Latest news with #Charlemagne
The Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Which galaxy is on a collision course with the Milky Way? The Saturday quiz
1 Who opened a Fossil Depot in Lyme Regis in 1826?2 Which galaxy is on a collision course with the Milky Way?3 Which creatures make up a fifth of all mammal species?4 Which sci-fi writer was the first person in Europe to buy a Mac computer?5 What machine gun was named after a Czech city and London suburb?6 At 410 miles, what is the UK's longest road?7 Which band did Quincy Jones call 'the worst musicians in the world'?8 Notker the Stammerer was an early biographer of which emperor?What links: 9 Derwent, Derbyshire in 1944; Capel Celyn, Gwynedd in 1965?10 Observatory Circle resident; reclusive New Hampshire author; Tim Martin's pubs; Wardle and Makin's shops?11 Mijaín López (5); Vincent Hancock, Katie Ledecky, Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps (4)?12 Cassandra in Troy; Martha Mitchell in Washington DC?13 Annoy; computer glitch; minor illness; small insect; spying device?14 Behind the Candelabra; Green Book, Impromptu; Ray; Rocketman; Shine?15 French butterfly; German chess knight; H2O; Pulp singer; Restoration monarch? 1 Mary Anning.2 Andromeda (in about 4.5bn years).3 Bats.4 Douglas Adams (Stephen Fry was the second).5 Bren gun (Brno and Enfield).6 A1.7 The Beatles.8 Charlemagne.9 Villages 'drowned' to create reservoirs.10 JD: JD Vance; JD Salinger; JD Wetherspoon; JD Sports.11 Consecutive golds by modern Olympians in one event: Greco-Roman wrestling; skeet; 800m freestyle; long jump and 200m medley.12 Warnings/prophecies not believed: Trojan priestess in Greek myth; Watergate conspiracy.13 Various definitions of bug.14 Films about pianists: Liberace; Don Shirley; Chopin; Ray Charles; Elton John; David Helfgott.15 Types of spaniel: Papillon; Springer; Water; (Jarvis) Cocker; King Charles (II).
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Von der Leyen to receive Charlemagne Prize for European unity
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to receive the International Charlemagne Prize on Thursday in the German city of Aachen. The head of the European Commission is being honoured because she "has played a key role in keeping Europe united, resilient and capable of action," a statement from the awarding body stated. The award ceremony takes place in the city hall of Aachen, an ancient city on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands linked to the 8th/9th century European emperor, Charlemagne. Speakers include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and King Felipe VI of Spain. Among the 700 guests of honour, former laureates, such as the ex-Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, are expected. Several smaller demonstrations have been announced in the city centre of Aachen, including those concerning the supply chain law and against the rearmament plans of the EU and Germany. The Charlemagne Prize has been awarded by the citizens of the city of Aachen for 75 years for services to Europe and European unity. Among the laureates are many politicians - British prime minister Winston Churchill, German chancellor Angela Merkel, or US president Bill Clinton - as well as representatives of European institutions and the late pope Francis. In 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people were honoured. The International Charlemagne Prize consists of a certificate and a gold medal. The award is named after Charlemagne, whose Frankish empire extended over large parts of Europe in the early Middle Ages and who is therefore sometimes referred to as the Father of Europe.
CBC
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Celine Dion cheers on Eurovision contest, as fans hope for surprise performance at final
Beloved Canadian chanteuse Céline Dion surprised fans and competitors alike with a message of love and gratitude at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, a competition she says was "life-changing" for her and helped launch her to global superstardom. In a pre-recorded video appearance during Tuesday's first-round semi-finals, she praised the wildly popular competition and 2025 host country, Switzerland, as fans have speculated for weeks that she might return to the Eurovision stage for a rare performance at Saturday's final at St. Jakobshalle in Basel. Dion won the top prize in 1988 when she represented Switzerland in the contest, singing the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (Don't Leave Without Me), when she just 20 years old. "I'd love nothing more than to be with you in Basel right now. Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's a country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be a part of something so extraordinary," she said. In the video, the now 57-year-old remarked that it was "so beautiful and emotional" for Switzerland to have won the 2024 competition and subsequently host this year's contest. "To the people of Switzerland, thank you for your love. This night is yours and I hope you feel as proud as I do," she said in English. The Charlemagne, Que.-born singer wrapped her video message in French. "Music unites us, not only this evening, not only at the moment," she said. "It is our strength, our support and our support in the moments where we need it. I love you all, Europe and the rest of the world, of course. Kisses, I love you." Dion and Switzerland claimed victory in the 33rd Eurovision contest by just one point, beating English pop singer Scott Fitzgerald. Following the video, four singers from the 2024 Eurovision contest — Jerry Heil (Ukraine), iolanda (Portugal), Marina Satti (Greece) and Silvester Belt (Lithuania) — sang Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi on stage as drones performed above them. Heil later expressed her admiration for Dion in a post on social media. "The biggest THANK YOU to @celinedion for being a reason it's happening and for letting us touch your legendary song with our voices! It is a dream to share one stage with you one day!" Dion's appearances limited due to health Dion is living with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes sudden and severe muscle spasms. She revealed her diagnosis in a video to her fans in December 2022 and later cancelled her 2023 Courage world tour. She did not perform publicly again until last summer, when she gave a triumphant performance on the Eiffel Tower to open the Paris Olympic Games, her first since going public with her health condition. WATCH | Dion wows fans with Eiffel Tower performance during Paris Olympics opening ceremony: Céline Dion returns to stage at Olympics opening ceremony 10 months ago Duration 2:07 Céline Dion performed in public for the first time in two years to close out the Paris 2024 opening ceremonies. The Canadian superstar sang L'Hymne a l'amour, originally performed by Edith Piaf. The five-time Grammy and 20-time Juno award winner sat down with CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault last year at her home in Las Vegas, to discuss the effects stiff person syndrome has had on her body and her powerful voice, and her fears the condition might limit her ability to ever sing again. She began experiencing symptoms of the illness back in 2008, when she first felt spasms in her vocal cords. In the interview, Dion told Arsenault she persevered through her treatment and rehabilitation with the mantra, "I'll sing again." With or without a performance by Dion, anticipation is building for the Eurovision finals. Switzerland took on hosting duties for the 69th edition of the competition after winning last year with Nemo's The Code. Thirty-seven countries are taking part in this year's contest, with the second round of semi-finals taking place on Thursday night. Five countries were eliminated in Tuesday's round of semi-finals, with 10 others moving on to the finals. The Grand Final takes place in Basel on Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
Economist
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Economist
Leo XIV will pose some tricky problems for Giorgia Meloni
FROM TIME to time, Charlemagne comes face to face with a pope. The first occasion was in the year 800 when Leo III placed a crown on his head and proclaimed him emperor of a reborn Roman Empire. More recently, it has become a ritual for a new pope—the latest is another Leo—to thank the scribes who have covered his election, this time including your columnist. Since 2005 the death of a pope has also been marked by a new ritual. Barely is the poor man's body cold than articles appear in Italian newspapers arguing that the chances have never been better of a return to normality (John Paul II had been the first non-Italian pope for 455 years) and predicting that the next pope will be an Italian. When lists are published of cardinals deemed papabile (literally, pope-able), half or more are invariably Italians. Non-Italian commentators, who assume their Italian counterparts have an inside track, repeat these names until, by the time the cardinals are locked into the Sistine Chapel, it has become a near-certainty they will choose an Italian. It happened again this time. The odds on Pietro Parolin becoming pope had shrunk to 6 to 4 on; but it was an American who emerged onto the balcony of St Peter's.
Newsweek
04-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
World's Longest Suspension Bridge to Be Built Over Earthquake Fault Line
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Construction of what would be the world's longest suspension bridge is scheduled to begin this year, according to the Italian government. The bridge between the island of Sicily and the Italian mainland would cross over the Strait of Messina, a distance of 3,300 meters, though the construction has to grapple with tectonic activity that could cause earthquakes. Why It Matters The idea of connecting Sicily to the Italian mainland is not a new one. Roman empires, King Charlemagne, and successive modern Italian governments have all attempted to get beyond the planning phase, but cost, time, and the challenges of building in an earthquake-prone area have meant each try has been dismissed before shovels break ground. What To Know Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government is the latest to revive the concept, with Meloni's Minister of Infrastructure Matteo Salvini, being the driving force behind finally starting work on the Strait of Messina Bridge. The bridge's design would not spare any expense, carrying both trains and vehicles across the two mile distance between Torre Faro in Sicily and Villa San Giovanni on the mainland. Latest estimates for the project predict that the cost would be around €13.5 billion, the equivalent of $15.3 billion. A small part of that is being funded by the European Union, but their €25 million contribution only partially covers half the design costs. At the beginning of April this year, constructors Webuild hoped that work would be ready to begin at the end of the year. "I hope to be there and to be able to cross it together with the whole team by the end of 2032", the CEO of Webuild, Pietro Salini, said. "We are ready, as well as all the industrial partners, to proudly begin this very important project for Italy and especially for the South". At just over two miles, if fully completed, the Strait of Messina Bridge would become the largest suspension bridge in the world, beating out the Canakkale Bridge in Turkey, which is 6,667 feet long. In fact, the Strait of Messina Bridge would be as long as the two longest suspension bridges in China, the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge and the Nansha Bridge, put together. The biggest problem for the Strait of Messina Bridge is its location. Sicily and the surrounding region of Italy are prone to seismic activity that could disrupt the construction process and the final product, especially with the possibility of earthquakes in mind. What People Are Saying However, Guy Nordenson, a professor of structural engineering at Princeton University, told Newsweek that a suspension bridge design would be able to roll with any tectonic issues, as they are more flexible than other types of bridge. "Keep in mind that these bridges are relatively flexible and can accommodate ground motion and more importantly displacements of the towers, better than many buildings," Nordenson said. The engineer drew comparisons with the Akashi Kaikyo bridge in Japan, which is the third longest in the world, which also sits in a geologically active area. A rendering of the Strait of Messina Bridge, from Webuild. A rendering of the Strait of Messina Bridge, from Webuild. Webuild "The Japanese Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is a cousin of Messina, if you will, and that too has to deal with earthquakes. The Great Hanshin earthquake on January 17, 1995 (magnitude 7.3, with epicenter 20 km west of Kobe) moved the towers, the only structures that had been erected at the time, such that the central span had to be increased by 1 meter. That was fine." Pietro Salini, the CEO of Webuild, said: The Strait of Messina Bridge is a huge technological challenge. 3km of the Bridge will be suspended in the Strait, a magical place where it will be possible to meet the Magna Graecia. It is also the Italian challenge towards the rest of the world. What Happens Next The Italian government remains committed to starting work on the bridge by the end of the year, with a finishing date of 2032. However, Nordenson said that it was hard for anyone to put a definitive date on when work would begin or end, comparing the project to the MOSE barrier, which was designed to protect Venice from flooding. "The time to complete is a bit difficult to predict. The MOSE barrier in Venice was also a priority of the government under Berlusconi, and that took decades," Nordenson told Newsweek. "Besides the engineering and design quality, the cost is tied to the schedule and the degree of transparency or corruption that can occur – and the slow wheels of bureaucracy. It takes a rare combination of design excellence, honest and public minded execution and respect for the craft and work involved."
