Author: DW

Keeping weight off can be hard. Oftentimes it feels like you’re fighting with your body to keep the weight off after months of successful dieting and exercise. A new study has discovered why — and it’s all down to fat cell memories. The research, published in the journal Nature, found that fat cells have a biological “memory” of past obesity and strive to return to this state. The study found that it wasn’t the number of fat cells that change when a person gains weight, but rather how existing fat cells store nutrients. This “obesity memory” can last for years after a…

King Charles III’s coronation in 2023 cost British taxpayers £72 million (€86.5 million, $90.7 million), according to official accounts released late Thursday. The Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) spent £50.3 million (€60.4 million, $63.2 million), while the interior ministry spent £21.7 million (€26 million, $27.2 million) on policing costs for the “once-in-a-generation” event. A poll before the coronation showed that majority Britons said the government should not pay for the eventImage: Malcolm Park/Avalon/Photoshot/picture alliance In its annual report and accounts, DCMS said it “successfully delivered on the central weekend of His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation, enjoyed by many millions both…

A newly published, 95-page Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has revealed how the sovereign wealth fund has “facilitated and benefited from human rights abuses” and how sportswashing has helped “to whitewash reputational harm.” The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals were held in Riyadh in November, the first installment of a three-year agreement. The prize money was $5.15 million (€4.87 million) for the tournament, matching that of the ATP Finals. This meant for the first time ever, the women’s and men’s year-end champions earned the same reward. The sums of money being poured into golf, football and motor racing in…

Haiti’s foreign minister on Thursday summoned the French ambassador to protest “unacceptable” comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron was filmed calling Haiti’s leadership “completely stupid” while speaking to a bystander about the current political and humanitarian situation in the Caribbean nation. In an official statement obtained by the French news agency AFP, Haiti’s transitional presidential council expressed its “indignation at what it considers unfriendly and inappropriate remarks which ought to be rectified.” It added that it was lodging an official protest with France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. What did Emmanuel Macron say? At the center of the…

In August this year, internet behemoth Alphabet lost the biggest antitrust challenge it has ever faced when a US judge found that its subsidiary Google illegally monopolized the search market. US Federal Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled that $26.3 billion (€24.9 billion) in payments that Google made to other companies to make its internet search engine the default option on smartphones and web browsers effectively blocked any other competitor from succeeding in the market. As a result of the ruling in August, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) is proposing that Google be forced to sell off its Chrome browser. “Google’s unlawful…

Arrest warrants have been issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence secretary Yoav Gallant by the International Criminal Court (ICC).The warrants are for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the war in Gaza that Israel launched following the 7 October attacks by Hamas. The prime minister’s office said the warrants against him and Gallant were “anti-semitic” and said Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions”.Another warrant was issued for the arrest of Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.Al Masri, also known as Mohammed…

Would you buy a banana for millions of dollars? Justin Sun, a Chinese collector and founder of the cryptocurrency platform Tron, just did. He was the winning bidder on an artwork by Italian-born Maurizio Cattelan titled “Comedian” at a Sotheby’s auction on Wednesday, which he acquired for $6.2 million (€6.5 million) — far exceeding the auction house’s estimates of $1-1.5 million. No, it’s not a banana made of solid gold; it’s your regular old edible banana affixed to the wall with a piece of duct tape. After the auction, Justin Sun immediately vowed to eat the banana. ‘Essential conceptual idea’ Cattelan, a conceptual artist known for satirical and…

Skip next section Latin American countries call for deescalation of ‘arms race’11/20/2024November 20, 2024Latin American countries call for deescalation of ‘arms race’The governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico have made a joint call to “avoid actions that would escalate the arms race” in the war in Ukraine. In a statement released a day after the conclusion of the G20 summit in Brazil and after the US allowed Ukraine to fire its missiles inside Russian territory, the four nations warned that the move could “aggravate the conflict.” They urged “all parties involved to fulfil their international commitments and to prioritize dialogue and the search for…

There are certainly better times of the year to visit Budapest than late November, particularly when a cloudy sky and incessant cold breeze covers the city. But the bad weather did not deter Germany fans. “When the national team is playing in a beautiful city like Budapest, it’s like killing two birds with one stone,” Luca, a Germany supporter who traveled 900 kilometers (560 miles) from Freiburg in southern Germany to Hungary’s capital, told DW. And the 21-year-old was not the only one.  Close to 1,000 Germany supporters made the trip to Budapest for Germany’s last match of 2024, a 1-1 tie. While their support could not…

Weather experts have warned of flash floods, blizzards and debris flows in California and southwestern Oregon. Meanwhile two people have died in Washington.