Beaches, bases, battles: The seven-decade fight for Okinawa
Updated 0822 GMT (1622 HKT) June 17, 2018
Akiko Urasaki knows what it's like to grow up with the specter of war.
She's spent her life in the shadow of a vast complex of US military bases in Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture.
She doesn't, however, associate them with danger.
"We see the base as another space of life, not a space for preparing for war -- we don't see that part," Urasaki, now a rapper who goes under the moniker Awich, 31, told CNN.
Next stop, Nina Simone … Paris metro ‘must honour its heroines’
A public vote to name two Paris stations has turned into a battle over a sexist rail map
To travel on the Paris métro is to take a journey through French – and world – history. Honoured with a station name are war heroes, statesmen, artists and writers including Charles de Gaulle, Markos Botsaris, Franklin D Roosevelt and Victor Hugo.
But notable by their absence are women. Only four of the 303 stops on 16 lines are named after female figures, French or otherwise.
Now, with two new stations being created on a central line extension, French feminists say it is time to end the snub. The campaign group Osez le féminisme (Dare to be a feminist) is urging people to vote for a woman in an online consultation that offers six possible names – three male and three female – that closes on 17 June.
Rise of the AutocratsLiberal Democracy Is Under Attack
Autocratic leaders and wannabes, from Putin to Trump, are making political inroads around the world. In recent years, Western liberal democracy has failed to live up to some of its core promises, helping to fuel the current wave of illiberalism. By DER SPIEGEL Staff
Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't actually all that interested in football. He's more of a martial arts guy, and he loves ice hockey. But when the World Cup football championship gets started on Thursday in Moscow, Putin will strive to be the perfect host. The tournament logo is a football with stars trailing behind it, evoking Sputnik, and a billion people will be tuning in as Putin presents Russia as a strong and modern country.
During the dress rehearsal, last summer's Confed Cup, Putin held an opening address in which he spoke of "uncompromising, fair and honest play ... until the very last moments of the match." Now, it's time for the main event, the World Cup, giving Putin an opportunity to showcase his country to the world.
Invest in North Korea: money pit or golden opportunity?
Donald Trump dangled the carrot of foreign investment in front of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at their nuclear summit, but analysts say few will want to put money into one of the highest-risk business environments in the world.
The US president showed Kim a movie of bright lights, high-speed trains and soaring tower blocks -- pitching a future that could be possible if Pyongyang gives up its weapons.
Optimists say that with mineral wealth, cheap labour, and a helpful geographical location, the North has huge potential.
But the history of overseas firms who have tried to set up operations in the isolated, impoverished country is a long and sorry one.
The outrageous racism that 'graced' Arab TV screens in Ramadan
Like in the past, this year's Ramadan series featured scenes of vulgar racism against Afro/black Arabs.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are meant to abstain from food, drinks, smoking, sexual activity and offensive language. Understandably, during this month, TV broadcasters across the Arab world tend to tone down programming and promote more family-friendly content.
Yet year after year, racist mockery and derogatory language against Afro/black Arabs and black African migrants make it to the TV screens of millions of Arab families gathered to enjoy TV series produced especially for Ramadan.
Aquarius in Valencia: Spain welcomes migrants from disputed ship
The Spanish port of Valencia has seen the arrival of the first ship carrying migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea and turned away by Italy and Malta.
The first of three vessels entered harbour soon after dawn. Some of the 629 rescued near Libya last weekend by the Aquarius ship then disembarked.
Health officials and interpreters are on hand to offer support.
Spain's new socialist government has promised free healthcare and says it will investigate each asylum case.
"It is our duty to help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and offer a safe port to these people, to comply with our human rights obligations," Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said earlier this week.
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