Author: DW

Travel can sometimes place us in a moral dilemma. A sense of unease may arise from everyday realities — the carbon emissions caused by flying, for example, or the broader consequences of modern mass tourism. Is this simply something to accept? Should we simply stop traveling or are there better ways to do it? For Wolfgang Strasdas, the answer is clear: “I don’t think we need to feel guilty at all,” says the scientific director of the Center for Sustainable Tourism in Berlin, who has studied the impacts of travel for many years. In many parts of the world, tourism is…

The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday (February 28), an escalation that could lead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.  Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, signalling that it can disrupt the vital maritime artery that carries a fifth of the world’s oil consumption. But Tehran has never followed through on its threats to close off access to the strait completely, as this would prevent it from shipping its own oil abroad and would likely provoke a rapid international…

FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes it is time to reinstate Russia, who has been banned since invading Ukraine in 2022, to football. Ukraine’s sports minister Matvii Bidnyi said the words were detached from a “reality in which children are being killed.” Russian and Belarusian athletes are about to compete as neutrals at the Winter Olympics in Italy IOC boss potentially opens door to Russia’s return to Olympic stage What has FIFA said about Russia’s ban? FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he wants Russia reinstated to international football tournaments. “We have to [look at reinstating Russia], definitely, because this ban has…

Neil Sedaka, the hit rock ‘n’ roll singer and songwriter who achieved fame in the 1960s and 1970s with hits like “Laughter in the Rain” and “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” died on Friday. Sedaka was 86.  “Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” his family said in a statement, without giving a cause of death. “A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.” One…

The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday (February 28), an escalation that could lead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.  Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, signalling that it can disrupt the vital maritime artery that carries a fifth of the world’s oil consumption. If Iran were to follow through on its threat, oil prices could rise sharply, which would deal a massive blow to the global economy. In February, oil prices rose to their highest levels in months…

A win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday would send Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich 11 points clear of their opponents and all but seal back-to-back Bundesliga titles for the Belgian coach. While the football is his focus, Kompany’s powerful, forthright and eloquent monologue on racism and victim-blaming last week struck a chord beyond the game. The 39-year-old condemned Benfica coach Jose Mourinho for his suggestion that the alleged racist abuse by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni that compelled Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. to walk off the pitch was provoked by Vinicius’s celebration of a goal. Kompany then went on to share his own…

02/27/2026February 27, 2026DB promises new hires for cleaner trains, improved food serviceGermany’s Deutsche Bahn (DB) says it will answer the federal government’s calls to improve the cleanliness of its trains as well as the quality and reliability of its onboard dining service. On Friday, DB announced that train interiors will be cleaned more regularly, specifically their toilets and floors, and that maintenance of coffee machines and toilets will be carried out more frequently. The €20 million ($24 million) program is to begin immediately and is designed to increase travel comfort for passengers. Busy connections will get more attention, with DB…

The US government says it will pull AI startup Anthropic from Pentagon supply chains and rip up any agreements it has with it as the row between the two escalates sharply. US Under Secretary of Defense Emil Michael strongly rebuked Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Thursday, calling him a “liar” with a “God-complex.” He said Amodei “wants nothing more than to try to personally control the US military and is ok putting our nation’s safety at risk.” The row follows a meeting earlier this week between Amodei and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, where — according to sources familiar with…

It could mark the “first advance to benefit people” who have been living with HIV for decades but are forced to treat it with complex, multi-pill regimens: a once a day pill that works just as well, according to the results of a new clinical trial. HIV — the human immunodeficiency virus — was once described as a “death sentence” for infected people, inhibiting their immune systems and putting them at risk of fatal infections or cancer.   While modern medicines have improved the lives of people with HIV, such that they can suppress the virus and not pass it on…

An emergency meeting Thursday morning of the organization that manages the Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale, has left the future of the festival’s current head, Tricia Tuttle, open-ended, as the festival continues to reel from controversy related to the Israel-Hamas war.  The meeting had been called by State Minister for Culture Wolfram Weimer to discuss incidents at the recent Berlinale in which, among other things, artists expressed solidarity with Gaza and criticized festival and jury leadership for their approach to handling the conflict within the festival sphere.  Weimer’s office issued the following statement after the meeting:  “This morning, a meeting of the supervisory board of the KBB GmbH [the Berlinale management organization] took place in the Chancellery. Discussions between the festival director, Tricia…