Author: DW

Chemical poisoning — not foodborne disease — is now being investigated as the probable cause of the deaths of a German-Turkish family in Istanbul last week. It has again brought the role of phosphine-producing pesticides into focus, and follows several similar incidents in Turkey and around the world. Local newspaper Cumhuriyet has now reported the initial findings from forensic analyses performed on samples taken from the bodies of the mother and her two children who died between 13 and 14 November. The father and husband of the deceased passed away on 17 November. Excerpts from the initial report said “primarily, it is believed that they…

A star Russian athlete will compete in Germany’s gymnastics Bundesliga, despite being designated as a “champion of terror” by Ukraine. 2020 Olympic champion Angelina Melnikova, one of the world’s best gymnasts, has signed for TSV Tittmoning-Chemnitz for the last two rounds of the Bundesliga season. However, the move is controversial, with the 25-year-old accused of siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin and backing his war in Ukraine, having also dabbled in politics with the ruling United Russia party. Other Bundesliga clubs have queried the wisdom of bringing Melnikova in to help Chemnitz’s title push. “There were only sporting reasons,” club coach…

Skip next section Ex-South African president’s daughter probed for recruiting men for Ukraine War11/24/2025November 24, 2025Ex-South African president’s daughter probed for recruiting men for Ukraine WarSouth African police are investigating allegations that a daughter of former president Jacob Zuma helped recruit men to fight in Ukraine. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who is also a Parliamentarian for her father’s MK party, was named in an affidavit filed by her stepsister.  The document claims she and two others recruited a group of South Africans under false pretenses.  The men have asked the South African government to help them get home from Ukraine’s Donbas region.…

South African police on Sunday confirmed they are investigating claims that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, and two others conned 17 men into fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Another of Zuma’s daughters, Nkosazana Bongamini Zuma-Mncube, accused her stepsister of sending the men to Russia before they were ordered to the front lines. “These men were lured to Russia under false pretenses and handed to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukraine war without their knowledge or consent. Among these 17 men are eight of my family members,” Zuma-Mncube said in a public statement. Earlier this…

On the internet, the offer looks attractive: a new kidney, and a dialysis-free life in just a few weeks. For people who’ve spent years waiting for a donor organ, it’s a glimmer of hope. But behind it lies a global network of organ traffickers with links to Kenya.   Image: Christian Dransfeld/DWHow the kush dens of Monrovia are trapping Liberia’s youth A toxic synthetic drug is sweeping through Liberia. Known as kush, it appeared around 2018 but has already devastated the lives of many youths in the country’s cities. The 77 Percent gained rare access to one of Monrovia’s kush…

Securing a conversation with Leonidas Askianakis requires foresight. His schedule is carved into 30-minute slots from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. Meetings are online only, and every one of them revolves around space. Despite the long hours, his calendar is booked weeks ahead. When does he sleep? The 22-year-old student from the Technical University of Munich in Germany shrugs when confronted with the question during a recent interview with DW, saying that he’s “on the home stretch” and just can’t “set the project aside.” Even at night, the mission weighs on him, he said, and he often lies awake scrolling through…

NASA “very much wants to find signs of life in the universe,” said associate administrator Amit Kshatriya, but the interstellar object called 3I/ATLAS was not it. The US space agency released fresh images on Wednesday of the object, which zipped past Mars last month. “I think it’s important that we talk about that. This object is a comet,” Kshatriya said. “It looks and behaves like a comet. And all evidence points to it being a comet.” Alien speculation fueled by the US government shutdown The speculation that it was not a comet came during the US government shutdown, which prevented NASA…

On November 18, Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House dinner alongside Saudi Arabian Crowned Prince Mohammad bin Salman and US President Donald Trump. Ronaldo, who has played club football in Saudi Arabia since 2023, had not seemingly been in the USA in nearly a decade following a legal case from 2009 in which Ronaldo faced allegations of rape. The charges were dropped in 2019 and the lawsuit was dismissed in 2022, clearing the way for his return. But what does the timing of his reappearance mean? “President Trump is keenly aware of the symbolism of hosting the World Cup during the celebrations of…

Days before the one-year anniversary of the ceasefire that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon on November 27, 2024, tensions are once again threatening to escalate.   This week, Israel launched numerous airstrikes on southern Lebanon, killing at least a dozen people, according to Lebanese health officials. Israel’s military said on X that it had targeted Hezbollah members and infrastructure, including weapons storage facilities, as well as a Hamas training compound, all linked to Iran-backed groups. A local resident, speaking to DW on the condition of anonymity, denied the Israeli army’s claim that the area housed weapons or explosives. “The area is populated…

World leaders attending a Group of 20 (G20) leaders’ summit in South Africa on Saturday adopted a declaration addressing global challenges despite opposition from the United States. The move broke with protocol as declarations are typically adopted at the end of G20 summits. In his opening remarks, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “We should not allow anything to diminish the value, the stature and the impact of the first African G20 presidency.” This year’s summit has been overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s decision not to send a US delegation. South African officials said Washington had put pressure on South…