Author: DW

H5N1 bird flu cases have US authorities — and other nations monitoring its outbreak — on high alert. More than 60 human H5N1 infections have been confirmed in the US, mostly among agricultural workers close to infected cattle and birds. At time of writing, more than 123 million poultry have been infected across all US states, in addition to 865 dairy herds. On Wednesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first “severe” case of H5N1 had hospitalized a person in Louisiana. California governor Gavin Newsom also declared a state of emergency to address the spread of the virus.…

La Liga, Spain’s top football league, chose one of Buenos Aires’ top hotels, the Palacio Duhau, to launch its “fight against audiovisual fraud in Latin America.” “They are stealing our product,” said La Liga boss Javier Tebas, pointing the finger at US tech companies such as X, Cloudfare or Google, who have refused to cooperate, thus making themselves accomplices to the illegal distribution or access to transmissions. The perpetrators’ aim is to generate profits through advertising revenue, including by distributing content illegally. A short time later, Hernan Donnari, CEO of the media company and rights holder 1190 Sports, added: “This is…

As has often been the case since the overthrow of communism 35 years ago, Romania is currently oscillating between the tragic and the grotesque. It is simultaneously tragic and grotesque that a massive reform backlog and a deep-seated mistrust of politicians have propelled extreme right-wing, pro-Russian politicians to major electoral successes in recent weeks. Equally tragic and grotesque is the fact that the country’s traditional political elite does not seem willing to learn anything from the situation. Coalition negotiations underway After the parliamentary election on December 1 and the annulment on December 6 of the first round of the presidential election…

Bushfires raged in Australia’s Victoria on Saturday, prompting an evacuation order at the highest rating for hundreds of people residing in the west of the state. Authorities raised the alert for an area near the Grampians National Park, which is located about 241 kilometers (roughly 150 miles) from the state’s capital Melbourne. Soon after, Victoria’s emergency services agency upgraded the advice to “evacuate immediately” and widened the affected area.  “This is an EMERGENCY WARNING – BUSHFIRE – Evacuate Immediately issued for Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap,” the agency said online.  “If you choose to…

With her fiction feature debut, “All We Imagine as Light,” Payal Kapadia became the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix at Cannes. Released in cinemas around the world, including in Germany on December 19, the work is now set to become one of the most theatrically distributed Indian independent films of all time. In India itself, where the film was also recently released, “All We Imagine as Light” is also enjoying success. “We’re very happy,” says Payal Kapadia. “But at the end of the day, it’s a very small independent movie.”  But even without the marketing power of blockbuster movies, the arthouse work is garnering…

The winter in Europe is having an impact on renewable energy production and electricity prices in general. At least that is what some Scandinavian countries are saying. Since companies cannot store vast amounts of electricity yet, power must be used when it is generated. In the past, the European energy market was stabilized by power produced by fossil-fuel or nuclear plants. The introduction of more renewables into the system brings more volatility. As the percentage of renewables goes up, so does the dependence on the fickle sun and inconsistent wind. Without sun solar panels are kept in the dark. A lack…

The US says it has killed Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Yusif in Syria.US Central Command Forces (Centcom) said it carried out an airstrike targeting Yusif – who also goes by Mahmud – in the east of the country. Another IS operative was also killed in the strike, according to US officials.This strike was conducted in an area formerly controlled by the Syrian regime and Russian forces.Centcom commander, general Michael Erik Kurilla, said: “As stated before, the United States – working with allies and partners in the region – will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation…

On a small sports field on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, almost 60 young people take it in turns to cheer on Alexandra Ndolo and Ashley Ngoiri. The two fencers face off, demonstrating to the girls and boys a sport that is largely unknown in Kenya. “When so many children shout loudly and cheer us on, it gives me a lot of energy and motivates me to bring my sport closer to the people, of course,” Ndolo told DW. For Ngoiri, who only started fencing seven years ago, the support is also impressive. “As a fencer, this was…

As the moon rises over Avignon’s city walls, the night before the verdicts are announced, it is just high enough to illuminate the banner a small group of feminist activists has put up in a cloak-and-dagger operation. The banner reads: “Thank you, Gisele.” The next morning, it is the first thing the lawyers, journalists, family members, and the 51 men accused of raping Gisele Pelicot see as they enter the court building. It is still dark at 07 a.m., but already there is a long line of people waiting outside. Over the past four months, France and the whole world have…

On his possibly last overseas trip before leaving office US President Joe Biden is travelling to Italy in January to meet Pope Francis and top Italian officials, the White House announced on Thursday. Besides the pontiff, Biden will also meet with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella during the January three-day trip, due to commence on January 9, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. In a call on Thursday, the president accepted the invite to the Vatican, and “thanked the Pope for his continued advocacy to alleviate global suffering, including his work to advance human rights and protect religious…