Author: DW

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna hasn’t even started yet — and yet it has been at the center of heated debates for months. At issue isn’t so much the spectacular pop shows themselves as the political tensions that, despite the competition’s long-standing claim that it is apolitical, are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.  The last time the Austrian capital hosted the Eurovision Song Contest was in 2015. This year, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, the contest returns from May 12-16 to a city that stands for culture and diversity. Expectations are high, as the contest aims to bring people together and send a message of openness.…

The European Commission has moved to block EU funding for Chinese-made solar technology over fears it could pose a security threat to Europe’s power grid and even cause major blackouts.  The decision, which was confirmed on May 4, reflects growing concern in Brussels that Europe’s dependence on Chinese green technology is making the bloc vulnerable to security threats. The commission’s funding ban is focused on solar inverters, which are often described as the brain of a solar power system. These solar inverters are the devices that convert solar energy into usable electricity. They are connected to the internet and can often be accessed…

The wait for a first Champions League title since 2020 goes on for Bayern Munich after holders Paris Saint-Germain knocked them out at the semifinal stage. A 1-1 draw in Munich on Wednesday completed a 6-5 aggregate win. After a breathless 5-4 first leg defeat in Paris that has already been labeled one of competition’s greatest games, Bayern soon found themselves two down in the tie. Ousmane Dembele delivered the early blow, the former Borussia Dortmund forward lashing home in the third minute after some smart work from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Holders PSG showed in the French capital that they are…

Should widespread fears materialize, flying could become a nerve-racking ordeal for passengers in the coming weeks and months. If, as a result of the Iran war and the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, jet fuel begins to run short, significant disruptions to air traffic are likely. Both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have recently issued stark warnings to that effect. Airlines transfer price spike to passengers The jet fuel shortage is already affecting air travelers: Amid the sharp rise in kerosene prices, numerous airlines worldwide are passing at least part of the increased costs on…

Six years ago, an almost unknown German pharmaceutical firm developed the first approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and changed the course of a global pandemic. BioNTech, which had spent over a decade developing mRNA for cancer with little commercial interest, partnered with Pfizer to roll out its Comirnaty coronavirus vaccine in record time, propelling the company and its founders to global fame. Today, however, the Mainz-based biotech firm is facing a harsh reckoning. Numerous studies show COVID vaccines saved millions of lives globally during the pandemicImage: Robert Michael/dpa/picture alliance The firm announced Tuesday it was closing production sites in Germany and Singapore, cutting costs after a €532 million ($627…

Three travelers have died aboard a cruise ship sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde. There is a suspected hantavirus infection. Another traveler has tested positive for the virus. According to media reports, the 69-year-old is receiving intensive care treatment in South Africa. Two crew members have also fallen seriously ill. How and where exactly the travelers were infected remains unclear. “The risk to the general public remains low,” the WHO’s European regional office said in a press release Monday. “There is no reason for panic or travel restrictions.” The ship involved is the “Hondius,” operated by Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions. There…

Midfielder ​Alexia Putellas scored a brace to lead Barcelona to a 4-2 win over Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League semifinal tie on Sunday. It completed a 5-3 aggregate victory to set up a final against OL Lyonnes. The French side had finished off holders Arsenal in the other semifinal on Saturday. “I’m really happy for the team, they’ve had a great season and now we just need to put the cherry on top,” three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati told streaming service Disney+. “(Lyon) are a historic club in the Champions League, they’ve got an…

The Venice Art Biennale’s official awards ceremony usually marks the event’s opening, and the Golden and Silver Lion prizes typically contribute to launching artists’ international careers. But this year’s Biennale — often described as the “Olympics of the art world” — is embroiled in controversy, and the traditional awarding of the coveted accolades at the start of the event on May 9 has been canceled after the entire jury in charge of selecting the prizewinners resigned, just days before the event. Jury resigns over Israel and Russia debate The five-member jury had previously announced in a statement that they would not consider any countries whose leaders are currently being charged by the International Criminal…

Dubai has built a reputation as an oasis of stability in the volatile Middle East region.  The United Arab Emirates’ second-richest emirate positioned itself as a secure financial hub where high-net-worth individuals could park capital, run businesses and plan for the long term with confidence. That carefully built image, however, has been shattered by the Iran war. Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf targets triggered a sharp economic shock, with the stock markets in Dubai and neighboring Abu Dhabi initially losing $120 billion (€103 billion) in value.Dubai’s stock market is rebounding after big initial loses in market value when the war in Iran…

Saudi Arabia’s enormous investment in everything from football to snowboarding has been one of sport’s major themes in the last decade. The oil-rich Gulf state offered astronomical wages to footballers in the twilight of their careers, won the right to host football’s World Cup after developing strong ties with FIFA, bought a Premier League club, split the golf world and sought to host all manner of events, from snooker, through women’s tennis to wrestling. The splurge was tied to the country’s recently adjusted Vision 2030, a strategy to diversify its interests away from oil, and is widely considered to be…