand to see her successor’s win.Athletes Mateusz Przybylko and Malaika Mihambo won gold medals number four and five for Germany on Saturday at the European …
Erdogan warns of ‘economic war’ as Turkish lira carnage spooks global markets
The Turkish lira crash is threatening to turn into a debt and liquidity crisis with no end in sight. Instead of acting, the Turkish leadership has warned of an “economic war.”Turkey is in the throes of a full-blown currency crisis, with little sign that the government has a plan to deal with one of the …
Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib set to become first Muslim woman in Congress
Democratic candidate Rashida Tlaib is about to make history by becoming the first Muslim woman elected to Congress. She said that although people “can’t pronounce my name, they remember the thing that I do for them.”Former state lawmaker Rashida Tlaib is set to become the first Muslim woman elected to the US Congress after winning …
How China changed after 2008 Beijing Olympics
In 2008, the international community had hoped that the Beijing Olympics would usher in a democratic era in China. Ten years after the games, the Chinese state has become even more repressive and authoritarian.In 2008, when China hosted Olympic Games in the capital Beijing, there was optimism that the international competition would be the first …
Trump strongly warns partners from trading with Iran after restoring sanctions
‘Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States,’ Trump says
What’s wrong with Indian media?
In the past few years, the media industry in India has expanded tremendously. But at the same time, corporate and political influences on journalists have also increased. Murali Krishnan reports from New Delhi.The recent resignations of two prominent journalists from ABP news channel have once again sparked a debate on media censorship in India. Those …
Top Michelin star chef Joel Robuchon dies aged 75
Joel Robuchon was named one of four “chefs of the century” in 1990. He gained 31 Michelin stars since entering gastronomy at the age of 15.French chef Joel Robuchon, who accumulated more than 30 Michelin stars during his career, died on Monday in his home in Geneva aged 73. “Joel Robuchon, visionary leader and the …
Indonesia dances poco-poco in Asian Games record attempt
In an attempt to break a world record, tens of thousands have danced the poco-poco, including inmates in more than 500 prisons. Participants said the mass dance helps promote a tradition “that could have been forgotten.”Indonesian President Joko Widodo (seen above) on Sunday led tens of thousands of people in a mass traditional line dance …
Russia appoints actor Steven Seagal to deepen ties with US
American action movie star Steven Seagal has been named as a special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The unpaid role will focus on developing Russian-American relations in the areas of culture and art.Moscow has appointed US actor Steven Seagal to promote the “further development of Russian-American relations in the humanitarian sphere, including interaction in …
Could removing Europe’s dams revive its rivers?
An NGO is calling for tens of thousands of dams across Europe to be dismantled for the sake of the environment. Why is this massive undertaking needed, and how feasible would it be?Sixty percent of Europe’s surface waters are in poor environmental condition, according to the latest water quality report for the continent from the …
Counting critters: Germans invited to join first insect census
German conservationists want the public to head outdoors and count creepy crawlies this weekend. They’re holding a nationwide insect census to collect crucial data on a population they say is under threat.German nature conservation group NABU is asking people to take part in a nationwide insect count this weekend to gather data on the country’s …
DR Congo declares new Ebola outbreak in North Kivu
A week after declaring the end of an Ebola outbreak, the health ministry has announced a new one near the Ugandan border. Local authorities have called for “calm and prudence” in the northeastern province.The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Wednesday announced a new outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the North Kivu province. …
Lithuania: Russian app spying on users
The head of Lithuanian cyber security has said the popular Yandex taxi app is unlawfully collecting passengers’ data. Yandex has responded that the accusations are without merit.The head of Lithuania’s National Cyber Security Center, Rytis Rainys, said on Tuesday that consumers should stop using a well-known Russian taxi-booking app, citing concerns that it was illegally …