Author: DW

Germany’s so-called new high-voltage electricity highways are growing, but experts say their development is failing to keep up with the country’s rapid growth in renewable energy. As the wind-rich north of Germany produces ever-increasing volumes of renewable energy in onshore and offshore wind parks, the country’s southern regions, where most industrial companies are situated, are craving for electricity, still heavily relying on gas or coal-fired power plants and a bit of solar energy. Almost two decades ago, four transmission system operators (TSOs) were tasked by the German government with building new power lines from north to south. Being responsible for Germany’s high-voltage grid, TSOs maintain,…

Anita Lasker-Wallfisch has spent an entire century on this earth, and does not fear death. After all, she’d often looked it in the eye when she was deported to Auschwitz simply for being a Jew. It was the largest and most notorious of the Nazi internment system. Here, people were killed on an industrial scale, around 1.1 million of them in total. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch survived because she could play the cello.While at Auschwitz, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch spent every day expecting to be killedImage: Frank Schumann/zb/picture alliance For decades, she has raised her voice against antisemitism, right-wing extremism and racism as a dedicated witness…

The years of educational disruption during the COVID pandemic have had profound effects on children’s learning outcomes, worldwide. Children from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds have been particularly affected.  Research suggests that children’s cognitive skills are declining — reflected in kids having weaker memories, attention spans, and diminished flexible thinking skills.  So, some experts are suggesting that specialized ‘brain training’ programs be used in schools to improve those skills.  Cognitive scientists are interested in testing whether these will help train children’s working memory, with brain training programs that present kids with puzzles and other challenges.  The working memory is the mind’s staging area,…

The rescheduled women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is underway in Morocco, a year later than planned. The tournament sees some of the best players in the world fighting for glory, but as players and nations emerge, familiar problems linger that threaten to prevent the tournament from reaching its full potential. While not a traditional powerhouse, Morocco is becoming the emerging epicenter of women’s football on the continent. Thanks to no competing bids and some of the best stadiums in Africa, Morocco has become a stable and safe choice for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host the tournament. They are hosting again this time…

07/15/2025July 15, 202518 injured in Ukrainian drone attacks — Russian officialsMore now on the Ukrainian drone attacks overnight, which Russian authorities say left 18 people injured. Russia says it shot down 55 Ukrainian drones over five regions in the country’s south and southwestern regions. The falling debris damaged homes and commercial buildings in Voronezh, where 16 people were injured. “Sixteen people, including a teenager, were hurt as a result of the attack,” Voronezh regional Governor Alexander Gusev said on Telegram. Gusev said most of the injuries were minor, involving cuts and shrapnel wounds. “But there are also injuries of a different…

Hungary has only just concluded a months-long campaign against Ukraine aimed at blocking it from joining the EU. The autocratic prime minister, Viktor Orban, and his political apparatus have been portraying their neighboring country as a mafia state, overrun with hordes of dangerous criminals who would rob, kidnap, and kill Hungarian people. If people thought this was the nadir of Orban’s anti-Ukraine propaganda, they are in for a disappointment. The Hungarian leadership is portraying the death of a recruit of Hungarian origin in Ukraine on July 6 as an attack on the Hungarian nation as a whole, declaring Ukraine to…

The odds of a breakthrough to resolve trade frictions at next week’s EU-China summit in Beijing appear slim after China cut the planned two-day talks to a single day. The summit, set to mark the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic ties, was moved from Brussels to Beijing after Chinese President Xi Jinping declined an invitation to attend. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will now meet Xi, or Premier Li Qiang, in the Chinese capital. “This is another sign of Beijing’s limited willingness and ambition to engage with the Europeans,” Alicja Bachulska, policy fellow of the Asia program at the European Council on…

“Blackpink in your area”: This tag line is sending many K-pop fans wild with excitement. Blackpink is more than a girl group — they’re a real movement, a lifestyle, a cultural phenomenon. Since their debut in 2016, the South Korean girl group Blackpink has risen to become one of the top pop exports worldwide — and they are not just traveling the globe as musicians. Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa take on alternating roles as fashion icons, brand ambassadors and influencers, too. Their “Deadline World Tour,” which is whisking them across the globe on the big stage, kicked off on July 5. Six days…

The years of educational disruption during the COVID pandemic have had profound effects on children’s learning outcomes, worldwide. Children from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds have been particularly affected.  Research suggests that children’s cognitive skills are declining — reflected in kids having weaker memories, attention spans, and diminished flexible thinking skills.  So, some experts are suggesting that specialized ‘brain training’ programs be used in schools to improve those skills.  Cognitive scientists are interested in testing whether these will help train children’s working memory, with brain training programs that present kids with puzzles and other challenges.  The working memory is the mind’s staging area,…

Italy’s Jannik Sinner sealed his first victory in the men’s singles tennis final at Wimbledon on Sunday against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner needed three hours and four minutes to beat two-time defending champion Alcaraz in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4). The 23-year-old, who reached the Wimbledon final after his victory against Novak Djokovic, is already the first Italian to be ranked as the world’s No. 1 in men’s singles by the ATP. Sunday’s match came just five weeks after the pair played an epic match to determine the French Open champion, which Alcaraz won after saving three match points in a 5-hour, 29-minute match — the longest French Open…