Author: DW

The scandal regarding so-called Cum-Ex and Cum-Cum tax schemes first broke in 2001, and still to this very day exact figures about financial losses are hard to calculate. However, the sums must be enormous given the magnitude of the fraud and what’s already been uncovered by the tax authorities of various countries. According to calculations by University of Mannheim in Germany, between 2000 and 2020 alone Germany lost nearly €29 billion ($34.1 billion) due to Cum-Cum fraud  — the “little brother of Cum-Ex” as the university’s top financial researcher Christoph Spengel once called it. Globally, the revenue loss is estimated at more…

There’s something about the shimmer, tinkle, and graceful arc of water in motion.  From ancient Minoan courts and Persian gardens to Roman aqueducts and modern plazas, fountains have been more than just ornamental — they’ve been sacred, social, symbolic, and of late, cooling-off spots in sweltering cities. From the practical to the divine With a history spanning almost five millennia, fountains first served practical needs. Around 2,000 BCE on Minoan Crete, water from springs was channeled through terracotta pipes into stepped basins at palaces like Knossos and Zakros. These weren’t just for washing — they were integrated into religious sites for purifying rituals. Picture…

A new study has found that living through the COVID-19 pandemic aged people’s brains, regardless of whether people were infected. The research adds to growing data about the pandemic’s long-term impact on global health and brain development. The study showed that the pandemic accelerated brain aging by 5.5 months on average. Changes were most noticeable in older people, men and in those from more disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Brain age relates to cognitive function and can differ from a person’s actual age. Someone’s brain age can be delayed or advanced by diseases like diabetes, HIV and Alzheimer’s disease. Premature brain aging can affect memory, sensory function and…

Every day is filled with anxiety and exhaustion. The constant Israeli bombardment, lack of sleep and search for food are overwhelming for Gaza’s displaced population. “The day revolves around thinking about where to find food for my family,” said Raed al-Athamna, a displaced Palestinian father in Gaza City, who spoke to DW by phone since foreign journalists are not allowed in Gaza. “There is nothing to eat. There is no bread, as I cannot afford to buy flour. It is too expensive. Today, we had some lentils for the kids and my mom, but tomorrow, I don’t know.” Al-Athamna, who…

For a country with just over two million people, Slovenia’s success in sport is astounding. They won seven medals at the last Winter Olympics, they have one of the biggest names in the NBA today in Luka Doncic, and the world’s best cyclist, Tadej Pogacar, also comes from the small European nation. Are Slovenia just enjoying a rare generation of gifted athletes or is something else happening? Professor Gregor Jurak of the University of Ljubljana specializes in physical fitness and activity. He believes there are a number of reasons why Slovenia is a great place for young athletes to grow. …

The United Nations Security Council is due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting on Thursday, with violence flaring near two temples on the border between Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey. Both countries blame the other for triggering the latest clashes. While Cambodia fired rockets and shells into Thailand, the Thai military scrambled F-16 jets to hit military targets across the border. Clashes continue for a second day The fighting continued for a second day early on Friday, Thai authorities said. They…

July 24 marks the day where humanity has used up nature’s entire budget of ecological resources for the year. That’s according to the international sustainability organization Global Footprint Networkand York University in Toronto, Canada. The day, which is observed annually, comes just over a week earlier than last year’s date— mainly due to the fact that oceans can absorb less CO2 than previously reported. We are overconsuming by depleting nature’s capital faster than it can replenish, which is visible in deforestation, loss of biodiversity and the accumulation of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. And it is part of a trend…

Rights for LGBTQAI+ people vary greatly around the world: What is punishable by death in some countries is regularly celebrated at colorful Pride events elsewhere. Even within Europe, both the legal situation and the social acceptance of the queer community vary greatly from country to country. “Basically, the needs of lesbians, gays, trans* and everyone else in between are exactly the same as anyone else,” emphasized Jörg Argelander. Together with Gregor Hiebel, he has been running the Berlin travel agency Overtherainbow since 1996, where he regularly advises LGBTQIA+ people on safe travel. “I want to relax, I want to have fun, I want…

A temporary “tattoo” could provide partygoers looking for a safe night out with a secret indicator to detect drugs often used to spike drinks in public bars and clubs. Rohypnol — also called a “roofie” — and GHB, sometimes called “liquid ecstasy” or “fantasy,” are club drugs used, often by young people, in bars and nightclubs, raves and other nightlife settings. It is an illegal drug in many places, including the United States, UK and Australia. While certain doses of these club drugs can produce a feeling of relaxation or euphoria, excessive doses can lead to symptoms of drowsiness, slurring of speech,…

On July 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law restricting the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) mere hours after it had been passed by Ukrainian parliament. The move sparked protests in several cities across Ukraine. Thousands of people took to the streets of Kyiv, with demonstrators criticizing what they saw as a “return” to the era of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was forced to flee to Russia during the Euromaidan Revolution in 2014. The new law stipulates that the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president with…