Author: DW

Beyond the fact that this is the third known interstellar object to have entered our solar system, “we don’t know very much,” said Larry Denneau, co-principle investigator at ATLAS, a telescope in Chile that spotted 3I/ATLAS on July 1, 2025. It’s not exactly reassuring when scientists say “we don’t know,” but at least it’s honest. Astronomers do know that 3I/ATLAS is a comet that’s about 670 million kilometers (416 million miles) away from the sun. Based on current projections, it poses no danger to planet Earth. “Scientists are still determining the velocity and trajectory to a degree that will allow accurate predictions…

At the end, it all looked easy enough for Germany, as goals from Jule Brand and Lea Schüller saw them past tournament debutants Poland. But while the win was deserved and the performance improved as the game went on, it was not quite the perfect start. The eight-time champions were wasteful in front of goal and were not entirely convincing at the back. A more ruthless side than Poland may well have capitalized on some sloppy German errors. Sweden and Denmark, Germany’s other group stage opponents, may not be so charitable. But perhaps more significantly, captain Giulia Gwinn left the pitch in tears…

Skip next section Moldova took ‘crucial step’ towards EU accession — von der Leyen07/04/2025July 4, 2025Moldova took ‘crucial step’ towards EU accession — von der LeyenVon der Leyen stressed Brussels’ ‘unwavering commitment’ to MoldovaImage: Vladislav Culiomza/REUTERSEU Commission PresidentUrsula von der Leyen said that Moldova took a “crucial step” after the country enshrined EU accession in its constitution following a 2024 referendum. She made the comments at a press conference following EU talks in Chisinau alongside EU Council President Antonio Costa and Moldova’s head of state, Maia Sandu. “Nine months ago, we agreed on the growth plan for Moldova, and eight…

Trinidad and Tobago conferred India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Carribean nation’s highest civilian honor on Friday, in a first for a foreign leader. President Christine Carla Kangaloo gave Modi the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at a ceremony at President’s House in St Ann’s, near the capital Port of Spain. Modi was on a two-day tour of the dual-island country as he seeks to shore up New Delhi’s ties with the Caribbean and Latin America. The visit marked the Indian leader’s first official trip to Trinidad and Tobago — where more than a third of the population…

A proposal, introduced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has sparked considerable attention. Speaking at the end of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on June 27, they floated the idea of the EU taking the lead in forming an alternative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the world trade body that has been in place since 1995. Merz said the idea was in its early stages but could include mechanisms to resolve disputes, as the WTO was meant to do. “You all know that the WTO doesn’t work anymore,” he said, adding that…

When Felize goes through Berghain’s doors, she doesn’t feel like an outsider. Even though she uses a wheelchair, she feels just like part of the crowd — another regular at Germany’s most famous techno club. She is used to the thumping bass, the late nights and the strict door policy — and the feeling of being seen and accepted by strangers. Berlin clubs like Berghain increasingly cultivate images as “safe spaces” for queer people and people with disabilities —  inclusive spaces where people can party safely and feel at ease. Many clubs work with awareness teams and try to keep their line-ups…

Researchers have solved a long-standing mystery about the origins of Uralic languages. They were known to go back thousands of years, but who spoke them originally?  To find out, researchers combined genetic and archeological data to trace the ancestral origins of the people who now speak Uralic languages. Their study, published in Nature, describes how they found a ‘genetic tracer dye’ for the spread of Uralic-speaking populations across Eurasia between 11,000 and 4,000 years ago. This shows how Uralic people migrated from Siberia as far as the Baltic sea and East Asia, bringing with them technological advancements and the Uralic…

What to know about this year’s route This year’s Tour begins on July 5 with a flat stage of 185 kilometers (115 miles), starting with the Grand Depart in the northern French city of Lille. The 21st and final stage will be on July 27 – after a total of 3,339 kilometers –  on the Champs Elysees in Paris. What’s new is that professionals will have to cross Montmartre, the striking hill in the north of the city, three times during the finale. However, that’s no problem compared to the climbs they’ll already have under their belts at that stage: riders…

Michael Spagat, a researcher of war and armed conflict at the University of London, has led a new study analyzing war-related deaths in Gaza. It estimates that more than 80,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza between October 7, 2023 and January 5, 2025. “Ultimately, the most important thing is to memorialize the victims one by one,” the expert told DW. He said the Gazan Ministry of Health is ensuring every casualty is recorded on lists, and added that he considers these records to be “pretty accurate.” Gaza’s ministries are administrered by the ruling authority Hamas, which the European Union…

After pressuring fellow members of his Republican party for months, Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has passed both houses of US Congress and now only needs to be sent to his desk to be signed into law. The bill represents a critical legislative milestone and a political victory for the US president. Much of his second term has so far been marked by executive orders, which are presidential instructions with the force of laws but don’t need the approval of Congress. But having this major spending and tax bill passed by Congress will finance a huge chunk of his presidential campaign promises. …