Global Pulse

标签： Europe

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  • Large parts of Dresden to be evacuated after 250kg WW2 bomb found

    Large parts of Dresden to be evacuated after 250kg WW2 bomb found

    Authorities in the historic German city of Dresden have ordered one of its largest peacetime evacuations following the discovery of a 250kg (551lb) unexploded British bomb from World War II. The aerial ordnance was uncovered near the site of the former Carola Bridge, which collapsed into the Elbe River in 2024 and is currently undergoing reconstruction.

    Approximately 18,000 residents, tourists, and daily commuters will be displaced from the city center as bomb disposal experts prepare to neutralize the device. The extensive security perimeter, established by 09:00 local time (08:00 GMT), encompasses much of Dresden’s celebrated Altstadt (Old Town) district. This evacuation zone includes several iconic landmarks: the reconstructed Frauenkirche Lutheran church, the Residenzschloss Royal Palace, and the renowned Semper Opera House.

    Additional critical facilities within the restricted area include police headquarters, the Saxony state parliament building, multiple government ministries, retirement communities, nursing homes, and childcare centers. Municipal authorities have established emergency accommodations at the Dresden Exhibition Center, operational from 07:00, with supplemental public transit services deployed to facilitate access.

    The precise duration of the bomb disposal operation remains undetermined. This incident marks the fifth such discovery during demolition work on the Carola Bridge, following four similar findings last year.

    Historical context underscores the gravity of the situation: between February 13-15, 1945, British and American forces dropped approximately 4,000 tons of bombs on Dresden. The resulting firestorm killed an estimated 25,000 people and obliterated the city center, previously celebrated for its magnificent Baroque and Rococo architecture. The Allied bombing campaign remains among the most contentious military actions of World War II, with ongoing debates between its strategic justification and ethical implications.

    Cultural repercussions continue to resonate, as noted by British tenor Stephen Chaundy, currently employed at the Semper Opera, who observed that ‘the past casts a long shadow’ while confirming Wednesday’s performance cancellations.

  • Borthwick defends England tactics as Six Nations struggles deepen

    Borthwick defends England tactics as Six Nations struggles deepen

    VERONA, Italy — England’s head coach Steve Borthwick has mounted a vigorous defense of his tactical approach despite his team’s dramatic downturn in the Six Nations Championship. With England plummeting to fifth place after three consecutive defeats against Scotland, Ireland, and historically first-time victors Italy, Borthwick contends that player performance anxiety—not flawed strategy—lies at the heart of their struggles.

    The Rugby Football Union’s chief executive Bill Sweeney extended a conditional vote of confidence to Borthwick, acknowledging the ‘hugely disappointing’ results while confirming his position through July’s touring schedule. This comes amid mounting criticism of England’s kick-heavy gameplay, perceived lack of creativity, and poor on-field discipline following an initial 12-test winning streak.

    Borthwick refuted claims that he suppresses offensive creativity, instead attributing the team’s failures to an inability to translate training ground preparations into match-day execution. ‘The England jersey can sometimes feel burdensome,’ he stated. ‘We’ve been working intensely to liberate the players—encouraging fast, courageous rugby with swift ball movement.’

    Statistical analysis reveals a paradoxical performance: England ranks second for attacking entries into the opposition’s 22-meter zone but second-worst in converting those opportunities into points. Defensively, they’ve conceded the fewest entries into their own 22 yet allowed the highest points per entry. Turnover problems persist, with Opta data showing England as the tournament’s worst performer for both forced and unforced turnovers in opposing territory.

    Borthwick acknowledged disciplinary crises—accumulating 32 penalties across three losses alongside seven yellow cards and one red card—but framed on-field disagreements as signs of healthy engagement rather than dysfunction. He referenced captain Maro Itoje’s heated exchange with fly-half Fin Smith during the Italy match as evidence of passionate leadership.

    For Saturday’s finale against title-contenders France in Paris, Borthwick made a single lineup change: moving lock Ollie Chessum to blindside flanker while benching Sam Underhill to prioritize ball-carrying strength over breakdown specialist skills. This decision continues Borthwick’s pattern of selective loyalty—after making 12 changes following the Ireland defeat, he now retains most of the squad that fell to Italy.

    The coach emphasized that improvement requires ‘sheer dogged determination and fire’ alongside composure, asserting that no major tactical overhaul is needed beyond enhancing attacking precision and maintaining full squads on the pitch.

  • Steve Rosenberg: Russia seeks diplomatic and economic gains from Iran war

    Steve Rosenberg: Russia seeks diplomatic and economic gains from Iran war

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has engaged in his second telephone conversation with Iranian leadership within a week, strategically positioning Moscow as an international peace broker amid escalating Middle East tensions. This diplomatic maneuvering occurs as the United States and Israel continue military operations against Iranian targets.

    The Kremlin’s peacemaking posture presents a complex geopolitical paradox. While publicly advocating for “swift de-escalation and political resolution” of the Iran conflict, Russia simultaneously maintains its prolonged military campaign in Ukraine—a contradiction that undermines Moscow’s credibility as an impartial mediator.

    Russia’s relationship with Iran operates under a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” agreement, with Putin recently reaffirming Moscow’s “unwavering support” for Tehran. However, this alliance stops short of mutual defense obligations, allowing Russia flexibility in its diplomatic approach.

    During Monday’s discussion with US President Donald Trump, Putin proposed several diplomatic initiatives for resolving the Iran crisis, drawing on his communications with Gulf state leaders and other regional stakeholders. This engagement provides Russia with dual advantages: enhanced influence throughout the Middle East and opportunities to strengthen ties with Washington.

    The Kremlin perceives its relationship with the Trump administration as strategically beneficial for Russian objectives in Ukraine. This calculation explains Putin’s deliberate avoidance of personal criticism toward Trump regarding the Iran conflict—a diplomatic restraint noted by Trump himself during post-call remarks.

    Beyond diplomatic gains, Russia stands to benefit economically from Middle East instability. The recent oil price surge to nearly $120 per barrel—well above Russia’s budget benchmark of $59—delivers substantial financial relief to Moscow’s war economy. Potential easing of oil-related sanctions, as suggested by Trump, could provide additional revenue streams for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that sanction relief would deal a “serious blow” to Kyiv’s defense efforts, creating tension between Western allies regarding appropriate responses to both conflicts.

  • Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu close Paris Fashion Week with competing visions of nature

    Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu close Paris Fashion Week with competing visions of nature

    PARIS — The grand finale of Paris Fashion Week witnessed two contrasting yet equally powerful visions from fashion’s leading houses. Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquière transformed the historic Cour Carrée at the Louvre into a dramatic, artificial mountainscape, while Miuccia Prada at Miu Miu presented a philosophy of radical minimalism on a runway resembling a forest floor.

    At Louis Vuitton, the spectacle was immense. Models navigated a constructed alpine environment, clad in a collection Ghesquière dubbed ‘Super Nature.’ This exploration of global mountain cultures—from the Alps to the Andes—manifested in shaggy capes, shearling caps, and utilitarian walking sticks doubling as handbag displays. The show merged folklore with high fashion, featuring intricate embroidery by Ukrainian artist Nazar Strelyaev-Nazarko depicting wolves, sheep, and rabbits, alongside reinterpretations of a Man Ray parure. Accessories became focal points, with the reintroduction of the 1932 Noé bag and mini Malles in soft new iterations. Heels carved like antlers and coats lined with hemp-based faux fur exemplified the house’s ‘hyper-craft’ approach—a sublimation, not imitation, of nature.

    The front row glittered with celebrities including Zendaya, Ana de Armas, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, K-pop stars Felix and Lisa, and director Ava DuVernay, underscoring the event’s cultural significance.

    Hours later, Miu Miu offered a stark counterpoint. Where Vuitton built a world, Prada deconstructed one. The set was a raw, churned earth landscape scattered with twigs and moss. The collection, comprising tiny tank dresses, shrunken leather jackets, and crinkled blazers, felt intentionally sparse—like ‘the last things left in someone’s wardrobe.’ Prada’s statement was clear: ‘You, as a human person, you are enough… That should be enough against whatever happens.’

    This philosophy extended to the casting. A multi-generational lineup featuring Gillian Anderson, Chloë Sevigny, Kristen McMenamy, and Gemma Ward lent profound weight to the minimalist garments. The only embellishments were deliberate contrasts: crystallized belts, bedazzled sneakers, and embellished chapkas against the quiet fabrics. In a season dominated by protective armor and overwhelming texture, Miu Miu’s closing argument championed the inherent sufficiency of the human form, suggesting that clothing should merely complement, not conceal.

  • Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children amounts to crime against humanity, UN says

    Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children amounts to crime against humanity, UN says

    A damning United Nations report has conclusively determined that Russia’s systematic deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children constitutes both crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reveals that Russian authorities, with “direct involvement” from President Vladimir Putin “visible from the outset,” have relocated thousands of minors from occupied Ukrainian territories.

    The investigation documents 1,205 confirmed cases of children taken to Russia in 2022, with approximately 80% remaining separated from their families. Most originated from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, areas illegally claimed by Moscow. Prior to its full-scale invasion, Russia evacuated these children under the pretext of protecting them from imminent Ukrainian attacks, subsequently placing them with Russian families or institutions while granting them Russian citizenship.

    According to the UN findings, this forced removal has created a “coercive environment” causing “deep distress” among the children. Those who manage to return to Ukraine frequently exhibit severe psychological trauma, anxiety, and fear of abandonment—often resulting from harsh treatment in Russian institutions. The report cites one instance where staff at a Russian orphanage told a child that Ukraine “does not exist anymore, everything has burnt down, and your parents have probably died.

    Moscow continues to deny all allegations of forced transfers, with Putin previously dismissing reports as “exaggerated” and insisting children were merely “rescued” from conflict zones. However, the UN confirms that repatriation efforts face “huge difficulties,” with many parents remaining unaware of their children’s whereabouts.

    The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for both Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for their alleged roles in the unlawful deportations. Lvova-Belova previously described in an interview how she personally “took in” a reluctant 15-year-old from Mariupol for “re-education.”

    While Ukraine estimates nearly 20,000 children have been illegally transferred to Russia and Belarus, only about 2,000 have been successfully recovered. The report notes that even US First Lady Melania Trump has attempted to facilitate reunifications through an “open channel of communication” with Putin.

    This humanitarian crisis continues amid a conflict that has entered its fifth year, claiming over 15,000 civilian lives, injuring 41,300, and displacing 3.7 million people despite multiple diplomatic interventions.

  • President Nawrocki refuses to sign law to tap 44B euros in EU defense loans for Poland

    President Nawrocki refuses to sign law to tap 44B euros in EU defense loans for Poland

    In a significant political maneuver, Polish President Karol Nawrocki has declined to endorse legislation that would grant Poland access to approximately €44 billion in preferential defense loans through the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative. The president’s office announced Tuesday that Nawrocki considers increased financial dependence on Brussels contrary to Poland’s national interests.

    Instead of utilizing EU mechanisms, the presidential administration has proposed alternative legislation suggesting domestic funding sources for defense modernization projects. This development highlights the growing ideological divide between Poland’s liberal government under Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the nationalist presidency, particularly regarding European integration and defense cooperation.

    The political confrontation occurs against the backdrop of heightened security concerns following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While subsequent Polish governments have consistently increased defense spending, the current administration favors closer coordination with EU institutions, whereas the presidency maintains a more eurosceptic stance and has cultivated stronger relations with the Trump administration.

    Nawrocki, who has positioned himself as the primary political adversary to Prime Minister Tusk since assuming office last year, retains until March 20 to issue a formal veto against the government’s legislation. The president’s opposition aligns with criticism from the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which argues that EU funding mechanisms ultimately increase German influence and disadvantage American defense contractors.

    The United States has concurrently expressed reservations about EU defense initiatives, with American ambassadors to the EU and NATO publishing an opinion piece in February criticizing programs like SAFE for potentially limiting market competition and undermining transatlantic defense cooperation.

    Despite the presidential opposition, the Tusk administration maintains that alternative pathways exist to access SAFE funding, albeit under potentially less favorable conditions. The government had previously identified 139 defense projects for financing, including 30 initiatives focused on fortifying Poland’s eastern borders, with承诺 80% of funds directed toward domestic defense industries.

  • Italy buys Caravaggio painting for about $35 million, one of its largest payouts for a single work

    Italy buys Caravaggio painting for about $35 million, one of its largest payouts for a single work

    In a landmark cultural acquisition, the Italian government has successfully purchased a rare Baroque-era portrait by master painter Caravaggio for €30 million (approximately $35 million), marking one of the most significant state investments in a single artwork in the nation’s history. The Culture Ministry announced the acquisition on Tuesday following more than a year of delicate negotiations with private collectors.\n\nThe artwork, created circa 1598 and formally attributed to Caravaggio in 1963, portrays Maffeo Barberini during his nobleman years prior to his ascension as Pope Urban VIII. The portrait captures Barberini in his thirties, adorned in clerical garments of the Apostolic Chamber during a pivotal period of his political and religious career.\n\nCulture Minister Alessandro Giuli hailed the purchase as \”a work of exceptional importance,\” emphasizing its crucial role in Caravaggio’s modern rediscovery and its contribution to strengthening the presence of the artist’s works within Italian public collections. The acquisition forms part of Italy’s broader strategic initiative to enhance its national cultural heritage, following recent purchases including Antonello da Messina’s \”Ecce Homo\” masterpiece.\n\nThe painting gained scholarly recognition through art historian Roberto Longhi’s seminal 1963 article, which identified the work as a genuine Caravaggio creation. Longhi celebrated the portrait as \”one of the founding moments of modern portraiture,\\” highlighting Caravaggio’s revolutionary approach to psychological intensity and emotional depth.\n\nCaravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi, transformed European painting at the dawn of the 17th century through his innovative chiaroscuro technique—a dramatic interplay of light and shadow that became fundamental to Baroque aesthetics. Despite being among the most extensively studied artists globally, the number of authenticated Caravaggio works remains exceptionally limited.\n\nThe newly acquired masterpiece will join the permanent collection at Rome’s Palazzo Barberini, where it will be exhibited alongside other Caravaggio masterpieces, including the renowned \”Judith Slaying Holofernes\” acquired by the state in 1971. This placement creates one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Caravaggio’s work, making these artistic treasures accessible to both scholars and the public.

  • Italy buys rare Caravaggio portrait for €30m

    Italy buys rare Caravaggio portrait for €30m

    In a significant cultural preservation move, the Italian government has acquired a rare portrait by Baroque master Caravaggio for €30 million (£25.9 million), marking one of the most substantial public art purchases in the nation’s history. The artwork, depicting Monsignor Maffeo Barberini who later ascended to papacy as Pope Urban VIII, represents an extraordinary addition to Italy’s national collection.

    Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli characterized the acquisition as being of ‘exceptional importance’ within a strategic initiative to safeguard Italy’s artistic legacy from private ownership. The painting, created approximately in 1598, captures Barberini as a bearded cleric gesturing authoritatively with his right hand—a testament to Caravaggio’s mastery of psychological depth through portraiture.

    Previously housed in a private Florentine collection, the artwork made its public debut in Rome during 2024. It has now been permanently transferred to the Palazzo Barberini, the historical Roman residence of the subject’s family, where it will join other works by the renowned artist. This placement ensures public and scholarly access to a piece that might otherwise have remained hidden in private hands.

    Caravaggio (1571-1610), born Michelangelo Merisi, remains celebrated for his revolutionary chiaroscuro technique—the dramatic interplay of light and shadow that infused his compositions with visceral realism. Of his approximately 65 surviving works globally, only three are confirmed portraits, making this acquisition particularly significant for art historical studies.

    The purchase forms part of the Ministry of Culture’s broader campaign to strengthen Italy’s cultural heritage through strategic acquisitions. Minister Giuli emphasized the ongoing commitment to ‘make art history masterpieces accessible to scholars and enthusiasts’ that would typically enter private markets, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of cultural institutions and technical experts in facilitating this achievement.

    Barberini, who served as pope from 1623 until his death in 1644, was himself a notable arts patron during his papacy, adding historical resonance to the government’s acquisition of his portrait by one of art history’s most influential figures.

  • Lebanese man jailed in Germany for Hezbollah membership

    Lebanese man jailed in Germany for Hezbollah membership

    A German court has delivered a significant verdict in a national security case, sentencing a 35-year-old Lebanese national to six-and-a-half years imprisonment for membership in Hezbollah’s military wing, designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. The defendant, identified only as Fadel Z under German privacy protections, was convicted on multiple charges including complicity in attempted murder and systematic violations of EU embargo regulations.

    The Celle Regional Court established that Fadel Z had been an active Hezbollah member for approximately a decade, eventually ascending to a critical position within the organization’s drone development initiative. Evidence presented demonstrated his central role in orchestrating the acquisition of sophisticated components worth approximately €1.4 million (£1.2 million) from international suppliers.

    Prosecutorial documents revealed meticulous operational details: Fadel Z sourced over 2,000 combustion and electric motors alongside 600 precision propellers through a network of front companies registered under his associates’ names. These entities facilitated financial transactions and concealed the ultimate destination of the controlled technology.

    The investigation uncovered a sophisticated transnational procurement network with materials originating from European, Chinese, and American manufacturers. Fadel Z coordinated logistics from multiple operational bases, initially operating from Barcelona in 2022 before relocating to Salzgitter in Lower Saxony during summer 2023. Shipments were deliberately routed through Hamburg and Spanish ports via container ships, with additional components transported through air freight channels.

    Most critically, prosecutors established direct operational impact: two engines procured through Fadel Z’s network were incorporated into weaponized drones deployed against civilian targets in Israel. One such aircraft penetrated a Herzliya retirement home during Yom Kippur observances on October 11, 2024. Although the explosive payload detonated within the residential facility, approximately 200 occupants escaped physical injury through what authorities described as fortunate circumstances.

    The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office emphasized in supplementary statements that Hezbollah maintains “an extensive drone program” that has systematically targeted both military and civilian infrastructure since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The organization reportedly employs international operatives specifically for covert technological acquisition operations within European jurisdictions.

    Fadel Z remains in custody with a seven-day window to appeal the verdict, marking one of Germany’s most significant counterterrorism prosecutions related to drone technology diversion to designated terrorist organizations.

  • Italy stuns the US 8-6 in World Baseball Classic, leaving the Americans needing help to advance

    Italy stuns the US 8-6 in World Baseball Classic, leaving the Americans needing help to advance

    In a stunning reversal at the World Baseball Classic, Italy delivered a decisive blow to tournament favorites United States with an 8-6 victory Tuesday night at Houston’s Daikin Park. The Italian squad, powered by home runs from Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci, and Jac Caglianone, built a commanding 8-0 lead before withstanding a dramatic late-game rally from the Americans.

    Italian starter Michael Lorenzen proved dominant on the mound, limiting the powerful U.S. lineup to just two hits across 4 2/3 scoreless innings. The offensive breakthrough came in the third inning when Teel’s homer to left field opened scoring, followed by Antonacci’s blast to right-center that extended the lead to 3-0. Caglianone’s two-run shot in the fourth inning pushed the advantage to 5-0, with Italy capitalizing on American defensive miscues to add three additional runs in a sloppy sixth inning.

    The U.S. mounted a formidable comeback attempt in the late innings. Gunnar Henderson broke the shutout with a solo homer in the sixth, but the dramatic turnaround began with Pete Crow-Armstrong’s majestic three-run homer in the seventh. Crow-Armstrong struck again in the ninth with his second homer of the night—a two-run shot that narrowed the deficit to 8-6. With Bobby Witt Jr. reaching base and representing the tying run, Italian reliever Greg Weissert secured the historic victory by striking out Aaron Judge to end the game.

    The result creates significant complications for Team USA’s tournament prospects. Having completed pool play, the Americans now require an Italian victory against Mexico on Wednesday to guarantee advancement to the quarterfinals. A Mexican victory would create a three-way tie at 3-1, with run differential determining which teams advance.

    In other tournament action, defending champion Japan completed a perfect group stage with a 9-0 victory over the Czech Republic behind Munetaka Murakami’s grand slam. Israel defeated the Netherlands 6-2 in eliminated-team competition, while Canada kept its advancement hopes alive with a 3-2 victory over already-qualified Puerto Rico.