Author: DW

Every year, ahead of the Oscars, movie geeks get to act like sports fans, discussing the Academy Award “race,” talking odds and percentages, debating which films and which stars are frontrunners in the cinema Olympics. The 98th Academy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, March 15, have all the makings of an epic Oscar showdown. Two brilliant, original and tremendously successful movies — Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” — are facing off for best picture. And two of the most exciting and original Hollywood performers under 40 — Michael B. Jordan, star of “Sinners,” and Timothee Chalamet, nominated for Josh…

When 32 countries this week moved to tap their emergency crude oil stockpiles in an effort to steady soaring oil prices, the gesture was quickly overshadowed by Iran’s escalating strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. The members of the International Energy Agency (IEA), a coalition of major energy‑consuming nations, agreed on Wednesday to release hundreds of millions of barrels of oil from their strategic oil reserves. Instead of helping oil prices lower, the price of Brent crude rose around the $100 (€87.30) a barrel mark toward the end of the week, having spiked to $119.50 for a short time on Monday. Around the announcement, Iran intensified its attacks…

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) was originally due to kick off on March 17, with 16 nations from all over the continent set to compete in Morocco. But just 12 days before the opening game, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), postponed its biggest women’s football tournament until July. In a statement, the body cited “unforeseen circumstances” but gave no details for the decision. In the absence of an explanation, rumors were soon circulating among fans and journalists alike.  One rumor had it that the relationship between hosts Morocco and CAF had been severely damaged by events that occurred during…

Elon Musk, who this week topped Forbes’ Billionaires list for the second year in a row, is on course to become the world’s first trillionaire. On top of his extreme wealth, Musk is bound to remain in the spotlight due to his polarizing views, including his active support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party. His Tesla plant near Berlin also recently made headlines, as a works council election that concluded on March 4 left the factory non-unionized. Germany’s largest union accused Tesla of intimidating staff. Ahead of the vote, Musk himself warned that if the union gained influence, the expansion of the…

Honda has warned it expects a huge hit to its finances because of a major reorientation of its electric vehicle (EV) strategy.  Japan’s second-largest carmaker tried to lead the charge on electric motoring but it says that US policy changes and tariffs, coupled with reduced competitiveness in Asia, are forcing it to adjust.  German performance carmaker Porsche suffered a similar hit to its balance sheet in 2025 amid the same bid to partially pull the plug on EVs, with news of its almost obliterated annual profits released earlier this week.  What did Honda say on the matter?  “Honda believed EVs…

Iran’s sports minister said Wednesday that Iran would not take part in the 2026 World Cup, citing airstrikes carried out in the country by the tournament co-host, the US, alongside Israel. “Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” the minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said on state television. “Our children are not safe,” he added. Federation chief floats boycott, cites Australia precedent It is not yet clear whether the decision is final. But Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, has raised the prospect of a boycott.…

It was an idea US President Donald Trump first floated in October last year: a triumphal arch in Washington, DC to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence on July 4. Speaking to donors at a White House dinner, he revealed several scale models, inspired by Paris’ Arc de Triomphe — earning the project the nickname, “Arc de Trump.” When asked by a CBS news reporter who the arch was for, he reportedly pointed to himself saying “me,” adding that it would be “really beautiful.” Donald Trump holding up a model of an arch in October 2025Image: RS/MPI/Capital Pictures/picture alliance…

Coordinated efforts to keep oil prices and fuel prices at filling stations in check began to emerge on Wednesday in Germany and elsewhere. The moves come amid the fast-rising prices caused by the attacks on Iran and wider conflict in the region.  Germany, Austria, Japan, France, Spain all signal movement German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche called a lunchtime press conference in Berlin, a day after Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil had said the government was open to releasing some of its reserves. Reiche told reporters that the IEA had asked its members to free up 400 million barrels of oil in total…

What is the latest on the Iran women’s football team? After their Asian Cup campaign ended on Sunday in Australia, the Iran team bus was surrounded by hundreds of protesters chanting “save our girls.” The players onboard were reportedly seen making SOS signs and photographing those outside. The bus went back to the team hotel on the Gold Coast but on Monday, there are widespread reports that five players escaped the hotel. “Our understanding is that the players are currently staying in a hotel under heavy monitoring,” Zaki Haidari, on the scene for Amnesty International, told DW moments before the first reports of escape…

Skip next section Wadephul is in Cyprus for crisis talks on Iran war03/09/2026March 9, 2026Wadephul is in Cyprus for crisis talks on Iran warIn light of the war with Iran, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Cyprus for crisis talks. On Tuesday, Wadephul is set to discuss the situation in the Middle East with his counterpart, Konstantinos Kombos, in Nicosia, the capital. Last week, an Iranian-made drone struck the British air base in Akrotiri, Cyprus. The agenda for Wadephul’s talks with Kombos also includes topics related to Cyprus’s current term leading the EU presidency. Since 2004, Cyprus has been…