Author: DW

China is threatening to take the European Union to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the high import tariffs it is considering for Chinese electric vehicles. “China reserves the right to file a suit to the WTO and take all necessary measures to resolutely defend the rights and interests of Chinese companies,” Beijing’s commerce ministry spokesman He Yadong said. On Wednesday, the European Commission said it would impose provisional duties of up to 38.1% on imports of Chinese electric vehicles after an investigation into illegal support from Chinese government subsidies. Decision on higher import duties not finalized However, Brussels said there…

A court in China sentenced prominent #MeToo activist Huang Xueqin to five years in prison, convicting her of state subversion, according to a group campaigning for her release and a copy of the court verdict. Labor rights activist Wang Jianbing, who was also on trial with Huang, was sentenced to three years and six months by the Guangdong Intermediate People’s Court. Huang, an independent journalist, reportedly plans to appeal her sentence. It is not clear whether Wang would also appeal his sentence. “[The sentence] was longer than we expected,” a spokesperson for the campaign group Free Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing…

Conor McGregor’s comeback fight has been cancelled just two weeks before it was to due to take place in Las Vegas.The Irish mixed martial arts fighter has “an injury”, said UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) chief executive Dana White. No further details were given.It means the 35-year-old from Dublin cannot take part in UFC 303 on 29 June, where he was due to fight Michael Chandler.McGregor, who has 22 wins and six defeats, has not competed in UFC since July 2021, when he sustained a broken leg against Dustin Poirier. The new “main event” will involve light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira…

When asked why he wears such small shinpads, Florian Wirtz smiled and said: “I always try to make sure I don’t get caught by too many [players].” In the 2023/24 season, only one team has caught Leverkusen or Wirtz. The Bundesliga club’s record-breaking run came to an end after 51 games without defeat, Atalanta beating them in the Europa League final to spoil an otherwise perfect, double-winning season. Although Leverkusen’s success is a result of a collective effort, it’s clear how decisive Wirtz’s contributions have been this season. His audacious chip against Qarabag sparked Leverkusen’s comeback in the Europa League…

Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) have gathered in Italy for their annual summit that is being held from June 13 to 15. Ukraine dominated discussions on the first day of the summit, with the G7 nations agreeing to a $50 billion loan for Ukraine this year backed by interest from frozen Russian assets.  While technical details of the deal have yet to be worked out, the commitment by the group — which includes the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom, along with the European Union — shows Western resolve to meet Kyiv’s defense needs as it fights Russian forces. German Chancellor…

Tesla shareholders voted on Thursday to restore CEO Elon Musk’s record $44.9 billion (€41.8 billion) pay package that was thrown out by a Delaware court earlier this year. The proposal passed despite opposition from some large institutional investors and proxy firms, reflecting the strong support Musk enjoys among the company’s retail investor base.  The favorable vote at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting does not override the court’s ruling and does not mean Musk will get the all-stock pay reward anytime soon. But it is a strong sign that Tesla shareholders have confidence in him. Tesla shares rose on Thursday after Musk took to X,…

Heavy rains wreaked havoc in south and central Chile killing one person, causing property damage and forcing authorities to declare a state of catastrophe in several regions of the country. Heavy downpours accompanied by storms led to flooding of roads, power outages and mudslides in several residential areas. More than 2,000 homes have been damaged and 60,000 have lost power. The Bio Bio region in the capital, Santiago, was among the worst-hit areas. Landslides crushed dozens of homes that were already evacuated. People have been asked to evacuate from their homes in several regions of ChileImage: Ivan Alvarado/REUTERS A person…

Wayne Lineker has spoken out about a “disturbing” incident in Ibiza which left him with “stitches and a swollen lip” after he tried “to protect a girl from being harassed”.The 62-year-old, who is the younger brother of former England footballer Gary Lineker, shared an update on Instagram after a video circulated earlier this week, apparently showing him in an altercation outside a bar on the Spanish island in the early hours of Wednesday. He was reported to have been knocked out for several minutes after being punched in the jaw by another man following a confrontation.Wayne shared a photo showing…

FIFPRO begun legal proceedings against world football’s governing body FIFA on Thursday, as they seek to protect players’ rights to guaranteed and protected breaks. The expansion of the men’s Club World Cup is a specific tournament of concern, with the competition due to involve 32 teams and take place over the course of a month between June and July in 2025. English players’ union, The Professional Footballers’ Association and their French counterparts UNFP are co-claimants. FIFA are yet to respond to the lawsuit. Club World Cup concerns ignored In May, both FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association (WLA) had threatened action if the…

Greek authorities closed down the Acropolis in Athens on Thursday afternoon for a second day running as Athens experiences unusually high temperatures for this time of year. The Culture Ministry said tourists were unable to visit the Parthenon and other ancient masterpieces atop the UNESCO-listed site from noon until 5 p.m. local time (0900 to 1400 GMT). Temperatures of more than 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) were anticipated on Thursday in much of central and southern Greece, including greater Athens, the Cyclades and Crete. Other Greek archaeological sites in Crete, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades and the Peloponnese were also closed as a precautionary measure.A tourist is helped by first aid…