Author: DW

China has called on the international community to work toward de-escalation of the Iran crisis, given the mounting risk of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Monday that China was working to prevent instability in the region caused by the Israel-Iran war from spilling over into the global economy. Iran’s parliament on Sunday backed closing the vital waterway, saying the move has come in response to the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities by the United States over the weekend. After the decision, a senior Iranian lawmaker, Esmaeil Kowsari, told reporters in…

“Hip-hop visionary, cultural icon and controversial genius YE will perform July 20, 2025 exclusively at the Rubicon Festival in Bratislava. It will be his only confirmed live performance in Europe in 2025 — and ever first show in Slovakia in history,” organizers confirmed on the event’s website on Monday. “Rubicon Festival is raising the bar for European festivals to a whole new level.” His participation in the festival has sparked anger. More than 3,000 people have already signed a petition asking the festival to cancel the performance of the rapper, who is formerly known as Kanye West. The authors of the petition point out that Ye has in…

A fake wedding at Disneyland Paris in France  triggered a police investigation on Sunday after the theme park’s staff suspected that the “bride” in the alleged ceremony was a 9-year-old Ukrainian girl. The Bizarre incident was first reported by the Le Parisien daily. The paper said a man had hired the park’s complex — which can be used for private events outside opening hours — for a total of 130,000 euros ($150,000) several weeks before. Hundreds of extras were brought in to play the role of guests. Mother claims wanted a ‘day worthy of a princess’ The staff were shocked to see the young girl, who was…

Ramping up Europe’s defense spending has been a major demand by US President Donald Trump and his administration since day one. This goal has become potentially acceptable to almost all NATO countries thanks to Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s persuasive power, particularly after Germany, the biggest European economy,  threw its weight behind it. Officials at NATO told DW that it’s about giving Trump a win but also “about rebalancing in the alliance,” as one senior diplomat put it, stressing that if that’s achieved, the summit would be a resounding success. Lessons from the G7 in Canada “Hopefully, Trump is not going to leave early like he…

Composer Johann Sebastian Bach reinvented his famous St. John Passion on three occasions, with each version adapted to reflect the spirit of the times. The story, which tells of the Passion of Jesus, is more timely than ever, judging by reworkings of the classic at the Leipzig Bach Festival. In Christian theology, the Passion of Jesus refers to the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ during his final week on Earth. It includes his arrest, trial, death, and burial, ending with his resurrection, which is a cornerstone to the Christian belief in salvation and redemption. On the opening weekend, the “Queer Passion” — with a new libretto…

The 21 Arab and Muslim-majority countries made it clear where they stood in the Iran-Israel conflict. In a statement published earlier this week, they expressed their “categorical rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recent attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran,” which started on June 13. The countries spoke of the need to halt “Israeli hostilities against Iran” and expressed “great concern regarding this dangerous escalation, which threatens to have serious consequences on the peace and stability of the entire region.” The signatories included both Jordan and Saudi Arabia. But their stated opposition to Israel’s attacks on Iran has not prevented…

Belarus’ Nasha Niva newspaper on Saturday first reported that opposition leader Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 others had been released from prison, where he had been incarcerated since 2020. Tsikhanouski, one of the leaders of the country’s opposition movement, was pardoned, according to rights group Viasna. A regime-critical blogger, Tsikhanouski intended to challenge Alexander Lukashenko for the presidency, but he was locked up by the strongman before the election. Tsikhanouski’s wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran against Lukashenko in her husband’s place and has played a leading role in the Belarus opposition since, released a video of his release on Saturday, thanking the US for…

Air travel is widely regarded as the safest way to cover long distances. Statistically, the drive to the airport poses a greater risk to travelers than the flight itself. But when there is a plane crash — such as that of Air India Flight 171 last week (June 12) — statistics offer little comfort. It killed 270 people, including 241 of the 242 people on board.The Air India crash is the first total loss of a Boeing 787-8 aircraftImage: PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP As tragic as such accidents are, their consequences also extend into the economic realm. Alongside efficiency and environmental compatibility, operational safety remains…

Suga, the last member of the K-Pop group BTS to complete his mandatory military service with the South Korean army, was discharged on Saturday, opening the way for the band’s reunion. Suga started his service in 2023.  Earlier this month, BTS members Jimin and Jung Kook were also discharged from their duties. “We confirm that Suga effectively completed his alternative service on June 18 by using his remaining leave. His official discharge date is June 21,” BTS’ label, Big Hit Music, said in a statement. He completed his military duty as a social service agent. Unlike other members, Suga’s discharge was not celebrated with…

Almost two billion words — just under 600 of them swear words — were carefully assessed, and the United States then handed the dubious honor of being the most cursing country in the English-speaking world, at least online. For the Australian duo behind the research, it came as a surprise that the inhabitants of their own country did not lead the way, such is the stereotype that Aussies are easy-going and relaxed, in actions and words. But Australians were only the third-most likely citizens to drop a swear word in conversation online. The reason that America — viewed by some…