Author: DW

“Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig.” Wise statements like this can be found in the “Meditations” of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 C.E.). He had never intended these reflections for publication, having written them purely for himself, but they have become some of the most widely read writings after the Bible and the Quran. A bestseller, so to speak, which has been translated into numerous languages worldwide. Known today as a philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius ruled at a time marked by crises and catastrophes. He ascended to the…

An AI program trained to study the handwriting styles of ancient manuscripts suggests many of the Dead Sea Scrolls might be older than previously thought, as reported in a study published in the journal Plos One on Wednesday.  The study is the latest entry in a new era of antiquity studies that has researchers use AI to reveal the secrets written on frayed and crumbling scrolls.  The new method combines AI, radiocarbon dating, and handwriting analysis to more accurately estimate an ancient text’s age.  The now proposed redating could reshape our understanding of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and of Judaism and early…

The evening started with a weather warning: a major storm was approaching, delaying the start to the game and perhaps also delaying the goals. This was supposed to be Joshua Kimmich’s night. Not only did the Germany captain make his 100th appearance with the national team. He also assisted the first goal of the match played at his home stadium, Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.Germany captain Joshua Kimmich made his 100th appearence with the teamImage: Wunderl/Beautiful Sports/IMAGO But opponents Portugal had other plans and ended up stealing the show with a 2-1 away win to reach the Nations League final, putting another dent…

On Thursday, two years after France’s controversial retirement age increase, the National Assembly voted to withdraw the reform. While the news was politically explosive because the far-right National Rally helped the left-wing opposition gain a majority in the vote, the decision hasn’t yielded any actual legal results. The situation reflects the country’s ongoing failure to address structural reforms since the parliamentary elections last summer, which left the government won without an absolute majority. But in the area of remembrance policy there has been significant movement. In the same week as the toothless retirement resolution, parliamentarians adopted three texts that reclassify historical events or offer…

An unusual request from the Kenyan president caused a stir at the end of May. “To our neighbors from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us,” William Ruto told a delegation of Tanzanian MPs at a national prayer breakfast. Some Kenyans found the gesture appropriate, but others found it outrageous. Less than a week prior, prominent Kenyan photojournalist and activist Boniface Mwangi had returned to Kenya visibly weakened after five days in a Tanzanian prison. He and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire had traveled to Tanzania to support imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is on trial on…

How did Musk and Trump get so close? Once a vocal critic of Donald Trump during his 2016 United States election campaign, Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, pivoted from his Democratic Party roots to embrace Trump’s policies during the Republican’s second term. Frustrated by Obama-era regulations stifling his ventures, Musk embraced Trump’s agenda of tax cuts and deregulation. Their bond grew from mutual respect to a robust political alliance, which saw Musk last year back Trump’s reelection campaign to the tune of nearly $300 billion (€263 billion). When Trump returned to the White House in January, the…

Fecal microbial transplants (FMTs) can be traced back to the 4th century, but it is only since their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in past decade that the procedure has entered wide practice. They have been hailed as a treatment for Clostridium difficile or C.diff, a common bacterial infection that can cause inflammation and gastrointestinal issues. The FDA first approved FMTs as a treatment for C.diff in 2013 and approved the first drug for FMT treatment in 2022. Some think FMTs may also be an option for treating Crohn’s disease— a chronic autoimmune condition — ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel…

Marco Sturm has reached his stated goal — becoming head coach of a team in the National Hockey League. It’s not just another team in the NHL either; the Bruins are an Original Six team and the winner of six Stanley Cups, the last having come in 2011. ‘Preparation and passion’ “Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion,” Bruins GM Don Sweeney said in a statement. “His path — playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL 8 [American Hockey League] and NHL levels — has shaped a well-rounded coach who’s…

In an unusual public disapproval of India’s weapons manufacturing ecosystem, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Amar Preet Singh lamented the delays plaguing the country’s defense projects and urged accountability.   Speaking at a high-profile industry gathering in the capital New Delhi last week, in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the air chief declared that contract timelines are routinely unrealistic and questioned the fundamental credibility of delivery promises made by public sector defense companies. “Many times, we know while signing contracts that those systems will never come. Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time,” said Singh, referring…

It was a consequential case of deja-vu in The Hague on Thursday, as the US issued fresh sanctions against judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over what it calls “illegitimate actions targeting the United States and Israel.” The move is the latest in a series of diplomatic assaults on the ICC ostensibly aimed at curtailing the court’s credibility and ability to function. The ICC has criticized the measure as “a clear attempt to undermine the indepedence of an international judicial institution.” While the European Union (EU) has long defended the court as the “cornerstone of international justice,” its member states’ mixed response…