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Local Germany
6 days ago
- Health
- Local Germany
EXPLAINED: Should people in Germany be worried about the chikungunya virus?
This week WHO spokesperson Diana Rojas Alvarez told the press in Geneva that chikungunya has been detected in 119 countries around the world, including Germany, 'putting 5.6 billion people at risk.' Rojas Alvarez added that her organisation was 'sounding the alarm early so that countries can prepare in time.' The chikungunya virus is mainly transmitted by the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, and the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, the same species that also spread the dengue and Zika viruses. Recent reports indicate that a person has contracted the chikungunya virus in Alsace, just a few meters from the German border. Talking to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , Hendrik Wilking, head of Gastrointestinal Infections, Zoonoses and Tropical Infections at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), said that chikungunya infections have been observed repeatedly among travellers returning to Germany and are on the rise. 'But what is worrying is that we must also expect outbreaks that are not associated with travel, even in Germany,' Wilking added. According to a report in Der Spiegel, 15 imported cases of chikungunya were registered in Baden-Württemberg alone in the first six months of 2025, a five-fold increase on the same period last year. What is chikungunya? Chikungunya is an infectious disease which is primarily transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. The most common symptoms are high fever and severe joint pain, often in the wrists, ankles, and knees. Other possible symptoms include joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, rash, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes gastrointestinal or eye symptoms. The name itself is a reference to the symtoms. In Makonde, a language spoken by the Bantu people in southeastern Tanzania, chikungungya means 'the one who walks bent over'. The joint pain can be very severe and may last for months or even years, although most people recover within a week. The disease can be life-threatening for older people and people with underlying health problems. People generally develop symptoms three to seven days after being bitten, but the incubation period can range from two to 12 days. There is no person-to-person transmission. The virus can only be transmitted by mosquito bites. Advertisement How did the virus come to Germany? The WHO's warning of an epidemic is linked to high levels of global trade and travel, as well as climate change. More tropical mosquitoes are reaching Germany via transport links, and more are able to survive in the country as a result of warmer temperatures. While the chikungunya virus originally only caused infections in tropical and subtropical regions, there have been around 800 imported chikungunya cases in neighbouring France since May – as well as 12 recorded instances of local transmission. READ ALSO: Hotels, transport and food: How the cost of travel in Germany is rising this summer Tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes, which were previously non-existent in Germany, are now widespread in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse, having migrated along the main highways from southern and south-eastern Europe. Researchers identified tiger mosquito populations in the southern German states for the second time in 2012. The first time they were recorded in the country was in 2007. Mosquito and other pest species that are native to warmer climates are moving further north as weather conditions warm due to climate change, increasing the risk that diseases like chikungunya will become endemic in Central Europe. The risk of major outbreaks in Europe remains small Advertisement The risk of major outbreaks in Central Europe is not particularly high at present, however. The pathogen is not yet native to the region and has only been introduced by travellers so far. READ ALSO: The check-ups you can get in Germany with statutory health insurance Two vaccines against the virus have been approved by Germany's Standing Commission on Vaccines (STIKO). The commission currently recommends vaccination for people travelling to outbreak areas or to endemic areas repeatedly or for more than four weeks, but not for the general population.
Local Germany
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
Taliban to send envoys to Germany to work on deportations
The flight on Friday was the second from Germany since expulsions to Afghanistan were resumed last year. Germany does not recognise the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan but does have "technical contacts" on the deportations, which have been facilitated by Qatar. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said that during the exchanges "it has been agreed that two representatives of the Afghan administration will be incorporated" into Afghanistan's missions in Germany. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) daily, the two envoys will work at the Afghan embassy in Berlin and at the country's consulate in the western city of Bonn. The Taliban authorities demanded this step in return for making last Friday's flight possible, the paper reported. The FAZ said that the names of the envoys had been sent to Berlin and that they had already worked in consular services and were not considered extremists. Germany stopped deportations to Afghanistan and closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban movement's return to power in 2021. READ ALSO: Germany presses ahead with deportations to Afghanistan However in 2024 the last German government resumed expulsions with a flight in August carrying 28 Afghans. Current chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to continue deportations, having made a tougher line on immigration a key campaign theme in February's general election. Kornelius said that further flights were in the offing. Advertisement "The government has committed to systematic expulsions of those convicted of crimes and this will not be accomplished with just one flight," he said.
Business Recorder
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Taliban to send envoys to Germany to work on deportations
BERLIN: The German government said Monday that Afghanistan's Taliban administration will send two envoys to Germany to help with deportations, days after 81 convicted Afghans were sent back to their homeland. The flight on Friday was the second from Germany since expulsions to Afghanistan were resumed last year. Germany does not recognise the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan but does have 'technical contacts' on the deportations, which have been facilitated by Qatar. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said that during the exchanges 'it has been agreed that two representatives of the Afghan administration will be incorporated' into Afghanistan's missions in Germany. Germany must honour visa obligations to Afghan refugees, rules court According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) daily, the two envoys will work at the Afghan embassy in Berlin and at the country's consulate in the western city of Bonn. The Taliban authorities demanded this step in return for making last Friday's flight possible, the paper reported. The FAZ said that the names of the envoys had been sent to Berlin and that they had already worked in consular services and were not considered extremists. Germany stopped deportations to Afghanistan and closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban movement's return to power in 2021. However last year the last German government resumed expulsions with a flight in August carrying 28 Afghans. Current chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to continue deportations, having made a tougher line on immigration a key campaign theme in February's general election. Kornelius said that further flights were in the offing. 'The government has committed to systematic expulsions of those convicted of crimes and this will not be accomplished with just one flight,' he said.
TimesLIVE
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Mercedes sees itself as 'sounding board' in tariff talks, says Kaellenius
Mercedes-Benz views itself as a 'sounding board' that contributes ideas in tariff negotiations between the EU and the US, CEO Ola Kaellenius told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on Thursday. 'As a company, we hold talks with political decisionmakers — in the EU as well as in China and the US,' said Kaellenius. 'However, negotiations take place at EU level because trade policy falls within the EU's remit. We are available as a sounding board, contributing ideas and presenting scenarios showing how certain decisions would affect us.' Mercedes-Benz, as well as BMW and Volkswagen, are in talks with Washington over a possible import tariff deal, sources told Reuters late last month. Under one proposal, German carmakers would get credits for cars they export from the US, which could then be deducted from tariffs, one of the sources said. Kaellenius' interview was published hours before Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will hold his first face-to-face talks with US President Donald Trump as Europe seeks to stave off looming US tariffs.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Issue of trade or tariff did not come up': India once again dismisses Trump administration's claim on India-Pakistan ceasefire
NEW DELHI: India on Thursday once again rejected the Trump administration's claim that US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan by offering trade incentives. Speaking in response to a recent filing by the Trump administration in a US court, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'Regarding the court filing in the United States, I hope you have seen the court order as well. Our position on this particular issue that you mentioned has been well articulated. I would refer you to our position that was made clear on 13th of May.' He clarified that the military situation was discussed between Indian and US leaders from the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7 until the ceasefire on May 10, but 'the issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of those discussions.' Jaiswal added, 'External affairs minister (S Jaishankar) has also made clear that the secession of firing was decided upon through direct contacts between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.' Ceasefire only achieved after Trump and offered both nations trading access: Trump This follows a submission by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to the US Court of International Trade, in which he claimed, 'India and Pakistan - two nuclear powers engaged in combat operations just 13 days ago - reached a tenuous ceasefire on May 10, 2025. This ceasefire was only achieved after President Trump interceded and offered both nations trading access with the United States to avert a full-scale war.' Lutnick argued that invalidating Trump's use of emergency economic powers would undermine diplomacy, saying, 'An adverse ruling that constrains presidential power in this case could lead India and Pakistan to question the validity of President Trump's offer, threatening the security of an entire region, and the lives of millions.' India has consistently maintained that no third-party involvement was part of the ceasefire decision. External affairs minister S Jaishankar had earlier dismissed the notion of US mediation. In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Jaishankar said, 'The cessation of firing was agreed between the military commanders of both sides through direct contact.' He added, 'The morning before, we effectively hit and incapacitated Pakistan's main airbases and air defence system. So who should I thank for the cessation of hostilities? I thank the Indian military because it was the Indian military action that made Pakistan say: We are ready to stop. ' Also read: Jaishankar denies US role in ceasefire with Pakistan, says 'draw your conclusions' on China link Pushing back against claims that the situation risked nuclear escalation, Jaishankar said, 'Very, very far away. I'm frankly astonished by your question.' He explained that India's response targeted terrorist infrastructure with 'measured, carefully considered and non-escalating steps,' and that firing only stopped 'at their request.' Trump has repeatedly asserted that he helped resolve the conflict and said America offered to do 'a lot of trade' with both nations to end the hostilities. However, New Delhi has consistently maintained that the ceasefire came solely through direct military engagement and without any US-brokered deal.
