Author: DW

Marco Rubio’s comments are the strongest indication yet of Washington’s apparent growing frustration at the lack of progress in peace talks. It’s been two months since Donald Trump initiated negotiations, with a call to Vladimir Putin, in the hope of bringing the conflict to a swift conclusion. Since then, his team has sat down with both sides on multiple occasions, at multiple levels, in multiple locations.But what have they actually got to show for it?There was a much-touted 30-day ceasefire covering strikes on energy infrastructure, but it never formally began. And with both sides continuing to accuse the other of violating…

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office on Monday gave its approval to UniCredit’s plans for the purchase of a major stake in Commerzbank. The move removes a further obstacle to the Italian bank’s aim to take over its German competitor. Andreas Mundt, head of the Bonn-based antitrust body, said the 29.99% stake has been cleared as “other significant competitors are active in all areas.” The acquisition “will strengthen UniCredit’s market position in the private and corporate customer business in Germany,” Mundt added. The cartel office ruling allows UniCredit to raise its stake to 29.9%, just short of the 30% threshold that would require…

What you need to know Evidence of carbon deposits in the crust of Mars has been found, suggesting the presence of a carbon cycle. Mars once had a far warmer climate with liquid water and a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere. A broken cycle may have contributed to Mars becoming uninhabitable. Scientists studying soil samples from NASA’s  Curiosity rover have discovered that a carbon cycle similar to the one that sustains life on Earth once played out on the red planet. While it’s unclear whether Marsever supported life, its current harsh environment may be due to an “imbalanced” carbon cycle. “Mars seems to…

Bayern Munich’s dreams of playing in another Champions League final in Munich are over. There will be no chance to avenge the painful defeat of the 2012 finale dahoam (final at home) on May 31, and no fairytale farewell for departing legend Thomas Müller. The team looks set to win back the Bundesliga title by the end of this season, but the inquisition as to why Bayern are not seriously challenging for the Champions League title has already begun. South Korean defender Kim Min-jae is in the spotlight, and not in the way he would have wanted when he signed from Italian side…

Venice resumed charging an entry free for day tourists visiting the Italian lagoon city on Friday. The scheme was first introduced in 2024, with the city requiring an “Access Fee” of €5 ($5.69) from day visitors. However, this year last-minute day travelers would have to pay double that entry fee. “For those who pay the Access Fee in the 3 days before the day of access, the amount is equal to €10.00,” the municipality of Venice said on its website. Venice attempting to manage mass tourism The 2024 decision to charge day-trippers made Venice the world’s first city to charge an admission fee…

A group of US-based researchers is due to start work at a French university in June, as scientists and academics scramble to deal with massive cuts introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration. France’s Aix-Marseille University said its “Safe Place for Science” scheme, which in March became available to US scientists threatened by cuts to higher education in America, was flooded with applicants.Trump freezes over $2 billion in Harvard University fundsTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video What did the French university say? The “Safe Space for Science” scheme aims to attract…

The building blocks for life are thought have been brought to Earth by asteroids that bombarded our planet long ago.But the amino acids that form proteins, the ring-shaped molecules that make up DNA and other organic compounds are just chemistry. It’s in the oceans of the early Earth that they became biology. Image: An illustration shows a hycean world which could be what K2-18 b is. Pic: Reuters Exactly how isn’t known. But life evolved.And if it did so once, could it have happened again? The evidence from planet K2-18b is tantalising.Analysis of how its atmosphere absorbs light strongly suggests…

The euro has surged over 10% against the US dollar since January, reaching 1.1369 dollars per euro on Monday (April 14). While much of the euro’s rally stems from a flight from the dollar due to US President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies — including steep tariffs of 145% on China — part of the single currency’s strength reflects growing confidence in the eurozone economy. The 20-member eurozone is rebounding from a mild recession in 2023, with growth of 0.8% last year and a projected 1.3% expansion in 2025. However, looming 20% US tariffs on imports from the European Union — currently paused for 90 days — could still…

Joseph Beuys’ artworks and performances were already celebrated during his lifetime (1921-1986) — but he was also a controversial figure. He used unusual materials in his artworks, such as felt and fat. He explored natural healing and shamanic rituals. His spectacular performances and ideas shaped the art scene from the 1960s to the 1980s. His concept that “everyone is an artist” remains widely appealing. Some of the controversy extends beyond his artistic pursuits, however, as Beuys has been accused of never clearly distancing himself from the Nazi regime and the role he played during World War II. He was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot during…

It’s not often that a hat trick in a Champions League quarterfinal isn’t enough, but such was the case for Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy. The Guinean’s treble helped the Bundesliga side win the night but not the tie as Spanish giants Barcelona advanced to the semifinals on aggregate. But, in the aftermath of Barcelona’s first defeat this year, the context of Guirassy’s performance became clear. “It’s an amazing feeling to be the top scorer in the Champions League, especially among so many incredible players. Leading the charts shows I’m a strong finisher, but none of it would be possible without the…