Author: DW

Avid virus-watchers will know that influenza viruses that make the news often feature the letters “H” and “N” in their names, such as H5N1 or H9N2. Those are examples of “Type A” influenza viruses — classed as highly infectious pathogens and a significant threat to influenza viruses that make the news. But there are B, C and D types as well, with various sub-types and lineages, many colloquially known as avian/bird, cow and swine flues. You can forgive yourself for feeling confused — because it is confusing: And it’s not immediately clear which types of flu risk public health to the extent of the Spanish flu…

For German Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, freedom is the foundation “for the way we live in our country, for our democracy, our constitutional state and our prosperity.” She made the comment at the launch of Germany’s Science Year, which in 2024 focuses on freedom, a theme chosen to mark the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Basic Law, the country’s constitution. But now more than 2,900 academics are accusing Stark-Watzinger of threatening freedom of expression and have called for the minister’s resignation in an open letter.Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger is under fire for her reaction to a letter of protest from university professorsImage:…

Germany’s Interior Ministry said it was satisfied with the security situation over the first weekend of the Euro 2024 championship. “The security measures are working,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Maximilian Kall said on Monday. He said that “so far, there have been no surprising events.” However, incidents did occur away from the pitch. In Saxony-Anhalt, police shot a man who fatally stabbed a guest at a viewing party. In Hamburg, police also shot a man wielding a hammer near where Dutch soccer fans were gathering, although authorities dismissed any connection to the Euros. Police respond to Serbia-England clash Kall nevertheless pointed to an…

Amid heightened tension on the Korean peninsula, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in North Korea on June 18 for a two-day meeting with its leader Kim Jong Un. It is Putin’s first visit to the country in 24 years and is a demonstration of their deepening dependance on each other. American and South Korean officials have accused North Korea of secretly providing military equipment to Russia to sustain its invasion of Ukraine; something both Pyongyang and Moscow deny.   But since August, North Korea has made numerous weapons transfers in Russia, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. Other reports…

Microsoft and Nvidia have quickly taken prime positions in the artificial intelligence revolution. The tech giants have a combined market value of $6.6 trillion (€6.16 trillion), making them two of the three largest companies in the world.  Microsoft’s recent success has been underpinned by its $13 billion bet on OpenAI, the startup behind the ChatGPT chatbot, while Nvidia can boast the world’s most  advanced chips that are vital to running high-end AI systems. But their good fortune means competition authorities in the United States are circling. Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached a deal on how to investigate the two firms’ dominant position in the AI…

A group of Austrian citizens on Tuesday presented a set of proposals for redistributing the millions inherited by Marlene Engelhorn, a scion of the founder of the chemical giant BASF, Friedrich Engelhorn.    Marlene Engelhorn, 32, who also advocates for higher taxes for the rich, paid the group to devise the ideas for giving away the bulk of her €25 million ($27.4 million) fortune. What did the group decide? According to Austrian media, the group, called “Good Advice for Redistribution,” called for the money to be given to altogether 77 initiatives involved in climate and environmental projects, the development of affordable…

Celine Dion has received an emotional standing ovation at the premiere of her new film, which documents the lengths she has taken in order to fight stiff person syndrome.The music superstar announced in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with the rare condition after being forced to cancel a Las Vegas residency and tour dates. Earlier this month, she revealed she took life-threatening doses of diazepam to help ease muscle spasms so she could perform on stage. Image: Dion (right) with the film’s director, Irene Taylor, at the premiere in New York. Pic: Reuters Now, her story is being told…

For German Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, freedom is the foundation “for the way we live in our country, for our democracy, our constitutional state and our prosperity,” she said at the launch of the Science Year 2024, which focuses this year on freedom, a theme chosen to mark the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Basic Law, the country’s constitution. But now more than 2,900 academics are accusing her of threatening freedom of expression and are calling for the minister’s resignation in an open letter.Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger is under fire for her reaction to a letter of protest from university professorsImage: Britta…

It was one of those moments that prove that Ilkay Gündogan is one of Germany’s best midfielders. In the 19th minute of Germany”s match against Scotland, Gündogan took the ball in midfield and played a perfect pass to Kai Havertz in the penalty area, allowing him in turn to set up Jamal Musiala for Germany’s second goal. A short time later, Gündogan drew a penalty, which Havertz converted to erase any doubt about the eventual outcome in what would be a dream start to Germany’s home Euros. “A world-class performance. Especially with the external pressure that he’s always under,” said…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked North Korea for its support of his invasion of Ukraine and said that the two countries would cooperate closely to overcome Western sanctions in remarks made ahead of a two-day visit to the country.  The comments were part of an op-ed piece printed in North Korean state media on Tuesday morning, soon before Putin was expected to arrive in Pyongyang for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.  “We highly appreciate that the DPRK [North Korea] is firmly supporting the special military operations of Russia being conducted in Ukraine,” Putin wrote in the article carried by the…