Author: DW

For decades, US firms have enjoyed a strong foothold in Germany, particularly in the country’s western regions that were under the control of the Western Allies after World War II. In the immediate postwar years, US cigarettes were so highly prized on the German black market that they effectively served as currency. Sports stars often played a role in cementing trans-Atlantic brand power. Former heavyweight boxing champion Max Schmeling, seen by many US citizens as a “good German,” went on to represent Coca-Cola in Germany after his career in the ring. Decades later, East German boxing champion Henry Maske ran McDonald’s franchises…

After the debacle of Bratislava to start off Germany’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, Julian Nagelsmann’s woes continued at home in Cologne. A much-changed Germany side squeezed past Northern Ireland with a 3-1 win. The result was one of pure relief for Germany as they continue their road to the USA, Canada and Mexico. Here are the key takeaways from Germany’s win in Cologne. Nagelsmann gets emotional response Julian Nagelsmann had lamented his side’s lack of emotional investment in Slovakia, saying he had to “find the right players for the situation” moving forward. He made five changes to his starting eleven,…

An Italian teenager who died of leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15 was on Sunday proclaimed a saint of the Catholic Church, becoming the first millennial to be canonized. London-born Carlo Acutis, dubbed “God’s influencer” due to his use of the internet and social media to spread the faith during his short lifetime, was canonized by Pope Leo XIV in a ceremony in St Peter’s Square attended by tens of thousands of people, including his family. Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian mountaineering enthusiast who passed away from polio in 1925, aged 24, was also made a saint.…

Tens of thousands of supporters of the former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, rallied across the country on Sunday. The mass gatherings occurred just days before a Supreme Court ruling in Bolsonaro’s trial over an alleged coup attempt. At a rally on Sao Paulo’s Avenida Paulista amid Brazil’s Independence Day festivities, demonstrators demanded amnesty for those involved in the January 8, 2023 storming of government buildings in the capital, Brasília. Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, a Bolsonaro ally, criticized Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a common target of the right wing in Brazil. “No one can endure the tyranny of a judge like Moraes any longer.…

US independent director Jim Jarmusch clinched the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on Saturday. “Thank you for appreciating our quiet film,” said the 72-year-old while accepting the award. Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother” starring Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver, and Tom Waits is a comedy-drama anthology film that explores the complex relationships between adult children and their distant parents. “Father Mother Sister Brother” is the first Jarmusch film to compete at the Venice Film Festival. Several past recipients of the esteemed Golden Lion award, including “Nomadland” and “Joker,” have gone on to achieve Oscar success. ‘The Voice…

Matthew and Maria Raine are not only seeking financial compensation for the death of their son Adam. With their lawsuit against internet giant OpenAI, they also want to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again. They are convinced that OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot contributed significantly to Adam’s death. In a similar case, a mother from Florida claims that the chatbot known as Character.AI encouraged her 14-year-old son to take his own life. Chatbots are internet-based programs that allow even young or inexperienced people to interact with artificial intelligence (AI) based on large language models (LLMs). Chatbots are not necessarily just designed to…

Who are Germany playing? Germany are in Group A of European World Cup qualifying for the 2026 World Cup where they are to face Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. Their campaign starts this September and will all be done and dusted by the middle of November, provided Germany meet their expectations and top the group. If they don’t and finish second they will have to play in playoffs in March 2026. First up is, Slovakia in Bratislava (September 4) and then Northern Ireland in Cologne (September 7). A month later, Germany host Luxembourg (October 10) and then travel to Belfast to play Northern…

A cable linking two cabins snapped shortly before the deadly funicular crash in Lisbon this week, according to the first investigative report released Saturday. The report by Portugal’s air and rail accident investigations bureau (GPIAAF) said that the cable had passed a visual check hours before the derailment. “According to the evidence observed so far, the scheduled maintenance plan was up to date, and a scheduled visual inspection had been conducted on the morning of the accident, which detected no anomalies in the vehicles’ cable or braking systems,” according to the report. The Gloria funicular — a yellow railway car…

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka retained her US Open title with a straight-sets victory in New York on Saturday. The Belarusian won 6-3, 7-6(3) over home crowd favorite Amanda Anisimova, the No. 8 seed. Two months ago, the pair faced each other in their semifinal match at Wimbledon. The world No. 1 lost in three sets to Anisimova, who was later thrashed by Poland’s Iga Swiatek and became the first player to lose a Wimbledon final 6-0, 6-0 for more than a century. “First of all, I want to say congrats, Amanda, for reaching back-to-back finals on the slams. I know how…

Japan’s Prince Hisahito has become the first male royal to reach adulthood in 40 years. The nephew of Emperor Naruhito, Hisahito received a black silk and lacquer crown at his coming-of-age ceremony, which marks the beginning of his royal adult life. Hisahito, 19, is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, named after the flower that serves as the seal of the Imperial House, and is likely to become emperor one day. “Thank you very much for bestowing the crown today at the coming-of-age ceremony,” Hisahito said. “I will fulfil my duties, being aware of my responsibilities as an adult member…