Page 6 - Germany

As far right rises in Germany, firms struggle to attract foreign workers

When electrical engineer Preetam Gaikwad first moved to Jena in 2013, she was smitten by what the eastern German city had to offer: a prestigious university, top research institutions, and cutting-edge technology companies, global leaders in their field. Eleven years later, the Indian native takes a more sober view. I'm really worried about the development of the political situation here, Gaikwad, 43 said. Jena is in the eastern German state of Thuringia, which has elections on September 1. The far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, is currently leading the polls with about 30 per cent support, far ahead of the centre-right Christian Democrats (21 per cent) and the centre-left Social Democrats of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (7 per cent). The AfD's anti-foreigner stance is the cornerstone of its campaign, raising concern among businesses like Jenoptik, Gaikwad's employer. The company, which supplied lens assemblies for Perseverance, the NASA remote vehicle on Mars, employs 1,68

Police look for man who killed 3 in knife attack in Germany's Solingen

An attacker with a knife killed three people and seriously wounded at least five late on Friday at a festival in the western German city of Solingen, authorities said. Witnesses alerted police shortly after 9:30 p.m. to an unknown perpetrator having wounded several people indiscriminately with a knife on a central square, the Fronhof. Police said the attacker was on the run, and that they so far had only very little information on the man. They said they believe the stabbings were carried out by a lone attacker. One of the festival organizers, Philipp Mller, appeared on stage and asked festivalgoers to go calmly; please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasn't been caught. He said many people had been wounded by a knifeman. At least one helicopter was seen in the air, while many police and emergency vehicles with flashing blue lights were on the road and several streets were closed off. Police put the number of seriously injured at five. The region's top

EU approves $5.5 bn German aid under Chips Act for ESMC Dresden plant

ESMC is a joint venture led by TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, with European chipmakers Bosch, Infineon and NXP each taking a 10 per cent stake

Russia files complaint to Germany over Nord Stream sabotage investigation

"We have raised the issue of Germany and other affected countries fulfilling their obligations under the UN anti-terrorist conventions," Tyapkin said

Germany cuts visa processing time to 2 weeks for skilled Indians: Know more

Between January and June 2024, Germany issued 80,000 employment-related visas

2 fighter jets crash in northeastern France, search underway for 2 onboard

Two French fighter jets collided and crashed Wednesday in northeastern France, French military authorities said. One pilot was found unharmed and a search is ongoing for two other people. According to France's Army of Air and Space, a branch of the French Armed Forces, two Rafale fighter aircraft collided while returning from a refueling mission in Germany and crashed near Colombey-les-Belles, a town in northeastern France. The pilot of one plane was found unharmed, officials said. A search is underway for the two people onboard the second plane, reported by French broadcaster BFM to be an instructor and a trainee. One of the pilots has been found, he is safe and sound. The search is still ongoing," French Minister of the Armed Forces Sbastien Lecornu wrote on social media. We thank our armed forces as well as to the gendarmes mobilised in the search and in securing the area. The regional prefecture is appealing to members of the public to come forward with any information.

Germany's proposed low emission steel standard may hurt India biz: GTRI

Germany's proposed Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS) is expected to pose new challenges to Indian industry which is already reeling with lower exports, higher imports and Europe's carbon tax, think tank GTRI said on Friday. India's steel exports have dropped by 31.2 per cent from USD 31.7 billion in 2021-22 to USD 21.8 billion in 2023-24, while imports have increased by 37 per cent, from USD 17.3 billion to USD 23.7 billion, making India a net importer, it said. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that the Indian steel industry is not legally bound to follow the new German steel standard, but ignoring it could hurt domestic exports. "Global markets are demanding low-carbon products, and Indian steel producers not aligning with LESS may struggle to compete," GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said. He added that India's steel industry must prepare to comply with new steel standards introduced by Germany, but may soon be adopted by other developed countries. LESS is a volunt

Will work to make Maha's economy surpass Japan, Germany: Guv Radhakrishnan

Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan has said he will work to make the state's economy larger than Japan and Germany and to ensure the wealth created reached the remotest village of the state. He was speaking here on Wednesday at the launch of 'Yoddha Karmayogi - Eknath Sambhaji Shinde', a biography of Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde. He highlighted Maharashtra's crucial role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) by 2047. The governor expressed confidence in CM Shinde's leadership to make Maharashtra a trillion-dollar economy while ensuring inclusive development. "A day will come by 2047 when India will be the richest nation of the world. That time, our Maharashtra state economy should be larger than the second largest economy of the world, that should be our aim and we all should work towards it," he said. "I will work with you to the extent that Maharashtra state's economy becomes larger than the second larg

UN goal of hunger-free world by 2030 unlikely to be achieved: Official

United Nations' goal of creating a hunger-free world by 2030 most likely will not be achieved, an eminent German agriculture economist said on Saturday. Addressing the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists(ICAE), professor of agricultural economics and director of the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany, Martin Qaim further said some forms of malnutrition are even on the rise globally. "At present, we have widespread hunger and malnutrition around the world, seriously hampering development. "Our goal of a world without hunger will most likely not be achieved by 2030," he said. Qaim said climate change and geopolitical tensions are exacerbating hunger and malnutrition problems. "And we can not ignore that our food systems themselves were contributing significantly to the climate crisis and several other environmental problems," he said. Noting that without major changes in the way the world produces, distributes and consumes foods,

'Feat of diplomacy': Joe Biden hails prisoner exchange deal with Russia

In addition to Whelan and Gershkovich, prominent Putin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is a US permanent resident, and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were also freed

Volkswagen doubles down on cost cuts to try to revive profit margins

The German group is further reducing production capacity, cutting costs and changing software spending following its investment in electric vehicle maker Rivian

Putin warns US of Cold War-style crisis if missiles deployed to Germany

Earlier this month, the US said it would start deploying long-range missiles in Germany from 2026

Olympic bans: A list of countries that were excluded from past Games

In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Russia and Belarus have been banned from participating in the games due to the Ukraine war. But they are not the first to face such a ban.

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