Author: DW

The US position as a global leader in science has long hinged on its research freedom and independence from political interference. A new executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on August 7 now threatens to overturn this paradigm. The executive order, titled “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking”, grants political appointees sweeping authority over all federal grant funding.  If implemented, political appointees — not scientists — would take control over decisions about research grants. It would, among other changes, allow political appointees to overrule advice from scientists on award decisions, and let them terminate ongoing grants based on political…

Once seen as a place to land for an aging star on the downside of his career, Turkey’s Super Lig is emerging as a serious player in the transfer market – even rivaling Saudi Arabia, a football financial powerhouse in recent years. The sums being offered by Istanbul’s “big three” — Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas — are allowing them to attract international stars such as Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sane, and Jhon Duran. Super Lig champions Galatasaray, who had Osimhen on loan last season, have now agreed to pay Napoli €75 million ($87 million) for the Nigerian striker’s permanent transfer. This is…

EU foreign ministers on Monday are to discuss a Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meeting in Alaska later this week. The ministers are set to meet via video link, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha also planning to join. Trump and Putin will meet on Friday, but the EU has insisted that Kyiv and European powers should be part of any arrangement to end the war that began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Over the weekend, European leaders pushed for Ukraine’s involvement in the talks, amid fears that a meeting without Kyiv could see if forced to cede swaths of…

US President Donald Trump has nominated conservative economist E.J. Antoni to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the agency that is responsible for collecting and publishing the country’s employment and inflation figures. “Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account. Antoni, chief economist at conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, would replace former President Joe Biden’s appointment Erika McEntarfer. According to the Heritage Foundation, Antoni holds a PhD in economics. Commentary he has authored has consistently praised Trump’s policies, while being critical of his predecessor Biden. The…

1. From provincial festival to international metal mecca The Wacken Open Air festival, also known as W:O:A, began in 1990 as a small festival with just 800 rock fans and a few local metal bands. The initial venue was a former gravel pit on the outskirts of the village of Wacken northwest of the Germany city of Hamburg. Today, the four-day event is one of the biggest and best-known metal festivals in the world, attended by around 185,000 fans from over 80 countries. The festival usually sells out within hours, although tickets are getting more expensive — €333 ($386) this…

Striker Florian Wirtz has been voted Germany’s men’s Footballer of the Year for 2024-25 following another standout season at Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, international teammates Giulia Gwinn and Ann-Katrin Berger will share the women’s award and both received 145 votes from the members of the Association of German Sports Journalists (VDS). The yearly poll, which is organized by German sports magazine Kicker, also saw Freiburg coach Julian Schuster voted Coach of the Year after he led his club to the Europa League in his first year in charge. Wirtz streets ahead of closest challengers for award Wirtz, who moved to Liverpool during the…

“They tell us Russia has done a lot for us. But all I notice is that I don’t have enough money to live like I did before. Before, I didn’t just have a good life, I had a wonderful life. Now I’m struggling to get by.” Oksana* is from the settlement of Novoaidar, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of the regional capital, Luhansk, which has been occupied since 2014. Soon after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in the spring of 2022, the Russian army also captured Novoaidar, as well as the cities of Lysychansk, Sievierodonetsk and Rubizhne, and took control of…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany’s stance on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza remains unchanged despite his government’s order to suspend arms to Israel which could be used in Gaza. “We will continue to help this country to defend itself,” Merz told German public broadcaster ARD on Sunday, adding that despite this stance, the German government could not supply weapons to a conflict where hundreds to thousands of civilians could be killed. The move to partially halt German arms exports to Israel comes after Israel’s Security Cabinet announced Israel would take over Gaza City. That plan has…

From snowcapped mountains to a land scarred by conflict and calls for “azaadi” (freedom), Bollywood movies have shaped how the world sees Kashmir. A powerful dialogue from Vishal Bhardwaj’s acclaimed 2014 film “Haider” transcends the screen, capturing the human stories of Kashmir — a Himalayan territory where breathtaking beauty and rich culture belie a decades-long conflict between India and Pakistan. “Are we here or not? If we are, where and if not, where have we gone? If we exist, for whom and when? Sir… were we ever there, or never at all?” the character Haider asks. The dialogue also raises the question…

As of August 8, 197 people, including 96 children, have died of famine in Gaza as a result of Israel’s blockade and military offensive, according to Gaza health authorities. UN-backed health monitors have said some 100,000 Palestinian women and children are facing severe malnutrition, and a third of the population of 2.1 million hasn’t eaten in days.  Gaza isn’t the only place where conflicts are driving catastrophic hunger. In Sudan, international agencies claim 3.2 million children under the age of 5 will suffer from acute malnutrition in the next year. People under siege in El Fasher, in North Dafur, have been starving for the…