Author: DW

Some 182,000 Kurds living in Iraqi Kurdistan were killed in 1988 by chemical weapons launched by Saddam Hussein’s regime in a series of attacks known as the Anfal campaign. That campaign included chemical attacks on Halabja, a village on the Iraq-Iran border, and other communities. Five thousand people are estimated to have died in Halabja. They were the victims of sarin and VX nerve agents, and mustard gas. The scars of that atrocity, now known as the Halabja Massacre, are still felt today — by about 6,000 people who survived and other Kurds living in the region.  Clinical psychologist Ibrahim Mohammed studied the…

“This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the beauty and the greatness of America. And we can’t wait to welcome soccer fans from all over the globe.” This statement by US President Donald Trump stands prominently on the US governement’s official visa‑information page for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But the message of welcome contrasts sharply with the broader policy landscape in Trump’s second term. Immigration restrictions, intensified enforcement, and deportation raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have become defining elements of his administration. “This is a difficult time in this country because a lot of things that are happening…

The horror film “Sinners” by Ryan Coogler broke Oscar history by earning a total 16 Oscar nominations on Thursday for the 98th Academy Awards, which will be presented on March 15. The previous record of 14 had been held by “All About Eve,” “Titantic” and “La La Land.” The nominations were additionally notable as horror films tend to be excluded from Oscar honors. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film features actor Michael B. Jordan in a dual role of twin brothers who face supernatural forces in the southern US of the Jim Crow era.  “Sinners” is considered a frontrunner in the best picture category.…

China gets up to a fifth of its imported oil from Iran and another 4 to 5% from Venezuela, often through clandestine channels to skirt United States sanctions — or at least it did before recent disruptions. US President Donald Trump’s move earlier this month to unseat Venezuela’s longtime leader, Nicolas Maduro, redirect its oil to the US and impose 25% tariffs on Iran-linked trade has raised serious questions about energy security in the world’s second-largest economy. Oil prices briefly spiked on fears that China’s discounted Iranian supplies could be hit, while experts warned that US seizures of Venezuela-linked oil tankers may further constrict flows. Can…

“It should be within my comfort zone,” Alex Honnold said in on a recent edition of The Jay Shetty podcast. “So it’s not so much about ‘what if I die?'” The 40-year-old American is one of the world’s best climbers, specifically rock and vertical climbing. Weather permitting, Honnold will be venturing onto unfamiliar terrain in Taiwan on Saturday morning (January 24), local time. He intends to climb the facade of the Taipei 101 skyscraper “free solo,” meaning alone and without any safety equipment. Netflix, the world’s largest streaming service with more than 300 million subscribers, is planning to broadcast Honnold’s ascent live. In…

Fewer people in Germany are drinking alcohol, with the number significantly down over the last decade — although alcohol drinkers are still strongly in the majority. In 2024, 68% of consumers said they drank alcohol, down from 78% in 2015, according to data released Wednesday by the polling institute YouGov. Younger respondents especially are drinking less often. Among Generation Z, defined as those born in or after 1997, 61% said they drink alcohol. The figure rises to 71% among millennials, born between 1981 and 1996. “Alcohol is increasingly losing its everyday role,” said YouGov expert Anouk Buskens. Health concerns were cited…

Skip next section Trump again questions NATO’s commitment to defend US01/21/2026January 21, 2026Trump again questions NATO’s commitment to defend USEuropean NATO allies have voiced solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, but Trump said he would impose punitive tariffs from February 1 to pressure opponents of a sale of the Arctic island to the USImage: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump questioned whether NATO would back the United States if it called on the military alliance. “We will be there for them a 100%, but I am not sure that they’d be there for us,” he said in his speech at the WEF. “With all the…

Some 182,000 Kurds living in Iraqi Kurdistan were killed in 1988 by chemical weapons launched by Saddam Hussein’s regime in a series of attacks known as the “Anfal campaign”. That campaign included chemical attacks on Halabja, a village on the Iraq-Iran border, and other communities. Five thousand people are estimated to have died in Halabja. They were the victims of sarin and VX nerve agents, and mustard gas. The scars of that atrocity, now known as the Halabja Massacre, are still felt today — by about 6,000 people who survived and other Kurds living in the region.  Clinical psychologist Ibrahim Mohammed studied the…

As soaked Senegal fans celebrated winning the Africa Cup of Nations in a Moroccan rainstorm on Sunday, thoughts and talk would likely have soon turned to a World Cup opener against France less than six months away. The June 16 clash against their former colonial rulers, who Senegal memorably beat in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, is in the New Jersey Stadium which will host the World Cup final. While the 300,000 strong Senegalese diaspora in France should ensure some fans are backing the African champions, those who hold only Senegalese passports will not be allowed in the…

Around 4 million kilograms of potatoes, neatly sorted and stored in a cool, dry place — in perfect condition for consumption, and yet threatened with destruction. A farm in Saxony, Germany, ended up stuck with a harvest of potatoes that had been ordered by a trader. Due to this year’s unusually high supply that affected the market price of potatoes, selling them was no longer profitable for the trader. The order was financially settled, but the potatoes were left in storage. What could be done to save all this produce from going to waste? Search engine Ecosia and the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper organized a collaborative…