Page 17 - Germany

Germany bans group accused of Iran links and showcasing Hezbollah support

The German government on Wednesday banned a Hamburg-based organisation accused of promoting the Iranian leadership's ideology and supporting Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, as police raided 53 properties around the country. The ban on the Islamic Centre Hamburg, or IZH, and its various sub-organisations elsewhere in Germany followed searches in November. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said material gathered in the investigation confirmed the serious suspicions to such a degree that we ordered the ban today. The IZH promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany, while it and its sub-organisations also support the terrorists of Hezbollah and spread aggressive antisemitism, Faeser said in a statement. Her ministry alleged that as the direct representative of Iran's Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution," the IZH disseminates the ideology of the Islamic Revolution in an aggressive and militant way and seeks to bring about such a revolution in the Federal Republ

Germany's new lithium deal aims to reduce Europe's reliance on China

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in Serbia on Friday to discuss a tentative deal with the Balkan country to excavate lithium, a mega project that could reduce Europe's dependency on China but one that has been fiercely criticised by environmentalists and opposition groups. Germany, the largest carmaker in Europe, is seeking to secure lithium for its electric vehicle makers as the European Union struggles to reduce its dependence on imports from China. Lithium is a critical substance in making batteries for electric vehicles China currently dominates the supply chain for lithium-ion batteries. The excavation of lithium was back in the limelight after Serbia's constitutional court earlier this month overturned a previous ruling to cancel a USD 2.4 billion mining project launched by British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto in the western Serbian valley of Jadar, which is believed to be the largest lithium discovery in Europe. The Serbian government's decision to cancel the excavatio

Ex-Rolls Royce design head Ian Cameron stabbed to death, suspect on run

Ian Cameron murder: The British car designer was stabbed at the doorstep of his $3 million mansion in Germany's Herrsching at Lake Ammersee on Friday evening

Airways major Lufthansa slashes 2024 profit target for a second time

Equity analysts said Lufthansa's decision was not surprising, given its cost challenges linked to strikes earlier this year and delivery delays from plane manufacturers

Nato summit: US to deploy potent missiles in Germany, bolster Ukraine

The move would have been banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed by the US and the Soviet Union in 1987 but that collapsed in 2019

Nato to set up new military command in Germany to train Ukraine forces

US official noted that Russia's defence industry is on a wartime footing and with help from Iran, China, North Korea, and is attempting to undertake the most significant defence expansion

Euro 2024: Merino's goal sends Spain to semis after victory over Germany

Spain and its fans celebrated as if they'd won the European Championship. After eliminating tournament host Germany in a thrilling quarterfinal, Luis de la Fuente's team has a great chance to lift the trophy in Berlin next week. Spain snatched a 2-1 win in extra time on Friday thanks to substitute Mikel Merino's header in the 119th minute. Merino celebrated by running around the corner flag, mimicking his father Miguel Merino's celebration after he scored in the same stadium for Osasuna in the UEFA Cup against Stuttgart in 1991. "I knew that there was very little time left and that it was one of the last attacks we would have," Merino said. I didn't believe that it had gone in until a couple of seconds later. When you get 30 slaps on your back it sinks in real quick. I am very happy for me and the entire team. It all comes down to one moment (the goal), but there is so much work behind it, all the training, the hope, the faith, and the belief in ourselves. Extra time came only afte

Britain's PM-elect Keir Starmer inherits weak economy with 'no magic wand'

Living standards have stagnated since Conservatives took power in 2010 and Britain's recovery from the Covid pandemic has been the weakest among big rich nations after Germany

Germany fears victory for far-right could harm close relations with France

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is worried about the outcome of the run-off election in France. Scholz, who is normally tightlipped when asked about domestic politics in other European countries, has in recent weeks more than once expressed concern that the far-right, nationalist National Rally may win the second round of elections in neighbouring France on Sunday. Earlier this week, the decidedly pro-European German chancellor even revealed that he and beleaguered French President Emmanuel Macron are texting on a daily basis as the election draws closer. We are discussing the situation, which is really depressing," Scholz said at a summer gathering of his Social Democratic Party in Berlin on Tuesday, according to German news agency dpa. In any case, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the French, whom I love and appreciate so much, the country that means so much to me, will succeed in preventing a government led by a right-wing populist party," Scholz added in an unusually emotiona

UK's Barclays to sell German consumer finance business to Austrian bank

The sale of the Hamburg-based Barclays unit to BAWAG will give the Austrian bank the ability to expand its loan book and customer base in the region

After Lufthansa-ITA deal, experts say European regulators may deter tie-ups

While the deal expands Lufthansa's footprint in the lucrative southern European market, the combined group will have to cede some routes and slots to rivals for it to proceed

Euro Cup 2024: Uefa fines Germany over selfie-seekers on field with Ronaldo

UEFA has fined its tournament co-organizer Germany for failing to stop selfie-seekers from coming onto the field to get photos taken with Cristiano Ronaldo at the European Championship. UEFA published a slew of disciplinary rulings Monday that included two fines totaling 20,000 euros ($21,500) for the German soccer federation. The charges related to order and security at games and protection of the playing area at Portugal's games against the Czech Republic and Turkey. Multiple fans have invaded the playing field to take photos with Ronaldo during and after games. The Portugal star posed for one in-game photo with a young boy but grew visibly frustrated at the repeated security failures during the game against Turkey. UEFA announced it would review and increase security at stadiums. After a brief brawl between Georgia and Turkey fans in the stadium before their game at Dortmund, UEFA announced fines Monday of 30,000 euros ($32,200) for the Georgian soccer federation and 25,000 eu

At its lowest level in three years, German inflation eases to 2.5% in June

Economists pay close attention to German inflation data, as the euro zone's biggest economy publishes its figures before the euro zone inflation data release

Cloaked Audis, covert CEO meeting: How VW's $5 bn Rivian bet transpired

Intense testing followed at the Palo Alto facility of how the US startup's architecture and software - controlling virtually every function - would work in the German cars

Germany confirms Rdiger strained hamstring ahead of Euro 2024 last-16 game

Antonio Rdiger strained a hamstring muscle in Germany's 1-1 draw with Switzerland at Euro 2024, his team said Monday. The Real Madrid defender was seen holding his leg as he left the field after Sunday's game, which saw Germany level the score with a header from Niclas Fllkrug in stoppage time. Germany didn't give any details of Rdiger's condition in a brief statement confirming the injury Monday or indicate whether he's likely to be fit to play in the round of 16 on Saturday. If Rdiger can't play, it would leave Germany without either of its first-choice central defenders. The other central defender from the last game, Jonathan Tah, will be suspended for the round of 16 after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament. It's likely to mean a bigger role for Nico Schlotterbeck, who replaced Tah off the bench on Sunday. The other central defenders in the squad are Eintracht Frankfurt's Robin Koch and Stuttgart's Waldemar Anton. Neither has played in Euro 2024 so far.

Bayer, Solynta partner to roll out hybrid potato seeds in Kenya, India

German agrochemicals giant Bayer on Monday said it has agreed to collaborate with Dutch potato breeding company Solynta for commercialisation and distribution of true potato seeds in Kenya and India. The partnership marks Bayer's entry into the global potato market and represents its first collaboration with Solynta, a specialist in developing hybrid potato varieties. According to Bayer, the initiative aims to introduce true potato seeds as an alternative to traditional seed tubers. These seeds require only 25 grams per hectare compared to 2,500 kg of seed tubers, offering significant logistical and disease-control advantages. Bayer will leverage its distribution networks in Kenya and India to commercialise Solynta's hybrid potato varieties, targeting smallholder farmers in remote areas, it said in a statement. "We expect these true potato seeds to have a positive impact on local communities and on food and nutritional security in Kenya and India," Bayer's Crop Science Division Hea

German business sentiment unexpectedly darkens in June: Ifo Institute

The Ifo institute said its business climate index declined to 88.6 in June from 89.3 in May, compared with a reading of 89.7 forecast by analysts

Hungary forward Barnabas Varga stable after injury against Scotland

Hungary forward Barnabs Varga was in hospital in stable condition after a serious-looking injury at his team's final group match at the European Championship. Varga will likely undergo surgery after fracturing several bones in his face. The 29-year-old also has concussion and will take no part in the rest of Euro 2024 should Hungary advance to the round of 16 as one of the four best third-place teams. The Group A game against Scotland was halted for nearly 10 minutes so Varga could get treatment after colliding with opposing goalkeeper Angus Gunn midway through the second half. Varga's teammates held up blankets to shield the player as he was tended to by medical staff, while everyone looked on in concern. Both sets of fans applauded when Varga was stretchered off. Several bones in Barnabs Varga's face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion, the Hungarian soccer federation wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after the match. The Ferencvros

Germany gets late goal to draw with Swiss; finish top of Euro 2024 group

They all jumped for the ball in a frantic late push for the goal that would save Germany from its first loss at the European Championship, against an impressive Switzerland team. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck leaped up, next to the even more imposing center-back Antonio Rdiger, who reached highest of all. In front of them both was substitute Niclas Fllkrug. The German trio was circled by three Swiss opponents trying to protect a 1-0 lead two minutes into stoppage time. Six pairs of feet off the ground in unison, straining to be the one to head the ball. It was Fllkrug who won the contest, guiding the ball crossed from another substitute David Raum back across Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer into the top corner of the net. The match ended 1-1. We risked a lot in this phase because we could have conceded a second goal, Germany coach Julian Nagelesmann said about throwing his defenders into attack. "Who doesn't dare to risk, doesn't get to draw. Germany had already advanced to the r

ABN Amro nears deal to buy HSBC's German private bank: Report

The takeover of the business, formerly known as Trinkaus & Burkhardt, could be announced over the next two to three weeks, the paper said