Author: DW

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrived in the US state of Hawaii on Saturday, during a weeklong tour in the Pacific that has prompted Beijing’s anger. Lai’s two-day stop in the US is his first visit since taking office in May. The visit has provoked fierce threats from China, which sees the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan as its territory and opposes any international recognition of its sovereignty. How was Lai met in Hawaii? The Taiwanese president was met at Honolulu International Airport by American Institute in Taiwan official Ingrid Larson,  Hawaii Governor Josh Green, and others. “This is the first time…

Israel claims it has killed a Palestinian involved in the 7 October attack by Hamas.The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday that it had carried out a strike in Gaza on a “vehicle with a terrorist that took part in the murderous 7 October massacre”. The IDF said it was investigating claims that the person worked for the international humanitarian organisation, the World Central Kitchen (WCK).”The terrorist was monitored for a while by IDF intelligence and was struck following credible information regarding his real-time location,” they said.”We emphasise that it was a civilian unmarked vehicle and…

Volkswagen said on Friday that a proposal presented by the IG Metall trade union and the company’s works council would not saved the costs it claimed it would, and would not have proved a long-term solution.  “Although there may also be positive effects in the short term, the measures will not lead to any sustainable financial relief for the company in the coming years,” VW said in a statement, adding that it would remain in contact with labor representatives.  The two sides are locked in difficult negotiations on pay, with VW calling for workers to accept pay cuts — arguing that…

A banana that had been duct-taped to a wall as an art installation was eaten on Friday by the man who bought it on auction, during a press conference meant to bring the artwork to its fruitful end.  Cryptocurrency entrepeneur Justin Sun acquired the work of art by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan for $6.2 million (€5.8 million) at an auction of the prestigious Sotheby’s auction house. Sun said the duct-taped banana, titled “Comedian,” was not just an artwork, but that it also represented “a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.” The founder of crypto exchange…

When lenacapavir test results were presented at a World AIDS Conference in July 2024, experts were thrilled: Lenacapavir was hailed as a long-awaited breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “I [was] totally thrilled,” said Clara Lehmann, who heads the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) at the University Hospital of Cologne. “When these data were presented, there was an electrifying atmosphere in the hall. This was simply terrific.” What is special about lenacapavir? Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral drug that is said to be almost 100% effective in the prevention and treatment of HIV infections. As a preventative drug, also known as…

When the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, successful sportswomen Nazima and Nazira Khairzad fled the country. In Germany, the sisters are now campaigning for women back home.

At least 27 people died on Friday after a boat capsized in the Niger River in centralNigeria.More than 100 others — mostly women — are still missing, authorities said. Some 200 passengers were taking the boat across the river — which acts as a border between the states of Kogi and Niger — to a food market when it capsized, Ibrahim Audu, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesperson said. None of the passengers were wearing life jackets. The final toll is likely to increase, Kogi state authorities warned, as local divers were still looking for the missing and no survivor…

An explosion damaged a canal supplying water to Kosovo’s two main coal-fired power plants on Friday, leading Prime Minister Albin Kurti to accuse neighbor and rival Serbiaof being behind what he called a “terrorist act.” “This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at damaging our critical infrastructure”, Kurti said in a press conference. “The attack was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs directed by Serbia,” Kurti said, without giving more details. Serbian officials are yet to publicly comment on the allegations. What do we know about the blast? The explosion occurred in Kosovo’s troubled northern region…

A cryptocurrency entrepreneur has kept his promise and eaten a banana he bought for $6.2m (£4.9m). Justin Sun snapped up viral art piece Comedian – consisting of a single banana duct-taped to a white wall – in an auction at Sotheby’s in New York last week. The Chinese-born businessman immediately revealed his plan to destroy the artwork by enjoying the fruit as a snack and at a news conference today, he delivered on his word.At a Hong Kong hotel, the 34-year-old took a bite and told reporters: “It’s much better than other bananas. It’s really quite good.”After purchasing Comedian, Mr…

Africa is back in the spotlight as a continent of opportunities, with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck traveling to Kenya to open next week’s two-day German African Business Summit (GABS). The gathering, which is held in a different African country every two years, is Germany’s largest business event focused on the continent, bringing together business and government leaders from Germany and Africa.  Perceptions of Africa’s investment climate “The perspective on Africa is one of exaggerated political, policy and economic risks: politically unstable, corrupt, weak infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles and high-risk environment,” said Serwah Prempeh, a senior fellow at the Africa Policy Research Institute’s (APRI) economy and society program.…