- World News
Hong Kong: How is China’s crackdown changing the city’s identity?
Hong Kong authorities are pursuing new laws to tighten the city-state’s grip on public discourse critical of its Beijing-aligned government. Residents are resorting to self-censorship and many feel that their city’s liberal identity may have been permanently lost. Speaking at the 2021 China Internet Media Forum in Guangzhou in late November, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, stated that her…
- World News
Blowing the whistle on traffic offences in Angola
In Caxito, Angola, young men spend the day monitoring the streets aiming the stop traffic accidents. Recognizable by their trademark whistles, many are taxi conductors, and others volunteer as inspectors. They blow the whistle when they see a traffic violation. Drivers routinely ignore roads signs. But they aren’t solely responsible for accidents. Caxito’s roads are poorly maintained. Meanwhile, the police…
- World News
Snakes are saved from witchcraft rituals in Kenya
Snakes are killed for witchcraft in Kenya. Reptiles are poached for rituals. Rare animals are captured by sorcerers. Those recovered are brought to Nairobi’s Snake Park zoo. Generally people are afraid of snakes in Kenya. This is not only because of the risk of a poisonous bite. There is a belief that snakes are cursed. This Egyptian snake was rescued…
- World News
Japan: Sumo wrestler deaths raise obesity concerns
The early deaths of three sumo wrestlers over the span of just a year and a half have raised the alarm over health and safety for sumo wrestlers. In May of last year, 28-year-old wrestler Kyotaka Omori, who was known by the sumo name “Shobushi,” died in May 2020 after contracting the coronavirus in April of that year. Omori, who…
- World News
Kashmir: Vanishing wetlands threaten wildlife, livelihoods
Thousands of birds which flock to Indian-administered Kashmir each year are now under threat due to shrinking wetlands. Locals and fishermen are taking the initiative to try and restore the region’s dying lakes. SOURCE: DW News
- World News
Idlib: Collapsing Turkish lira makes daily life harder than ever
Khadija lives in Idlib, the capital of the Syrian Idlib province. The burden of responsibility weighs heavily on her shoulders. She has become her family’s main breadwinner, and provides for her twin brothers, who were born with Down syndrome. “I work a lot,” she told DW in a voice message. “My father used to be able to provide for us…
- World News
Angela Merkel leaves a mixed legacy in Africa
During her 16 years as German chancellor, Angela Merkel’s trips to Africa became more frequent as did her meetings with African heads of state. As recently as August 2021, Merkel invited several African presidents to the German capital, Berlin. It was a farewell meeting — and a very pleasant one at that — for there is much praise for the…
- World News
Leaked documents ‘link’ top Chinese leaders to crackdown on Uyghurs
In an exclusive interview, German academic Adrian Zenz offers insight into a new set of documents which he says show that speeches made by Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top leaders lay a foundation for the crackdown on Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The documents, dubbed as the “Xinjiang Papers,” include three speeches made by Chinese President Xi Jinping from 2014,…
- World News
Ghana showcases technology to tackle big challenges
Using digital and new technologies to tackle Ghana’s problems. That’s the focus for many innovators here. From digital solutions to climate change to greener construction techniques. One app warns of flood risks in Accra. Others want to make health and education more accessible. At Ghana’s digital innovation week video games aren’t just fun. They can also help shift perspectives. Like…
- World News
Marthe Wandou: We need to move from frameworks to action and protect children
Marthe Wandou has been fighting against sexual violence and promoting women’s and children’s rights in Cameroon for decades. Founded in 1998, her nongovernmental organization, Action Locale pour un Developpement Participatif et Autogere (ALDEPA), applies a holistic approach focusing on education, abuse prevention, and providing psychosocial care as well as legal counsel. DW: What does the Right Livelihood Award (RLA) mean…
- Sports News
Arab Cup 2021: no football fervor in Qatar
With less than a year to go until the start of the World Cup in Qatar, the Arab Cup is providing a test run. A visit to Doha shows there is still a lot of work to do – not least when it comes to the atmosphere. SOURCE: DW News
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Hungry Hub Bangkok Rooftop Festival 2021
It’s almost coming towards the end of the year so if you are looking for a great rooftop atmosphere to celebrate, you have come to the right place! Hungry Hub is organizing Bangkok Rooftop Festival 2021 and offering exclusive deals at the finest rooftop bars in the city. Below are the lists of the greatest rooftop restaurants in Bangkok, all…
- World News
Is Jordan doing Syrian dictator’s dirty work?
Earlier this month, a Syrian journalist working in Jordan was arrested. Freelance journalist Ibrahim Awwad was taken to Azraq, a United Nations-run refugee camp, east of Amman, where he apparently remains under house arrest. “He is now threatened with deportation to Syria, where he would face probable reprisals,” said media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF), expressing concern about the…
- World News
Omicron Covid-19 variant sparks growing curbs on global travel
B.1.1.529 is the scientific name of the new coronavirus variant discovered last week in South Africa. It has since been detected in several other countries, with Germany, Portugal, Great Britain, Israel and Canada, for instance, all reporting omicron infections. There are fears that the new mutant could be even more contagious than the currently rampant delta variant and that vaccines…
- World News
AfricaLink on Air – 30 November 2021
Ethiopia denies carrying out attacks inside Sudan+++Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta delivers state of nation address+++France seeks EU-British agreement to solve Channel migrant crisis SOURCE: DW News
- World News
Who benefits from China-Africa relations?
China’s donation of one billion doses of its Covid-19 vaccines to Africa was among the first things Chinese President Xi Jinping promised at the 8th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) in Dakar, Senegal, which started on Sunday and closes today. According to Xi, 400 million doses are to be produced in the continent. While the announcement could be seen as…
- Sports News
South African women emerging as a continental football force
For a long time, the country played second fiddle to continental giants Nigeria. Now South African women’s football is reaping the rewards of its Vision 2022 strategy to grow the women’s game. SOURCE: DW News
- World News
Indonesian Paralympic powerlifter says no disability can destroy a dream
Indonesian para-athlete Ni Nengah Widiasih was partially paralyzed by polio as a child. At the 2020 Paralympics, she won a silver medal for weightlifting. She says when you dream big and try hard nothing can stop you. SOURCE: DW News
- Sports News
Lionel Messi wins seventh career Ballon d’Or award
After winning the first international trophy of his career, Lionel Messi took home this year’s Ballon d’Or award. He pipped Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski to the prize. SOURCE: DW News
- World News
COVID: South Korean cities grapple with cab shortage
Han Ye-jung could always count on an available taxi to bring her home, after working late into the night at her company’s office in central Seoul. However, that has changed since the start of the pandemic. At present, flagging down a taxi requires good luck or a test of endurance, Han told DW. A shortage of cabs in South Korea’s…
- World News
Iran nuclear talks resume — will they yield results?
Representatives of Iran and diplomats from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia are gathering at the Palais Coburg hotel in Vienna on Monday to try to salvage the 2015 international nuclear agreement. The United States is taking part in the talks indirectly, with diplomats from the other countries acting as go-betweens. The negotiations are aimed at bringing Iran back into…
- World News
Gambia election: President Barrow’s candidacy splits youth vote
On December 4, Gambian voters will head to the polls to elect a new president. The election will mark the first time voters decide since the electoral defeat of former president Yahya Jammeh in 2016 ended his 22-year dictatorship. Saturday’s vote will likely set the course for democratic governance in the Gambia for the years to come. The stakes are…
- World News
Asia-Europe summit: Is the EU gaining more ground in Indo-Pacific?
European leaders are renewing calls to strengthen diplomatic relations with Indo-Pacific countries, amid geopolitical challenges posed by China and changes to trans-Atlantic relations brought on during the Trump era. At last week’s 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed that “Asia matters to Europe.” During the two-day virtual conference, leaders from the…
- Sports News
Opinion: Ralf Rangnick is Manchester United’s best move in years
After sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, English giants Manchester United have appointed German coach Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis. It could prove to be the club’s best decision in years, says DW’s Matt Ford. SOURCE: DW News
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Siam Seaplane makes getting to your destination so much easier
Sponsored Article There’s an innovative new company that is going to drastically reduce the time required to get to your holiday destination and get to those hard to get to beach resorts in the Land of Smiles. Siam Seaplane will offer Thailand’s first premium amphibious seaplane service, providing faster, easier and seamless access to waterfront locations such as resorts, and…
- Sports News
No fans, no coach, players missing: decimated RB Leipzig beaten by Leverkusen
Coronavirus absentees took their toll as RB Leipzig’s disappointing season continued with defeat to Leverkusen in an empty stadium. Diaby and Wirtz excelled for the visitors, Szoboszlai missed a penalty for the hosts. SOURCE: DW News
- World News
Netherlands: 13 omicron cases found from South Africa flight
TheDutchpublic health authority said on Sunday that 13 people in the Netherlands have so far tested positive for the new omicron coronavirus variant. There were 61 positive COVID cases on a flight from South Africa which landed on Friday at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, with 13 of them contracting the new variant. The people who tested positive are being kept in…
- Covid-19 News
UPDATE: Israel bans ALL foreign entry over Omicron
Israel is the first country to impose a blanket ban on all foreigners from entering the country for at least 14 days. In a statement to parliament, Israeli PM Naftali Bennett says the ban, pending government approval, would last for 14 days. Meanwhile, the South African doctor who was the first to sound an international alarm over the new Omicron…
- Sports News
Opinion: Bayern Munich AGM revealed a clash of worlds in German football
Motions ignored, speakers rejected, directors jeered — Bayern Munich’s AGM descended into chaos. For DW’s Matt Ford, the scenes exposed a fundamental question at the heart of German football: what does it want to be? SOURCE: DW News
- World News
Will Iraqi Kurdistan’s youth turn to religious extremism next?
Over the past few days, there has been yet another indicator of how dissatisfied the people of Iraqi Kurdistan are with their leaders. Thousands of demonstrators, many of them students, took to the streets in the semi-autonomous northern Iraqi region to demand the restoration of financial stipends local authorities stopped paying around 2014. During the protests, security forces used a…
