Author: DW

An unusual request from the Kenyan president caused a stir at the end of May. “To our neighbors from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us,” William Ruto told a delegation of Tanzanian MPs at a national prayer breakfast. Some Kenyans found the gesture appropriate, but others found it outrageous. Less than a week prior, prominent Kenyan photojournalist and activist Boniface Mwangi had returned to Kenya visibly weakened after five days in a Tanzanian prison. He and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire had traveled to Tanzania to support imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is on trial on…

How did Musk and Trump get so close? Once a vocal critic of Donald Trump during his 2016 United States election campaign, Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, pivoted from his Democratic Party roots to embrace Trump’s policies during the Republican’s second term. Frustrated by Obama-era regulations stifling his ventures, Musk embraced Trump’s agenda of tax cuts and deregulation. Their bond grew from mutual respect to a robust political alliance, which saw Musk last year back Trump’s reelection campaign to the tune of nearly $300 billion (€263 billion). When Trump returned to the White House in January, the…

Fecal microbial transplants (FMTs) can be traced back to the 4th century, but it is only since their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in past decade that the procedure has entered wide practice. They have been hailed as a treatment for Clostridium difficile or C.diff, a common bacterial infection that can cause inflammation and gastrointestinal issues. The FDA first approved FMTs as a treatment for C.diff in 2013 and approved the first drug for FMT treatment in 2022. Some think FMTs may also be an option for treating Crohn’s disease— a chronic autoimmune condition — ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel…

Marco Sturm has reached his stated goal — becoming head coach of a team in the National Hockey League. It’s not just another team in the NHL either; the Bruins are an Original Six team and the winner of six Stanley Cups, the last having come in 2011. ‘Preparation and passion’ “Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion,” Bruins GM Don Sweeney said in a statement. “His path — playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL 8 [American Hockey League] and NHL levels — has shaped a well-rounded coach who’s…

In an unusual public disapproval of India’s weapons manufacturing ecosystem, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Amar Preet Singh lamented the delays plaguing the country’s defense projects and urged accountability.   Speaking at a high-profile industry gathering in the capital New Delhi last week, in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the air chief declared that contract timelines are routinely unrealistic and questioned the fundamental credibility of delivery promises made by public sector defense companies. “Many times, we know while signing contracts that those systems will never come. Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time,” said Singh, referring…

It was a consequential case of deja-vu in The Hague on Thursday, as the US issued fresh sanctions against judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over what it calls “illegitimate actions targeting the United States and Israel.” The move is the latest in a series of diplomatic assaults on the ICC ostensibly aimed at curtailing the court’s credibility and ability to function. The ICC has criticized the measure as “a clear attempt to undermine the indepedence of an international judicial institution.” While the European Union (EU) has long defended the court as the “cornerstone of international justice,” its member states’ mixed response…

How did Musk and Trump get so close? Once a vocal critic of Donald Trump during his 2016 United States election campaign, Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, pivoted from his Democratic Party roots to embrace Trump’s policies during the Republican’s second term. Frustrated by Obama-era regulations stifling his ventures, Musk embraced Trump’s agenda of tax cuts and deregulation. Their bond grew from mutual respect to a robust political alliance, which saw Musk last year back Trump’s reelection campaign to the tune of nearly $300 billion (€263 billion). When Trump returned to the White House in January, the…

Anyone who was in Berlin in the summer of 1995 will probably remember it for the rest of their lives: how the Reichstag — the seat of the German parliament — disappeared. Not blown up, not demolished, but completely wrapped in silver fabric and tied up with thick ropes, almost like a gift. A crazy idea? Perhaps. But also one that made history. Behind this spectacular action was a pair of artists who have repeatedly surprised the world with their ephemeral mega works of art: Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Their vision of a wrapped Reichstag was big, bold — and took 23 years…

Japan’sprivate moon mission was aborted on Friday after it was presumed that the unmanned Resilience spacecraft had crashed. Tokyo-based startup ispace had launched the mission in hopes of becoming the first private company outside the United States to achieve a controlled lunar landing. Lunar lander crashed into moon The Resilience spacecraft had begun its final descent, successfully firing its main engine “as planned to begin deceleration,” ispace said. Mission control reported that the craft’s position was “nearly vertical,” but contact was then lost. ispace stated that the spacecraft had likely failed to decelerate sufficiently to reach the speed required for a soft lunar landing. “Based on…

Marco Sturm has finally reached his goal since retiring as a player in 2013 — becoming head coach of a team in the National Hockey League, the sport’s top league. It’s not just another team in the NHL either; the Bruins are an Original Six team and the winner of six Stanley Cups, the last having come in 2011.  These factors make it a particularly coveted job and the Bruins interviewed several candidates before settling on Sturm. ‘Preparation and passion’ “Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion,” Bruins GM Don Sweeney said in a statement. “His…