Author: DW

Nigeria has become the first country in Africa’s “meningitis belt” to introduce the new Men5CV or ‘MenFive’ meningitis vaccine. It is the world’s first vaccine to provide protection against all five strains of the meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis. Around half of meningitis cases and deaths occur in children under 5 years old, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  Since 2010, Africa, which sees the highest burden of meningitis infection in the world, has been fighting outbreaks using the MenAfriVac vaccine. Although it has successfully eradicated about 80% of meningitis infections across the continent, the vaccine only protects against a single strain…

After Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran’s supreme leader at the time, issued a fatwa condemning Salman Rushdie to death for alleged blasphemy in his novel “The Satanic Verses” in 1989, the Indian-British author went underground. But he never remained silent. Living in the US, Rushdie felt safe enough to participate in public events. But on August 12, 2022, he and the world realized that hatred of writer had not abate.  At a literary event in the US state of New York, a then 24-year-old man attacked Rushdiewith a knife, seriously injuring the author. The 76-year-old writer and winner of the Peace Prize of the German…

The Commonwealth Games, a quadrennial multi-sport event featuring nations that were formerly part of the British Empire, is in trouble. In April 2022, the Australian state of Victoria was awarded hosting rights for the 2026 edition, when over 70 nations were expected to participate. But just over a year later, it backed out. Organizers have not found it easy to find a replacement. Even if the next games go ahead, there are doubts as to whether it can survive into the second half of the century. Perhaps it is impressive that it has lasted this long. Starting life as the British…

Election campaigning is in full swing in Indian-administrated Kashmir, with the upcoming general election the first major vote in the region since it was stripped of its limited autonomy in August 2019. In Jammu and Kashmir, the first of the five phases of voting will take place on April 19, and the results of the five Kashmir Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) and one Union Territory seats will be announced on June 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to make unprecedented inroads in Kashmir. For decades, the Hindu nationalist party has been struggling in the Muslim-majority region. Modi…

Election campaigning is in full swing in Indian-administrated Kashmir, with the upcoming general election the first major vote in the region since it was stripped of its limited autonomy in August 2019. In Jammu and Kashmir, the first of the five phases of voting will take place on April 19, and the results of the five Kashmir Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) and one Union Territory seats will be announced on June 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to make unprecedented inroads in Kashmir. For decades, the Hindu nationalist party has been struggling in the Muslim-majority region. Modi…

Lightning and heavy rains have killed at least 50 people across Pakistan in the last four days, officials said on Tuesday. Authorities in the country’s southwest declared a state of emergency Monday, as some deaths occurred when lightning struck farmers harvesting wheat. Rains caused dozens of houses to collapse in the northwest and in eastern Punjab province. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) asked emergency services to remain vigilant with millions under threat for severe storms. The Scars of the Floods in PakistanTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Weather conditions weigh on crop yields…

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was formed in 1979 following the Iranian revolution to protect the Islamic regime.It has evolved over the decades into a political and economic force, as well as a military one. The Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s saw the IGRC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) develop into a more structured fighting force and with more than 190,000 members, it rivals Iran’s regular armed forces.The IRGC has an air force, navy, ground troops, cyber command and the feared Basij paramilitary force which is tasked with domestic security.Middle East latest: UN watchdog ‘concerned’ Israel could target Iranian nuclear facilities The UK…

A fire tore through Copenhagen’s 17th-century old Stock Exchange, one of Danish capital’s most iconic buildings, on Tuesday. The blaze engulfed its iconic 54-meter spire that collapsed onto the roof, but no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.  According to city police, several streets and the area around the building have been cordoned off. Police asked people to avoid driving in the inner part of the city. Footage showed people rescuing large paintings from the burning building. Thick smoke and towering flames billowed from the structure.The fire engulfed the building’s iconic spireImage: Ida Marie Odgaard/Scanpix/REUTERS Danish Culture…

A bus throws up dust as it rumbles away from the sprawling expanse of the refugee camp at Gado-Badzere in eastern Cameroon. It’s heading to the war-ravaged Central African Republic (CAR) just some 30 km (19 miles). Inside the bus is a group of nearly 300 refugees who have chosen to return to their homeland. Secondary school student Abdel Aziz is among those being voluntarily repatriated. He and his mother fled fighting the fighting in CAR five years ago; Aziz’s father is believed dead. Despite the country’s turmoil, 16-year-old Aziz is determined to return home. He wants to continue his…

A fire has broken out at one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings. Emergency crews were seen rushing to the Old Stock Exchange, with thick smoke billowing into the sky. The fire engulfed the building’s iconic spire, which collapsed into the roof. X This content is provided by X, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable X cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.…