Global economy

The world gasped in amazement at China's impressive 6% to 11% annual GDP growth over the past decade as the People's Republic became a truly global powerhouse. Last year, however, the coronavirus pandemic wrecked that incredible trajectory, leading to China's slowest expansion since 1976 at just 2.3%. Instead, the region's top-performing economy was Taiwan, the contentious territory that China sees as its own, which saw economic output expand by 3.11%. The island, which was widely praised for its handling of the health crisis, also benefited from demand for its technology during global lockdowns and the subsequent trade rebound. "Taiwan is one of the very few economies that still posted positive GDP growth in 2020," Angela Hsieh, regional economist at Barclays Asia Pacific, told DW. Hsieh pointed to "exceptionally strong exports" and singled out the island's semiconductor sector which grew 22.1% versus 5.6% for South Korea. Watch video 03:23 Share … [Read more...] about How Taiwan beat China to be Asia’s top-performing economy

Human rights organization Amnesty International said on Friday that "hundreds" of people were massacred by Eritrean troops in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region last November. Amnesty's Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, who conducted numerous interviews with residents and witness from the historical town of Axum, where the alleged massacre took place, told DW: "The perpetrators were Eritreans." "We interviewed 41 residents and witnesses from Axum over two research missions," he continued. "So we're pretty confident in our findings. We also used satellite imagery that allowed us to corroborate the burial sites." In addition, Gallopin said there had been "indiscriminate shelling on the city and looting by Eritrean forces." Watch video 02:47 Share Ethiopia: Massacre in Axum Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3pwy1 Amnesty report details … [Read more...] about Amnesty: Eritrea’s Tigray ‘massacre’ might be crime against humanity

Israelis are being asked for evidence of vaccinations status before being allowed into busy locations such as bars, shopping centres and theatres. Only those with a 'green passport' are permitted to enter certain locations as the country tries to reopen following the Covid-19 pandemic. People who have received the required two vaccinations receive the green passport which allows them greater freedom. Israel has been leading the world on the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccinations, but only half of its population of nine million people has so far received the required two jabs for a passport. Israelis seeking to visit busy locations such as bars, restaurants, theatres and shopping centres have to prove they have either had Covid-19 or received two vaccines against the disease by showing a digital green passport These people in Jerusalem were attending a theatre performance on Tuesday night The Israeli policy of allowing greater freedom for those with … [Read more...] about Israel enters the era of vaccine passports as crowds of up to 300 pack into bars and nightclubs