Author: DW

Ireland, Norway and Spain have officially recognised Palestine as a separate state, prompting Israel to recall its ambassadors from two of the European states.Speaking on Wednesday, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said: “Today Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognise the state of Palestine, each of us will undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision. “I am confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks.”What is the two-state solution?The Irish government argues that recognition supports a two-state solution, which it said is essential for lasting…

German author Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann on Tuesday won the International Booker Prize for fiction for the book “Kairos.” The book was chosen from 149 submissions for the UK-based award. The £50,000 ($64,000, €59,000) in prize money will be divided between the translator and the author. Last year’s winner was “Time Shelter” by Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov and translated by Angela Rodel. The Booker Prize for English-language fiction will be handed out in the fall. What did the award panel say about Erpenbeck’s ‘Kairos’? “Kairos” follows the story of a young woman’s “destructive affair” with an older man in East…

The Iowa State Patrol has confirmed multiple deaths from a tornado and at least a dozen injuries in storms Tuesday. Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla said on Tuesday night that there were “confirmed fatalities.” Authorities have not released an exact number yet.Homes have been destroyed and debris strewn across the town of GreenfieldImage: Hannah Fingerhut/AP Photo/picture alliance Menacing storms that barreled through the Midwest created tornadoes, including a fierce twister that smashed through the small Iowa town of Greenfield. The town is home to around 2,000 people and lies 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. The twister destroyed homes and businesses, bringing down trees, smashing vehicles…

More than seven months into Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, the lack of a viable plan for the future governance of the enclave has now shifted into sharper focus. Since the war began, prompted by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack in which 1,163 people were killed and around 250 kidnapped by Hamas militants, Israel has categorically ruled out any governing role for Hamas after the conflict ends. In turn, Hamas has also frequently rejected any form of Israeli administration in Gaza. On Wednesday, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh repeated in a televised speech that Hamas was in Gaza “to stay.” Hamas, a militant Islamist group, is…

Mexico is so hot that howler monkeys have been dropping dead out of the trees.At least 83 of the primates, who are known for their roaring calls, were found dead in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco where temperatures are forecast to surpass 45C this week. Others were rescued by residents, including five that were rushed to a local vet who battled to save them.”They arrived in critical condition, with dehydration and fever,” said Dr Sergio Valenzuela.”They were as limp as rags. It was heatstroke.” Image: A soldier removes the body of a howler monkey. Pic: AP A nationwide drought…

Ask your average German about Jenny Erpenbeck, and they may very well respond, “Jenny who?” Yet the contemporary German author has made a name for herself beyond Germany’s borders; she’s showered with prizes and has even been predicted to one day win the Nobel Prize in literature. Her books have been translated into over 30 languages, and she’s read to thrilled audiences in Uzbekistan, Mexico and India during her global book tours. So why the discrepancy?  It’s not as if Erpenbeck is totally unknown in Germany — quite the contrary. She has a loyal readership, and she can usually count on one…

Portugual said it is “greatly concerned” by reports that its former colony Sao Tome and Principe has signed a military cooperation accord with Russia “for an indefinite period.”  Sao Tome and Principe inked the agreement with Russia on April 24 in St. Petersburg, which calls for military training, logistical support and “possible collaborations” involving Russian ships and planes, according to the AFP news agency, which cited Russia’s official news gazette. The deal was reportedly implemented on May 5.  All six Portuguese-speaking, or Lusophone, countries in Africa have now signed military agreements with Russia. The first contacts arose during the Soviet era, when liberation organizations in…

A member of Israel’s war cabinet has told Sky News there is no famine in Gaza and there “never has been”.Ron Dermer, the country’s minister of strategic affairs, described the claim as “nonsense” and said there were “bustling markets” selling fruits and vegetables in the besieged territory.It comes after the World Food Programme warned there was a “full-blown famine” in parts of Gaza due to a lack of food after eight months of war.Cindy McCain, executive director of the UN agency, told Sky News last week that both children and adults were dying after being reduced to the “size of…

The High Court in London ruled Monday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has a right to appeal against his extradition to the United States. Assange is facing 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse due to his website’s publication of a trove of classified US documents almost 15 years ago. Assurances over free speech Assange has spent the last five years in a British high-security prison after seeking refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for seven years, trying to avoid extradition. In 2022, the United Kingdom’s then-Home Secretary, Priti Patel, signed an extradition order, but Assange turned to the High Court in February 2024 to…

Displaced Palestinians are on the move again, this time from Rafah, where the Israeli military advances a ground offensive. As fighting is reported across Gaza, aid agencies warn that not enough aid is reaching people. Source link