Author: DW

What makes Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ so special?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoThe great composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was plagued by financial difficulties throughout his life. If he were alive today, he would have been one of the richest musicians in the world from the royalties for his Ninth Symphony alone. The monumental work, which he composed while he was completely deaf, premiered 200 years ago. From this symphony, the finale, known as the “Ode to Joy,” is one of the most recognizable motifs in classical music…

At the end of a week when the conversation around the Germany team had largely been about identity and the possible repeat of another summer fairytale, Julian Nagelsmann’s side were met with boos after a disappointing 45 minutes against Greece. “Of course I can understand the fans being angry,” Benjamin Henrichs said afterwards. “I think the way it was in the second half, when they cheered us on on the field, it’s better for us and there’s a sense of community, and that we also go through tough times together.” Germany won the game, with Pascal Gross scoring late to seal…

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted by a man in a Copenhagen square on Friday, according to her office. “Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was hit by a man Friday evening on Kultorvet in Copenhagen. The man was subsequently arrested,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement to the AFP news agency.  The office of the prime minister added that she was “shocked by the incident.” Copenhagen police confirm arrest  The Copenhagen police confirmed an incident involving the prime minister but did not provide any further details. “We have one person arrested in the case, which we are now investigating. At this…

Tech companies such as Google and Facebook parent Meta are investing in new data highways and speeds for Africa. The first Google Cloud data center on the African continent has been up and running since January in Johannesburg, South Africa. “The big US tech giants have recognized the existing connectivity gaps and the need for additional investment associated with this as a major business opportunity,” Tevin Tafese, data scientist at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), told DW. “Prominent examples are Google and Meta, whose major cable projects are aimed at reducing the cost of accessing their own service…

American astronaut William Anders, who was a member of the Apollo 8 crew, died in a plane crash on Friday, his son, Greg Anders, told the Associated Press news agency. The 90-year-old was piloting a small plane alone when it plummeted into the waters of the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He is known for taking the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968.Anders was a former NASA Astronaut and retired Major General in the US Air ForceImage: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/picture alliance What do we know about the crash? Footage purportedly showing the…

A woman charged with murdering her boyfriend after allegedly leaving him to die in a zipped suitcase at their US home is to go on trial in October.Sarah Boone initially told detectives she and her boyfriend Jorge Torres, 42, had been playing hide and seek at their property in Winter Park, Florida, when he got into the suitcase. Boone claimed they had been drinking and she decided to go to sleep, thinking he would be able to get out of the suitcase on his own. Image: Boone took videos of Mr Torres in the suitcase. Pic: State Attorney Office X…

There are countless reasons why people drink alcohol on airplanes. For many travelers, an alcoholic drink can help celebrate the start — or end — of a vacation. Some believe that they sleep better after a glass of wine. Others say alcohol helps to reduce flight jitters. But a new paper published by researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and RWTH Aachen University suggests that drinks in the clouds can pose significant health risks, particularly to older passengers or people with medical conditions. Less oxygen, higher heart rate During the flight, artificial pressure is created in the aircraft cabin.…

With feathers that can be easily ruffled, Donald Duck can be proud, angry, arrogant and yet oddly charming — and apologetic when he harms others, including nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie. He was once described by Walt Disney as the “problem child” of his animation company’s stable of lead characters, who include Pluto, Goofy and Mickey Mouse. But, in the end, he appeared in more Disney short films, movies and series — which expanded into a whole Donald Duck “universe” — than any of his animated colleagues. Her are five highlights from a legendary cartoon career.  1. Humble beginnings An anthropomorphic duck…

06/07/2024June 7, 2024Von der Leyen warned against relying on Meloni’s Italian populistsLars Klingbeil, a co-leader of Germany’s center-left Social Democrats, has warned EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen not to rely on votes from the right-wing populist party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to be re-elected as the leader of the 27-member bloc’s executive. “If Mrs von der Leyen ends up seeking her majority in parliament with the right-wing extremists, then we cannot elect her,” said Klingbeil in a Reuters TV interview published on Friday. When asked whether he also considered Meloni’s party, Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy),…

Toyota, the world’s top-selling carmaker, halted domestic shipments of three models this week as a government testing scandal enveloped Japan’s auto industry. Along with rivals Honda, Mazda, Suzuki and Yamaha, Toyota is accused of failing to follow standardized steps when certifying new car models before they go into mass production. The firm’s headquarters were raided by Transport Ministry officials on Tuesday. The scandal has already hit sales of Japanese vehicles, amid intense competition in the global auto sector. It comes just months after China overtook Japan to become the world’s largest car exporter, partly due to booming sales of electric vehicles (EVs). A similar scandal…