Author: DW

Is victory now inevitable? Following the assassination attempt, former US President Donald Trump has officially been selected as the Republican presidential nominee at the party’s national convention. Has the shooting made him more likely to triumph in the US general election in November? “It’s certainly the case that the attack will garner him additional sympathy,” political scientist and Latin America expert Günther Maihold told DW. “As a consequence, the individual moves into a different realm. The population sees them as both particularly vulnerable, and, at the same time, as a savior. This also applies to Trump.” Maihold compared the situation with the…

On July 11, the German Interior Ministry (BMI) announced that by the end of 2026 components made by Chinese technology companies Huawei and ZTE “must no longer be used” in building up the country’s next-generation 5G mobile networks. Already existing components, the BMI decided, “must be replaced by the end of 2029.” The German government considers 5G networks “critical infrastructure” because they are crucial for the energy sector, transportation, health care and financial services. The ban comes as Chinese technology firms are increasingly viewed with suspicions for their allegedly too close ties to the government in Beijing. Especially Beijing’s drive to make companies like…

Italy’s Armani Group as well as France’s Dior were placed under investigation for the second time this year by the Italian competition watchdog AGCM and the Guardia di Finanza financial police, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. Officials said inspections were carried out on Tuesday at both companies’ Italian headquarters. Armani has come under fire from authorities for allegedly lying to consumers about its social commitments as well as the craftsmanship of its pieces. Armani pieces often retail for many thousands of euros, partly on the understanding that they are made by skilled artisans working by hand. Labor practices under review Both companies…

Itching, rashes, patches and baldness. These are just some symptoms of ringworm, a fungal infection that appears to be spreading among young people in Germany. While reports are largely anecdotal, some dermatologist say they are seeing a growing number of cases of ringworm in their clinics, especially among male patients. And the reason could be two fashionable hair cuts: the “low fade” and the “undercut” — both involve shaving hair very close to the scalp. You may have seen these styles worn by sportspeople, including players in the German EURO 2024 team. What is ringworm? Ringworm is fungal infection that affects the skin. It…

Ukrainian gymnast Igor Radivilov wakes up every day with pain in his shoulders. Years of training on the rings, one of his two favorite disciplines, have taken their toll. And yet Radivilov keeps going, trying to forget about the pain, because he knows — with Russia’s invasion of his country well into its third year — that his aching shoulders will be carrying the hopes of a nation at this summer’s Paris Olympics. “Since the beginning of the war, the whole world has seen how Ukrainians, and in particular the athletes, these strong people, have continued with their work, no…

Iran on Wednesday strongly denied reports in the US media implicating Tehran in a plot to assassinate former US President Donald Trump. US broadcasters CNN and NBC reported on Tuesday that the US Secret Service had recently boosted security around Trump after receiving intelligence from an unnamed “human source” that the current Republican Presidential Candidate was the target of a potential Iranian plot. CNN said there was “no indication” the alleged plot was linked to Saturday’s shooting at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania, in which the former president was shot in the ear. How did Tehran react? Nevertheless, Iranian foreign…

Canada’s largest city was plagued by flooding, power outages, and major property damage late on Tuesday after days of torrential rains hit Toronto. Many of the city’s main roads, as well as key transport hub Union Station were shut down due to flooding. Images from the city showed vehicles submerged up to their roofs, and rescue workers attempting to reach people trapped in their cars and in elevators. “We’re actively rescuing people that are trapped in their cars or on top of their cars,” Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop told reporters in the afternoon. “We are triaging based on life safety.” Emergency…

A former CIA analyst has been charged with serving as a secret agent for South Korea’s intelligence service in exchange for luxury handbags and sushi dinners.Sue Mi Terry, who also previously worked on the White House National Security Council, failed to register as a foreign agent with the US Justice Department, according to an indictment made public in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday. South Korean intelligence officers allegedly gave her Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags, a Dolce & Gabbana coat, and dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants.Prosecutors say they also provided more than $37,000 in “covert” funding for a public policy…

The idea of staging a long-distance Olympic swimming event on the Seine – with the Eiffel Tower in the background – seems at first glance like a nice idea. But for many athletes, it has turned into a planning nightmare. “It’s exasperating for the athletes and the coaches who have to prepare everything,” said German national swimming coach Bernd Berkhahn recently. The biggest obstacle at the moment is the still very swift current of the river. “It’s not a problem to swim with the current, it’s the way back that’s the problem,” Florian Wellbrock, Olympic champion in the 10-kilometer (6.2…

The mayor of French capital Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine River on Wednesday to show its water is clean enough to host outdoor swimming events for the Paris Olympics later this month. During the Paris Games triathlon and marathon, participants are supposed to swim in the Seine, where swimming for more than a century has been illegal. Donning a wet suit and goggles, Hidalgo declared the river “exquisite,” if a bit cold. Efforts to clean the Seine up “On the eve of the Games, when the Seine will play a key role, this event represents the demonstration of the efforts made…