Forbes named her the most powerful woman on the planet, so it is only fitting that Angela Merkel travels with an impressive entourage. According to music writer Norman Lebrecht, the German Chancellor is eschewing the predictable roll-call of gourmet chefs and butlers, and is instead planning to fly Berlin State Opera's orchestra, the Staatskapelle, alongside her when she travels to Iran in October.

Apparently, visas have already been requested for the musicians, as well as music director Daniel Barenboim, who is of Russian Jewish descent.

Perhaps he will use his Palestinian, Argentinian or Spanish passport, rather than his Israeli one.