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Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince" was first released in New York on April 6, 1943. The fairy tale about the likable little blond boy from the asteroid B 612 was instantly praised by critics—and has since gained a cult following. Joseph Hanimann, Swiss writer and author of Saint-Exupéry's biography told DW there is something mysterious about the little prince who looks at the world through the eyes of a child but articulates his observations like a wise man. Chapter by chapter, the prince touches on friendship, love, technological progress, consumption and the decay of modern society. These elements, according to Hanimann, make the book more relevant today than ever. DW: Can you still remember what it was like when you first read "The Little Prince?" Joseph Hanimann: I was a child back then, and I admit that I did not understand the book. It was quite puzzling to me. However, there is something enigmatic about "The Little Prince," even when I read it today, which, … [Read more...] about Why ‘The Little Prince’ is still one of the world’s favorite books

A 1% pay rise for NHS workers is "the most" the government can afford due to the economic cost of the COVID crisis, a health minister has told Sky News. The government is facing a furious backlash - led by the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer - after calling for health care staff in England to be restricted to a pay rise of 1%. Live COVID updates from the UK and across the world But Nadine Dorries said it "would be wrong to say a single person in the government does not appreciate the effort" of NHS staff, as she defended the decision not to recommend a larger pay increase. "Of course, we recognise the sacrifice and the commitment and the vocation of nurses and all health workers over the past year," the minister said. Advertisement "We've all been touched by, or personally experienced, help by NHS workers. "But I think it is important to note that the priority of the government has been about protecting people's livelihoods, about … [Read more...] about COVID-19: 1% pay rise for NHS staff ‘the most’ the government can afford, says minister Nadine Dorries

Beijing has declared that only "patriots" should rule Hong Kong - and unveiled plans to change the city's electoral system to ensure just that. Candidates for election to the Legislative Council - Hong Kong 's parliament - will be vetted, according to the proposed changes. And elections scheduled for 2020, already postponed for a year, will be pushed back to 2022. "The rioting and turbulence that occurred in the Hong Kong society reveals that the existing electoral system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has clear loopholes and deficiencies," said Wang Chen, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, according to state media. The NPC, China 's annual parliament, is meeting in Beijing this week. The changes to Hong Kong's electoral system are only a proposal but will almost certainly be approved given the rubber stamp nature of the NPC. "Loopholes" is one of Beijing's favourite terms for describing aspects of … [Read more...] about Beijing declares only ‘patriots’ should rule Hong Kong as elections delayed again

The Vicar Of Dibley is one of the UK's best-loved sitcoms - with Dawn French becoming a national treasure after her portrayal of Reverend Geraldine Granger. The reverend would close almost every episode by sharing an often rude joke with the church verger Alice, one of the many quirky characters in the village, who would usually fail to understand the punchline. A specially-commissioned study has now asked people to rank the jokes according to their funniness - with fans saying "no, no, no, no, no" to the ones they didn't like, and "yes!" to the ones they did. So, in reverse order, here were the top five: Santa Claus visits the doctor In fifth place was a Christmas-themed joke which 46% of respondents thought was amusing. It went: "Santa Claus goes to the doctor and says 'Doctor, I think I've got a mince pie stuck up my bottom.' "The doctor looks and says 'Oh dear, you do indeed have a mince pie stuck up your bottom. But you're in luck - I've got some cream for that.'" … [Read more...] about Vicar Of Dibley fans reveal Dawn French’s funniest joke – and Alice didn’t get it

"Because of the pandemic, it is difficult to travel from Germany to Iraq. So everyone wants to follow the pope's visit on television or YouTube," says Raad Washan Sarah Sharafana, a priest in Berlin. He belongs to the Chaldeans, the Iraqi branch of Catholicism. For weeks now, when he celebrates Mass in the Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd, the 51-year-old has also been praying for a safe and successful journey for the pope. Never before has the head of the Catholic Church visited Iraq. And seldom has one of the pontiff's 32 visits abroad raised as many expectations as the upcoming four-day tour. Everyone wants to follow the pope's visit on television, says Raad Washan Sarah Sharafana In Berlin, Alen Albezo is one of the congregation of roughly 50 people who attend mass every Sunday, even during the pandemic. The parish is made up of much younger people than the average Catholic parish in Germany. Albezo is 21 and stays around after Mass talking to people from his own … [Read more...] about Iraqi Christians in Germany have high hopes for Pope Francis’ visit to their old home