Author: DW

It’s been around since the 1890s, used in skin care and cosmetic products, industry, ceramics, roofing, plastics and paper. Even if you never came into contact with it as a baby or child, chances are you have heard of it: talcum power.  Since the 1970s, studies have indicated that talc may be carcinogenic — even studies conducted by one of its biggest commercial producers, the US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson. But many studies and experts suggest it’s when talc is contaminated with asbestos that it becomes conclusively carcinogenic. Johnson & Johnson says its talc products “do not contain asbestos.”  However,…

Four years since they last played an official match ahead of the devastation, destruction and displacement caused by the return of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s women are ready to play for their country again. The “FIFA Unites: Women’s Series” will see the newly formed Afghanistan women’s refugee football team play against Chad, Libya and hosts the United Arab Emirates from October 23 to 29. While the games do matter, sending a message to the oppressive rulers of their homeland matters even more. “There are a lot of emotions coming up, a mix of excitement and looking forward to the tournament, but also, at…

A Polish court on Friday declined to extradite to Germany a Ukrainian suspected of involvement in sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The Warsaw District Court also ordered his immediate release. The decision may be subject to appeal. A series of underwater explosions damaged the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, seven months after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.The Nord Stream pipelines were damaged in a series of explosions in September 2022Image: Danish Defense Ministry/Xinhua/picture alliance Court cites lack of evidence, jurisdiction “The Polish court does not have any evidence in this case, as the German side only sent…

Dozens of South Koreans who had been detained in Cambodia over allegations of being involved in cyberscam operations have returned home under arrest and will now face a criminal probe. Cambodian Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak had said earlier that 64 South Koreans were to be repatriated from his county. The South Korean suspectes were flown home on a chartered flightImage: Heng Sinith/AP Photo/picture alliance Repatriated South Koreans arrested on plane A chartered plane carrying the suspects landed in South Korea’s main Incheon International Airport on Saturday morning.  They were arrested on board, shortly after getting on the plane, news agency…

When young musicians from Nigeria and Germany took to the stage at a Beethovenfest concert in Bonn on September 11, it was clear that the audience was witnessing the culmination of an incredible journey. Afrobeat rhythms pulsed alongside clarinets and violins, Nigerian protest songs merged with Beethoven’s”Egmont.” The concert, with its musical mix of influences, was the culmination of Campus Project 2025 — a collaboration between BeethovenfestBonn, the German Youth Orchestra and DW that’s been running for over two decades. Each year, the project brings together young musicians for a cultural and musical exchange. This year, six young German musicians met six Nigerian counterparts to experiment…

Oliver Blume is to step down as the CEO of German sports carmaker Porsche, the firm said on Friday. He also serves in the same role in Volkswagen Group, Porsche’s parent company, a dual position that has attracted significant criticism amid years of struggles for the German car industry. Blume will remain at the helm of Volkswagen, Porsche’s supervisory board said in a statement. He has been CEO of Porsche since 2015 and took over at Volkswagen in 2022 after the resignation of Herbert Diess. Porsche said that Blume’s likely replacement is Michael Leiters, who had previously served as the…

Worldwide, 44 million deaths — that is the sad toll of HIV/AIDS since it was first detected in 1981; it was officially discovered in 1983. AIDS is considered one of the worst epidemics in human history. The number of AIDS-related deaths has steadily decreased over the years, thanks to awareness campaigns, education and prevention, but people are still dying. In 2024, UNAIDS reported the number of AIDS-related deaths a year was about 630,000 people worldwide. The new discovery of an antibody against HIV by the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, has raised hopes that another weapon in the fight against the virus may…

On October 15, 2025, at the highest point on Earth, the summit of Mount Everest at 8,849 meters, American ski mountaineer Jim Morrison scattered the ashes of his partner, Hilaree Nelson, who died in a fatal accident three years ago. While attempting a ski descent from the 8,163 meter Manaslu in Nepal, she was caught in a small avalanche near the summit and fell to her death. After taking a moment at the summit of Everest, Morrison strapped on his skis and began his descent through the “Supercouloir” of the North Face, a combination of two approximately 50-degree steep rock…

Ace Frehley, founder member and lead guitarist of the American rock band KISS, has passed away aged 74, his family said on Thursday. The rock legend reportedly died at home, surrounded by relatives, following a recent fall at his recording studio in September. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” Frehley’s family said in a statement. They nevertheless said they were “devastated and heartbroken” but added: “Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue…

Supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv have been banned from attending their team’s Europa League game away at English Premier League side Aston Villa next month. In a statement, Birmingham-based club Villa said they had been informed that local police had “public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.” West Midlands Police said they had classified the November 6 fixture as “high risk” following a “thorough assessment.” “This decision is based on current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during…