Author: DW

“It was a culture of fear and terror,” says Syrian-Palestinian poet, journalist and curator Ramy Al-Asheq. “The police and secret services were omnipresent. No one could escape them, even in everyday life. How can there be any freedom of culture, literature, music or journalism in a nation of fear?” Ramy Al-Asheq grew up in the Yarmouk refugee camp, on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. He had to flee Syria in 2012 because of his reporting on the unrest in the country. He has been living in Germany for 10 years and has worked as an author and curator for…

In some scientific fields, such as data encryption, drug and materials research or machine learning and artificial intelligence, conventional or “classical” computers have reached their limits. The calculations that researchers need in these fields are taking an infinitely long time to complete, or have become simply impossible. That’s why researchers around the world are working to tap into the enormous potential of quantum computers — they could solve mathematical problems much faster than the fastest conventional computers. What is special about quantum computers? The potential of current computing technology has been completely exhausted.  Computers work with bits that know only…

Though they could never remove her Olympic heptathlon gold medal, Ghada Shouaa says the Assad family stole her joy. She adds that her win in 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta has always been for the Syrian people and never for those who claimed to represent them. “The dictator, Hafez Assad (father of recently ousted ruler Bashar Assad), threatened to kill me through his intelligence services,” she tells DW. “I was promised a lot after my achievements for my country. People would just ask me, ‘Did he meet you?’ I answered with ‘no,’ and then I would get threats that meant I would have to lie…

12/16/2024December 16, 2024Opposition leader Merz slams SPD: ‘You have brought shame on Germany’The leader of the opposition CDU Friedrich Merz accused the ruling coalition of hypocrisy. He spoke ahead of a confidence vote over Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government.  “The chancellor spoke a lot about respect, but it seems as though his respect ends where other political opinions begin,” he said, before calling it “shameless” to have spoken so highly of his accomplishments but so badly of the FDP, who he said helped him achieve all of them. He further asked why, if Scholz foresaw so much room for progress, the SPD hadn’t…

Rescue workers are attempting to free a researcher trapped deep inside a cave in Italy.Speleologist Ottavia Piana was injured after falling around five metres (16ft) on Saturday while exploring the Bueno Fonteno cave, to the east of the city of Bergamo, in northern Italy. She was taking part in an expedition to map an uncharted area of the cave, and was around four hours from the entrance when the fall took place, according to rescuers.The team of around 20 rescuers reached her late on Sunday, and used small explosives in an attempt to breach the last 100 metres to get…

Grammy Award-winning Indian musician Zakir Hussain died in San Francisco on Sunday night, his family said. The 73-year-old tabla maestro had been in a hospital due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare lung disease, according to his family. At the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year, Hussain had won three awards, to add to his previous two wins. “It was a great day for India at the Grammys and I’m proud to be carrying the national flag,” he posted on Instagram after his win. He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughters, Anisa and Isabella Qureshi. The making…

The science at a glance: Adopting a healthy diet may reduce chronic pain. The “Western diet” may contribute to pain. A diet high in processed foods and low in natural produce can exacerbate chronic pain. Supplements like grape seed extract and cocoa show promise in reducing pain. Could a healthy diet help reduce chronic pain? Broths, stews, soups, and curries are said to have healing properties in many cuisines around the world. “Let food be thy medicine,” as the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates wrote in the 4th century BC. Modern science gives some credence to these old traditions, supporting the ability of healthy food…

Despite their strong Nations League performance, Germany are left in the awkward position of not yet knowing their exact 2026 World Cup qualifying path — even after Friday’s draw. After finishing top of their Nations League group, Germany will face Italy in the quarterfinals in March 2025. The outcome of that game will affect which World Cup qualifying group Germany ends up in. If Germany win their quarterfinal against Italy, they will be in Group A with Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg, and will start their campaign in September. Germany haven’t played Slovakia since Euro 2016. They also played Northern Ireland in that tournament, but beat them more recently…

South Korea’s Constitutional Court said on Monday that it was holding its first meeting on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment case that same day, with all six of its judges participating. After parliament voted for the investigation on Saturday, it falls to the court to decide whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.  Yoon is being investigated following his short-lived attempted imposition of martial law on December 3. Lawmakers voted this down within a matter of hours, even as military personnel tried to enter the National Assembly.  Yoon’s presidential powers are suspended pending the verdict. The court has up to six…

Broadly positive Chinese economic data for November released on Monday also showed slower-than-expected growth of 3.3% in retail sales, much slower than in October and well adrift of the 4.6% forecast.  The slowdown came as a surprise because Beijing has been working to boost stimulus programs and encourage consumption, as it braces for possible headwinds as Donald Trump returns for a second term as US president, threatening increased tariffs.  China had implemented major online shopping promotions and government-subsidized trade-in programs boosting sales in things like cars, which were expected to buoy growth. Markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong dipped as the news was…