Author: DW

SpaceX said on Sunday that it had canceled a test flight of its Starship rocket, citing an issue with the launch site. “Standing down from today’s tenth flight of Starship to allow time to troubleshoot an issue with ground systems,” the firm said on the platform X. What else do we know about the canceled Starship launch? The rocket was due to launch from the company’s Starbase in southern Texas and would have marked the tenth mission from the site. The launch was to be carried out at 6:30 p.m. local time (23:30 GMT), but was called off just 15…

The United States National Guard on Sunday began carrying weapons in Washington, DC. US President Donald Trump deployed the troops this month as part of a crackdown on what he calls rampant crime in the US capital city. “Starting the late evening of August 24, 2025, JTF-DC service members began carrying their service-issued weapon,” the Joint Task Force-DC said in a statement. Over 2,200 soldiers have been assigned to the task force in Washington DC. The statement said the troops were only allowed to use force “as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious…

On a building on a corner of Beirut’s Hamra Street, where for decades crooked letters on an aging marquee announced a concert by the Egyptian singer Mohammed Mounir, there is now a new sign: Lebanese National Theater. On September 13, for the first time in many years, the lights will dim and the curtain will rise again at the once-revered Le Colisee. Le Colisee cinema stood empty for decadesImage: Hussein Malla/AP Photo/picture alliance “It’s always been a dream for me to revive these old cinemas, to bring them back,” said Kassem Istanbouli, an actor, director and founder of the Lebanese…

Israel’s government has remained notably silent over Norway’s decision on August 11 to partially divest investments in several Israeli companies, triggered by ethical concerns over the war in Gaza. Norway’s $2 trillion (€1.71 trillion) sovereign wealth fund said it would withdraw investments from 11 firms linked to Israel and terminate contracts with asset managers operating in the country. The fund launched an urgent review after media reports that it had invested in a firm that makes parts for Israeli military fighter jets. While Israel’s media labeled Norway’s move “deeply troubling” and “politically motivated,” some analysts think Israeli officials are deliberately keeping a low profile for fear of emboldening the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions…

“We wanted to send a statement from the first game at home and that’s what we did today,” said Harry Kane, who scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich hammered RB Leipzig 6-0 on the first day of the 2025-26 Bundesliga season. Given that Bayern were last season’s champions and Kane was top scorer, the message rang out loud and clear across Germany on Friday. Come Saturday, the chasing pack had the chance to show they have what it takes to stop the Bavarian club winning a 14th title out of the last 15. Of the three clubs bookmakers expect to join…

The Home Cafe Days, or Kodukohvikute paevad in Estonian, are the summer highlight on the island of Hiiumaa. Every August, the residents of Estonia’s second-largest Baltic Sea island open up their homes for three days and offer up home-baked cakes, home-smoked fish and home-brewed beer. They celebrate their short summer amid children’s laughter and pop music. Ave Ungro, 44, thinks the festival is “extremely important,” especially now in times of war. “It helps us Estonians stick together: Celebrating together, talking, thinking about the future,” she told DW. She said that Kodukohvikute paevad was as important as the shooting lessons provided by the…

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has supervised a test firing of two “new” air defense missiles, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday. The North Korean state media’s report did not provide any details on the missiles, nor on where the test was held. It said the test-firing took place on Saturday, and that it had demonstrated the “superior combat capability” of the “improved” missile weapon systems. “The firing particularly proved that the technological features of two types of projectiles are very suitable for destroying various aerial targets,” KCNA said.North Korea–South Korea relations reach new lowTo view this video please…

“Decolonization does not happen by changing a few street names,” political scientist and human rights activist Joshua Kwesi Aikins told DW on Friday, ahead of an event to rename a central Berlin street in honor of Anton Wilhelm Amo, a Black German Enlightenment philosopher, who in 1734 became the first Africa-born scholar to receive a European doctorate. The decision was first announced in 2020. At the time, the district council of Berlin-Mitte approved the renaming — but before it was implemented, residents filed a lawsuit against the change. But five years later, in July 2025, the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg upheld a decision by the Berlin Administrative…

Work has slowed or stopped in Kolkata, a major hub for India’s steel foundries that export sanitary castings. Owners discuss distress privately but don’t share much publicly, and workers are confused.  But some owners, like Vijay Shankar Beriwal of Calcutta Iron Udyog, are not holding back. He blames the 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imposed by US President Donald Trump, which went into effect in June. Trump cited national security concerns under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962 for the move. In addition to the steel tariffs, Trump has also imposed 25% “reciprocal tariffs” on…

This Friday (August 22nd), the Bundesliga kicks off its 63rd season, with defending champions Bayern Munich hosting RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena. Who are the favorites to win the Bundesliga? Using the betting odds as an indicator, reigning champions Bayern Munich are widely expected to successfully defend their title when all is said and done next May.   If put down a €1 bet on Bayern to win the title, you can expect to receive just €1.30 back from the bookmakers if the Bavarians do in fact again win the league. Last season’s runners-up Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig…