Author: DW

The European Space Agency (ESA) has gathered unprecedented insights into the history of our galaxy, the Milky Way. ESA’s space telescope Gaia revealed two ancient streams of stars that wove together and merged with the Milky Way early in its existence. Researchers were examining data collected by Gaia when they came upon the streams, which they named Shakti and Shiva — a divine couple from Hindu philosophy who Hindus believe united to create the universe. “Revealing more about our galaxy’s infancy is one of Gaia’s goals, and it’s certainly achieving it,” Timo Prusti, project scientist for Gaia at ESA, said. “We…

Major League Baseball (MLB) team the Los Angeles Dodgers has fired Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter after the Japanese baseball star’s representatives said he had been the victim of “a massive theft” reported to involve millions of dollars. “The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated,” a Dodgers spokesperson wrote in an email to the AFP news agency on Thursday from Seoul, South Korea, where team are currently playing. Earlier, following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about Mizuhara’s alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker, law firm Berk Brettler LLP had said in a statement: “In the…

Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Germany’s lower house on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made a serious error if he thought Germany would relent in supporting Ukraine.  Scholz’s speech to the Bundestag preceded an EU summit in Brussels to focus on support for Ukraine, the situation in Gaza, and EU enlargement.Scholz reaffirms Germany’s relentless support for UkraineTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video What Scholz told the Bundestag on Ukraine Scholz said Germany was determined to help Ukraine defend itself from Putin’s ambitions. “If the Russian president believes that he just has…

Hong Kong has passed a draconian national security law at a fast-tracked speed, which experts warn is an effort to quickly extend Beijing’s grip over the remaining opposition to its erosion of civil liberties in the semi-autonomous territory.  On Tuesday, the city’s pro-Beijing legislature finished the second and third readings of the “Safeguarding National Security Bill,” also known as Article 23 of the Basic Law, before proceeding to the final vote. With unanimous support from all 89 lawmakers, the bill is now set to take effect on March 23 — nearly a month earlier than many observers had expected. The specific…

Susie Wolff has launched legal action against the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, after a controversial inquiry into her and her husband last year.The F1 Driver Academy managing director, married to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, found herself at the heart of an investigation into claims of an alleged conflict of interest. The probe came about after reports claimed other team principals were worried Mr Wolff was benefiting from information shared by his wife.Two days after the FIA announced its compliance department was “looking into” the allegations, the federation said it “can confirm that there is no ongoing investigation in terms…

For the past two years, Islamabad has persistently demanded that the Afghan Taliban rein in their Pakistani counterpart, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and use their influence to discourage them from attacking Pakistani troops and civilians. The Afghan Taliban’s response to this demand has been lukewarm, which, in turn, has emboldened the TTP. The TPP, which is outlawed by Pakistan, continues to launch attacks on Pakistani soil, particularly in areas close to the Afghan border in the northwest. On Saturday, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden truck into a military checkpoint in North Waziristan district, killing seven soldiers. The attack was…

The European Commission on Wednesday recommended that new members be gradually integrated into the European Union in a “reversible” process. In the report on pro-enlargement reforms, it said that admitting new members is in the EU’s “strategic interest,” adding that new members would give the bloc “greater geopolitical weight and influence on the global stage.” It cited geopolitical challenges such as Russia’s war in Ukraine. What else did the report say about enlargement? The report suggested Brussels could allow candidate countries to integrate partially into the EU before being afforded full membership. The enlargement process would “[offer] to candidate countries…

Konstantin Koltsov’s ex-wife has said the boyfriend of tennis star Aryna Sabalenka was “most likely very drunk” when he died. Koltsov, 42, a Belarusian former professional ice hockey player, was found dead at a hotel in Miami, Florida, on Monday. He was in the city to support Sabalenka in the Miami Open. Police investigating his death have said it was an “apparent suicide” after they found no evidence of “foul play”. Image: Aryna Sabalenka . Pic: AP But Konstantin’s ex-wife Yulia Mikhailova, has told Belarusian news outlet Zerkalo that it was an accident and she doubts he took his own…

If you drive southeast from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, you will come across a sign that reads “Kupianskii rai,” which translates as “Kupiansk paradise.” However, two letters are missing, and the sign used to read “raion,” meaning district. Kupiansk district has become Kupiansk paradise only in name. Russian troops took the city of Kupiansk, which is an important railway hub and logistical center, and its surroundings just days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The district was liberated from Russian occupation in September of the same year. Throughout, villages had been destroyed, and fields were no longer cultivated. Today,…

One year ago, European Union member states pledged to deliver one million rounds of ammunition to support Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russia. However, the EU has only been able to fulfill half of this military promise thus far. Nevertheless, significant financial and political assistance measures were unveiled in Brussels this Wednesday to aid the nation under attack by Russia. Ukraine to receive €50 billion The first meeting of the so-called Association Council between the EU and Ukraine since the EU officially announced the commencement of accession negotiations with Ukraine in December was held in Brussels on Tuesday. The Association Council is tasked with…