Latest news with #IMAGO
DW
12 hours ago
- Science
- DW
Cats can sniff out owners, study finds – DW – 05/28/2025
Cats use scent to tell their owners apart from strangers. But a cat's disposition also plays a part, according to a Japanese study. A new study by researchers at the Tokyo University of Agriculture in Japan has identified patterns of behavior shown by cats toward humans they know, such as their owners, and strangers. Previous research suggested that cats rely on their sensitive noses to identify other cats as friend or foe. But whether that same function applies to detecting humans was not fully understood. So, the researchers in Japan took 30 domestic cats and tested their responses to a range of special scents. The cats' owners provided samples of their scents by swabbing their underarms, behind their ears and between their toes. These swabs were then presented to the cats in a tube. And the researchers monitored the behavior shown by each cat and the time they spent sniffing the scent samples. They repeated the process with swabs from humans the cats did not know, and also with a blank swab, or placebo, as a measure to control or verify the test. Their results appear to show that the cats spent twice as long smelling samples from strangers than samples from their owners, and that they favored their right nostrils over their left nostrils when sniffing the swabs from strangers. Spanish lab clones dogs, cats for grieving owners To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The research team thinks the choice of nostril may correspond to the way in which many animals process new information. "Dogs, but also fish, birds, and other vertebrates process novel information using the right brain hemisphere," they wrote in a study paper published May 28, 2025, in the journal PLOS One . "The left brain is responsible [...] when a routine response emerges." The researchers said that while their findings suggested a cat's sense of smell was a tool for their recognizing humans, they could not conclude that smell was the most important mechanism for cats to do that. A cat's personality influences how they interact with humans Personality traits may also play a role in how cats interact with odors — human or otherwise. The researchers asked the cat owners to complete a survey about their cats' personalities. They then tried to match those personality traits with the behaviors they observed during the smelling test, in a hope that this would enable them to identify behavioral differences among cats in responding to smells. They observed that among male cats, the more "neurotic" ones repeatedly returned to the smell tubes, while those described as being more "agreeable" rarely returned to a scent. No behavioral differences were identified among female cats. A Japanese research group found cats use their right nostril when exposed to the scent of an unknown human, rather than their left nostril, which they tend to use when smelling the scent of someone they know Image: IMAGO/ingimage The personality traits were quantified using a test known as "the Feline Five ." That test was developed by another research team for a study of about 3,000 cats in Australia and New Zealand. In that study, published in 2017, highly neurotic cats were described as "insecure, anxious, fearful [of people], suspicious and shy." More agreeable cats were described as "affectionate, friendly to people and gentle." The test was originally pitched as a tool to support animal welfare in the home, by helping owners create safe environments for their cats. Another attempt to understand mysterious 'moggies' While dogs are often called "man's best friend," cats have a reputation for being mercurial, wayward, untamed domestic cohabitants. For example, one study from the University of Leeds found that cats don't bond with humans in the same way as dogs do. "Adult cats are typically quite autonomous, even in their social relationships, and not necessarily dependent on others to provide a sense of security and safety," said the authors of that study when it was published in 2015. So, although this latest study from Japan may suggest cats are able to recognize their human companions, they may still think very little of them. Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool ‘Closing in' on Record-Breaking Deal with Bayer Leverkusen to Sign Florian Wirtz
Liverpool Close in on Florian Wirtz Deal: Record Transfer Fee on the Cards Liverpool are edging closer to a truly monumental transfer coup, with reports from Sport Bild indicating that the club is set to agree a record-breaking fee for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. In a summer window that promised ambition, this move would underline Liverpool's new chapter under Arne Slot in the most emphatic way possible. Florian Wirtz: From Bundesliga Starlet to Anfield Target Until very recently, Liverpool weren't even considered frontrunners in the pursuit of Wirtz. Bayern Munich had long been expected to land the player, given their dominance in German football and historic pull with homegrown talents. 'They essentially have first option on every German talent,' the Sport Bild report points out, with Bayern 'publicly discussing the player.' Advertisement Manchester City were also strongly linked and seen as a natural fit. With Kevin De Bruyne's career entering its twilight phase, Wirtz was considered by many to be the 'ideal replacement.' Yet, despite this apparent inevitability, City surprisingly pulled out of the race last week, deeming the fee too steep. Photo: IMAGO That opened the door for Liverpool, who have pounced decisively. According to Sport Bild, 'Liverpool weren't really reported as favourites or even in the race as recently as two weeks ago,' but 'they could win it. Now they appear to have done just that.' Record-Breaking Fee Signals Shift in Transfer Strategy Sport Bild claims Liverpool are close to agreeing a fee with Leverkusen, believed to be in the range of €130m to €150m. Either amount would shatter the club's existing transfer record and could stand as the most expensive incoming deal in English football history. 'There's also a good chance that it ends up as the record transfer for both English football as an incoming and Germany football in total,' the article notes. Advertisement Liverpool's owners have already greenlit this historic expenditure, reportedly confirming their willingness to pay 'record-breaking amounts in a meeting with the club's ownership last week.' This signals a shift from Liverpool's previously measured, analytics-driven transfer dealings to a more assertive approach befitting champions. Arne Slot's Vision Taking Shape While some may still associate Liverpool's identity with the recently departed Jurgen Klopp, the Wirtz deal is emblematic of Arne Slot's new era. The Dutchman, fresh off winning the Premier League in his debut season, is clearly intent on building a side capable of dominating at home and in Europe. Photo: IMAGO Bringing in Wirtz, a creative force with flair, intelligence and precision, adds a new dimension to Liverpool's attack. Wirtz's ability to operate between the lines and dictate play could become vital as Slot evolves Liverpool's style into something both entertaining and efficient. Minimal Obstacles Left in Wirtz Transfer With personal terms reportedly agreed and Liverpool confident of settling on a fee with Bayer Leverkusen, the final steps are believed to be procedural. 'There isn't a major disagreement over money here, and everything should be ironed out quickly,' writes Sport Bild. Advertisement This is a coup that few saw coming. From outsiders to likely winners of the Wirtz race in under a fortnight, Liverpool have once again shown their ability to strike with intent when the moment calls for it. Should the deal be finalised, Wirtz's arrival at Anfield will be remembered as a watershed moment for the club's ambitions post-Klopp, setting the tone for what promises to be an electrifying new era. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis If this goes through, it could well be the most thrilling signing Liverpool have made in decades. Wirtz isn't just a good player, he's the player – the one who gets fans off their seats, the one who changes games with a single moment of inspiration. That this could be the club's most expensive signing ever, and potentially a record for both English and German football, is just staggering. But honestly, it's worth every penny. Advertisement Arne Slot's first season was nothing short of miraculous. Winning the league, embedding a new style, and now this – it feels like we're witnessing the birth of a new dynasty. With Wirtz pulling the strings, the idea of Liverpool becoming a dominant European force again doesn't just feel possible, it feels likely. This isn't just a statement of intent – it's a declaration of war on the status quo. Liverpool aren't here to rebuild slowly, they're here to win, to evolve, and to terrify opposition defences. Bayern and City thought they had this one wrapped up – they didn't see us coming.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Liverpool icon's future uncertain after cryptic interview
Liverpool Legend Hints at Exit as Slot Targets Summer Refresh Left-back Position Under Review Liverpool's title-winning campaign may have just concluded, but there is little time for sentiment. In an Interview on BBC Match of the Day, Andy Robertson, the club's stalwart left-back for eight years, has dropped a clear hint that his time at Anfield could be coming to an end. Photo IMAGO Despite lifting every major trophy since joining from Hull City, and playing 342 times for the club, Robertson now finds himself at a crossroads. At 31 and with just one year left on his current contract, he is no longer an automatic starter under new head coach Arne Slot. Kerkez Pursuit Suggests Change Slot, alongside sporting director Richard Hughes, is planning a reshape of the squad, and left-back is one of the key positions under scrutiny. Milos Kerkez, the Hungarian full-back who worked under Hughes at Bournemouth, is high on Liverpool's shortlist. Photo: IMAGO Initially, Kostas Tsimikas was seen as the likely casualty to accommodate a new arrival. However, with Robertson's recent admission, that equation may be shifting. 'Obviously, the club are going to have a busy summer, so we need to see where everyone stands,' Robertson told Match of the Day. 'But it's been a special time here, I loved my time here.' Emotional Reflections, Tactical Decisions It is the tone of Robertson's comments that speaks volumes. 'Eight special years,' he said. 'I've cherished every moment I've played in front of these fans.' For a player not prone to theatricality, these are unusually sentimental remarks. Photo: IMAGO While the club has been built on legacy and loyalty, Slot's task is to look forward, not back. With Robertson's output dipping and injury absences increasing, the conversation about succession has shifted from theoretical to necessary. Advertisement Whether his next move is a fairytale return to boyhood club Celtic or a new challenge altogether, Liverpool fans may have witnessed the last of Robertson at Anfield in red. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis For Liverpool supporters, this stings. Not because it's unexpected, but because it's Robertson. A player who embodied everything about Klopp's high-octane, heavy-metal football. A bargain at £8 million who grew into one of the best left-backs in world football. To hear him speak in such reflective tones—'I loved my time here'—feels like the last page of a beloved chapter. Yes, there are logical reasons for change. His form has dipped, injuries have crept in, and at 31, he's no longer the guaranteed option he once was. Advertisement But letting Robertson go isn't just about tactics or finances—it's emotional. He's part of the club's fabric, one of the final links to a golden era. The thought of him departing while still capable of contributing leaves fans torn between sentiment and progress. If this is the end, fans will understand—but it doesn't mean they'll like it. They'll hope, at the very least, that his next steps bring him the respect and minutes he deserves. Celtic would be a fitting swansong.
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Czech-Slovak relations chill to glacial – DW – 05/28/2025
Czechia and Slovakia have been independent states for over 30 years. Until recently, the bond between them was extremely close. But among other things, the subject of Ukraine has driven a wedge between the two neighbors. Relations between the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992 have been consistently good, close and characterized by mutual trust. The governments of the two neighboring countries have supported each other and cooperated on defense. Their respective languages are understood in both countries, and tens of thousands of young Slovaks study at Czech universities, which have a reputation for offering higher-quality education. The first foreign trip for a newly elected Czech or Slovak president has always been to the other country, and joint cabinet meetings are held at least once a year. And in surveys, the citizens of each country consistently rank the other as their favorite country. Or at least they used to. The end of an exceptional relationship? Since Robert Fico became prime minister in Slovakia for the fourth time in October 2023, relations between these two next-door neighbors have deteriorated and chilled significantly. Czech PM Petr Fiala said in March 2024 that his government did not consider it appropriate to conduct meetings with the government of the Slovak Republic in the coming weeks or months Image: Michal Krumphanzl/CTK/IMAGO Fico's nationalist, pro-Russian government, which models itself on that of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has repeatedly clashed with the pro-Ukrainian Czech government of Petr Fiala. So much so that Prague actually canceled the traditional meeting of both governments in March 2024. The message from the Czech capital was that the "exceptional relationship" was terminated indefinitely. "We do not consider it appropriate to conduct governmental meetings with the government of the Slovak Republic in the coming weeks or months," Fiala told journalists at the time. "There is no hiding that there are considerable differences of opinion on several important foreign policy issues." Differences over Ukraine Fico, who had ordered a halt to military aid for Ukraine from the Slovak government and re-established relations with Moscow, responded by accusing Fiala's government of warmongering. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (left) and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban (right) are close allies Image: Omar Havana/AP Photo/picture alliance "We note that the Czech government has decided to risk our relationship just because it is interested in supporting the war in Ukraine, while the Slovak government wants to speak openly about peace," Fico posted on social media. Although cooperation on practical projects continued at a low level, the warmth and mutual understanding of the previous three decades has dissipated entirely, particularly as Slovakia's rapprochement with Russia continues. The culmination of this rapprochement was Fico's participation in the May 9 Victory Day Parade in Moscow. He was the only head of government in the European Union to attend. Growing distance between the two populations Domestic developments in Slovakia, where the government has been taking action against independent public media and cultural institutions, making the fight against political corruption more difficult, are also not going down well in the Czech Republic. The cooling of relations between the two governments is now starting to impact attitudes in society, too. Slovak PM Robert Fico (eyes closed, center) and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (to the right of Fico) attended the May 9 Victory Parade in Moscow Image: Yuri Kochetkov/Pool Photo via AP According to the annual survey conducted by the Czech polling institute STEM, which was published just a few days ago, Slovakia has slipped from its traditional No. 1 spot on the list of Czech citizens' favorite countries to No. 10 in the ranking. A 'clear drop' in Slovakia's popularity "The attitude of the Czech public towards other countries and foreign politicians remains largely stable in 2025. However, the current survey registers a clear drop for Slovakia and the United States," notes the institute on its website. "It is highly probable that the clear decline in positive attitudes after the downward trend of the last two years is linked to the current political situation in the country, where relations with the Czech Republic cooled after the Fico government came to power in fall 2023," STEM analyst Silvia Petty told the media. The chill in relations was accelerated when the clearly pro-Western Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, who was hugely popular in the Czech Republic, was succeeded by Fico's minister and preferred presidential candidate Peter Pellegrini. "Pellegrini has an approval rating of 38% among Czech men and women, which is much lower than that of his predecessor, Caputova. She had an approval rating of 68% among Czechs in the final year of her presidency," said Petty. One in five Slovaks supports Russia But it is apparently not only the governments of both countries that disagree on Ukraine, so too do their respective citizens. According to a survey conducted by the institute CVVM dated April 2025, 58% of Czech citizens support military aid for Ukraine. According to an IPSOS survey from early 2025, only 16% of Slovaks do. The Progressive Slovakia party led by Michal Simecka (pictured here at an anti-government rally in December 2023) is ahead in the polls in his country Image: Patrik Uhlir/CTK/picture alliance Indeed, one-third of those who voted for Fico's Smer party and 20% of Slovaks overall would welcome a Russian victory. In the Czech Republic, only 7% would. The Slovak weekly magazine Tyzden noted that Czech President Petr Pavel received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Prague Castle just days before Fico visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The photos from Prague Castle and the Kremlin defined the character of two opposing worlds, noted the magazine's editor-in-chief, Stefan Hrib. Slovak opposition welcome in Prague Members of the ruling coalition in Bratislava are trying to play down the gulf between the two neighbors. "The basic message should be that despite some differences of opinion at government and sometimes even presidential level, our common foundation still exists," Richard Rasi, spokesperson of the Slovak parliament and deputy chair of the coalition party Hlas, told DW. Rasi went on to say that while a joint meeting of the two governments before the parliamentary election in the Czech Republic in October is unthinkable, he believes that "we will return to the negotiating table after the elections." Ivan Korcok told DW that PS would 'bring Slovakia back from the periphery to the center of Europe and restore our wonderful Czech-Slovak relations' Image: Petr David Josek/AP The Slovak opposition, which is led by the Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, has good relations with Prague. PS politicians such as party leader Michal Simecka and former foreign minister and former Slovak ambassador to Berlin, Ivan Korcok, are received at the highest levels in the Czech capital. What does the future hold? Korcok narrowly lost the Slovak presidential election last year and joined PS in late 2024. Speaking to DW during his recent visit to Prague, he said: "I would like to say this to the Czechs: Believe me, there is a political alternative in Slovakia in the form of the opposition and Progressive Slovakia. It will bring Slovakia back from the periphery to the center of Europe and restore our wonderful Czech-Slovak relations." Since the start of the year, Progressive Slovakia has been ahead in all polls. Were an election to take place now, it and other opposition parties would win a parliamentary majority. In the Czech Republic, however, the ANO movement led by Czech oligarch Andrej Babis, is ahead in the polls. Babis makes no bones of his support for both Fico and Hungary's Viktor Orban. So, if the polls are right, the political leadership of both countries could change, but the current political ice age would continue. This article was originally published in German.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brentford target Liverpool player to fill key position this summer
Caoimhin Kelleher Transfer Links Highlight Liverpool's Summer of Change Kelleher's Time at Liverpool Nears its Conclusion As Liverpool bask in the glow of a 20th league title, attentions are already turning to what promises to be a pivotal summer. Several members of the title-winning squad are expected to move on, including long-serving second-choice goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Photo: IMAGO According to TBR Football, Brentford are targeting the 26-year-old Irishman as a replacement for Mark Flekken, who is reportedly keen to reunite with Erik ten Hag at Bayer Leverkusen. With Flekken's departure likely to create a vacancy, Brentford's interest in Kelleher could pave the way for a long-anticipated exit from Anfield. Advertisement Kelleher, out of contract in 2026, is valued at around £40 million. Liverpool are aware that failing to sell him soon risks losing him for nothing – an outcome that simply doesn't align with the club's shrewd financial planning. Brentford's Opening and Kelleher's Ambition Despite strong performances during cup runs and spells deputising for Alisson, Kelleher's path to becoming Liverpool's No.1 has always been obstructed. That road became even more congested with the recent addition of Giorgi Mamardashvili. Photo: IMAGO Kelleher made his feelings known during Liverpool's title celebrations. 'I'm ready to be a No.1,' he said, repeating a sentiment he has carried for more than a year. Advertisement Brentford would provide an attractive platform. With Flekken set to move on, the Gtech Community Stadium could offer regular football and the sort of responsibility Kelleher craves. Brentford's Contingency Options Kelleher is not the only name on Brentford's shortlist. TBR Football note that James Trafford, Joan Garcia (Espanyol), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Yahia Fofana (Angers) and Zion Suzuki (Parma) are all under consideration. Yet Kelleher offers a Premier League-proven solution. A goalkeeper who's saved penalties in finals, held his nerve at Wembley and shown he can handle pressure. Liverpool would prefer to cash in now rather than risk losing him for nothing. A Respected Exit Regardless of where he ends up, Kelleher's legacy at Liverpool is secure. He's been more than a capable back-up – he's been an architect of key victories in cup competitions and part of a golden era under Jurgen Klopp. Photo: IMAGO As the club transitions under Arne Slot, Kelleher's departure would represent both a personal evolution and a club recalibration. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis Kelleher leaving feels bittersweet. There's pride in seeing an academy graduate thrive, but also frustration that circumstances never quite aligned for him to claim the No.1 shirt. Advertisement Supporters have long admired his composure and agility. 'He's been brilliant when called upon,' is a common refrain. But it's also recognised that his career deserves to flourish beyond cameos and Carabao Cup nights. With Alisson still one of the world's best and Mamardashvili newly arrived, it's no longer tenable to keep Kelleher on the bench. Most Reds would rather see him playing regularly elsewhere than stagnating at Anfield. Brentford would be a good fit. Progressive, tactically intelligent and with a style of play that suits a ball-playing goalkeeper. Kelleher's distribution and calmness could flourish in such a setting. Slot's arrival signals a fresh chapter and, in many ways, Kelleher's exit would be part of that renewal. The £40 million fee, if met, would help fund further squad building – possibly in midfield or wide areas where Liverpool need added depth. Ultimately, Kelleher's exit should be viewed with respect and optimism. A move would be a reward for his patience and professionalism – and a rare win-win for player and club alike.
