Author: DW

Article 5 is the cornerstone of the NATO military alliance. It calls on all members to assist any other NATO countries under attack. Exactly how a member decides to aid allies, however, is up to them. Since Russia’s February 2022 invasion outgoing US President Joe Biden has repeatedly vowed, “We will defend every inch of Ukraine.” Now Kyiv would like to slip under that umbrella of protection permanently. NATO has repeatedly said that this will be the case, without, however, setting a date. At some point, some observers think, Ukraine should be rewarded with NATO membership for its years-long defensive battle against…

President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday formally urged a New York state judge to drop the criminal case where he was convicted on 34 counts related to hush money paid to a former pornographic film actress in May this year.  Trump’s lawyers argued that having the case and sentencing hanging over him after he takes office in the US on January 20 would impede his ability to govern and “disrupt his transition efforts.” “Local elected officials such as D.A Bragg have no valid basis to cause such disruptions,” defense lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Boye wrote in a court filing in…

The president of South Korea has declared “emergency martial law”, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament and sympathising with North Korea.Yoon Suk Yeol announced he was taking the step, which enacts temporary rule by the military, during a late night televised briefing on Tuesday, saying it was critical for defending the country’s constitutional order. “I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,”…

In April 2024, hundreds of police officers raided homes and offices in 11 countries and arrested several individuals linked to JuicyFields, a company initially based in Berlin. JuicyFields had promised huge returns to those willing to invest in medical cannabis through its website. Almost 200.000 people did so and became victims of a scam. Prosecutors estimate the damage to be around €645 million ($678 million). DW’s Cannabis Cowboys podcast was early to investigate the scam and has received numerous awards since the final episode was published in March 2023. A network of investigative journalists in several European countries has now further investigated the…

Most people in Germany associate the feast of Saint Nicholas with a harmless tradition: Children leave their cleaned shoes next to the front door on the night of December 5, and the next morning, they expect to find their footwear filled with small presents and treats brought by Nikolaus. There are, however, regions in Germany, such as in Bavaria, where the Father Christmas-like character has a dark sidekick, the Krampus. The hairy devil has different names according to region, and is part of folkloric festivities involving terrifying costumes and processions. The Krampus is a mythical figure in Austria and other parts…

A breakup or the loss of a loved one can feel like you’re in withdrawal. Their absence can feel like yearning, physical pain — like an addiction no longer fed. And it’s that feeling of addiction that has got neuroscientists interested in a realm once dominated by philosophy and poetry. Neuroscientists are now providing answers to what love looks like in the brain. They’re finding that love activates brain systems of reward and addiction — the same systems involved in cocaine use or video game addiction. Research published in the journal Cerebral Cortex looked at six different types of love, including romantic partners, friends, strangers,…

German discus thrower Ilke Wyludda has passed away in the eastern German city of Halle, President of the Saxony-Anhalt State Sports Association Silke Renk announced Monday.  Wyludda was 55 years old. ‘The whole German throwing community is in mourning’ “The news is terribly hard and leaves me stunned. Ilke struggled with health problems straight after her career. The whole German throwing community is in mourning. She was always a fighter, but unfortunately lost her last fight far too early,” Renk, who used to train with Wyludda, told German news agency dpa. Wyludda won 41 successive times between 1989 and 1991.…

Iranian-backed militias from Iraq have entered Syria to assist the government’s counteroffensive against rebels who have taken control of Aleppo, the largest city. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, approximately 200 Iraqi militiamen traveling in pickups crossed into Syria overnight. “These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the front lines in the north,” a senior military official told the Reuters news agency. Syria’s government and allies bomb rebel-held territoriesTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Fighting continues around Aleppo and Idlib Led…

US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday nominated billionare financial executive Warren Stephens as the next US ambassador to the UK.  “Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time. I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top diplomat, representing the USA to one of America’s most cherished and beloved allies,” Trump posted on his Truth Social social media platform.  Stephens serves as chairman, president and CEO of Stephens Inc, a financial services company headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has a net worth of $3.4 billion (€3.2 billion), according to US news outlet Forbes.  Arkansas…

The novichok poisonings were an “abject failure” by the UK government to protect the public, an inquiry has been told.Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and former police officer Nick Bailey were among those poisoned by the substance in Salisbury in March 2018. Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after being exposed to the nerve agent, which was left in a discarded perfume bottle in nearby Amesbury.Counsel acting on behalf of her family criticised the response of both the government and police, adding: “We’re lucky no more people ended up dead.”In closing remarks, Michael Mansfield KC told the Dawn Sturgess…