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65,000 cups missing from Tesla gigafactory near Berlin
The US electric car manufacturer Tesla is grappling with an internal issue involving tens of thousands of missing coffee cups at its plant in Grünheide just outside Berlin, dpa has learnt. Factory manager André Thierig addressed the matter at a staff meeting on Monday, saying that a total of 65,000 coffee cups have been unaccounted for. He humorously remarked, "Statistically, each of you already has five Ikea coffee cups at home," according to a recording of the staff meeting cited by the Handelsblatt business newspaper on Wednesday. Thierig clarified that his comment about the missing cups was not intended as an accusation. He also...
NATO leaders pledge €40 billion military aid to Ukraine in next year
NATO leaders on Wednesday pledged €40 billion ($43 billion) worth of military aid to Ukraine in the next year and declared the country's path to NATO membership "irreversible." Leaders from NATO's 32 member states reached the agreement on the second day of a three-day summit in Washington, after a celebration of the alliance's 75th anniversary on Tuesday. The plan to spend €40 billion in 2025 was proposed by NATO's outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a foreign ministers' meeting in Prague in May. However, Stoltenberg had wanted NATO members to make a multi-year commitment to Ukraine in order to show Russia it...
Netherlands coach Koeman: 'Difficult to accept' Euro 2024 exit
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said it's "difficult to accept" the Euro 2024 exit after a 2-1 defeat to England in the semi-finals on Wednesday. "I'm disappointed with the final result in a match that started really well for us," Koeman said in a news conference. The Dutch side took an early lead thanks to Xavi Simons. While Harry Kane equalized from the spot, Ollie Watkin scored a late winner to secure England a ticket to the final against Spain. "After that (Simons' goal) we had some difficulties in midfield to stop the good players like (Jude) Bellinghan, (Phil) Foden. We didn't control the...
England score late winner to set up Euro 2024 final against Spain
Ollie Watkins scored a late goal for England to claim a 2-1 comeback win against the Netherlands on Wednesday and set up a clash with Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Xavi Simons broke the deadlock for the Netherlands in the seventh minute, but captain Harry Kane from the spot equalized in the 18th. When the game in Dortmund looked set to go to extra time, substitute Watkins produced a sweet finish to become England's hero in stoppage time and fire his side into an European Championship final for a second consecutive edition. "Unbelievable. I've been waiting for that moment for weeks. It's...
England defeat Netherlands with late goal to reach Euro 2024 final
Ollie Watkins scored a late goal for England to claim a 2-1 win against the Netherlands on Wednesday and set up a clash with Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Xavi Simons broke the deadlock for the Netherlands in the seventh minute, but captain Harry Kane from the spot equalized for England in the 18th. When the game in Dortmund looked set to go to extra time, substitute Watkins produced a sweet finish to become England's hero in stoppage time and fire his side into an European Championship final for a second consecutive edition. England were defeated by Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final and had so far struggled to show good football at the tournament in Germany. As England chase their first-ever European title, they will have a huge challenge on Sunday against Spain, top favourites to take the trophy home and widely considered the best team at Euro 2024.
NATO leaders agree to launch Ukraine aid and training mission
NATO leaders on Wednesday agreed to launch a project that will see the alliance coordinate military support and training for Ukraine for the first time, dpa has learned. NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) is expected to launch on Friday. Until now, NATO countries have been coordinating support to Ukraine through an informal, US-led group called the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. NSATU will see NATO itself formally coordinate support. NSATU aims to put NATO allies support for Ukraine "on an enduring footing," according to a prepared NATO declaration seen by dpa. "NSATU will not, under international law, make NATO a party to the conflict."
Volkswagen to close its design centre in Potsdam outside Berlin
German car manufacturer Volkswagen intends to close its design centre in Potsdam just outside Berlin. "The function of the centre as a future lab for new technologies – such as those around electromobility and the associated new customer ecosystem – has been gradually integrated into the regular innovation processes of the Volkswagen Group's brands," a spokeswoman for Volkswagen Group Services said on Wednesday. "The operational business of the Volkswagen Group Future Centre Europe will consequently be discontinued by the end of 2024," she said. Some 100 employees are affected, dpa has learnt. Volkswagen Group Services said they would not comment on the upcoming discussions...
NATO leaders to declare Ukraine's path to membership 'irreversible'
NATO leaders are expected to endorse a declaration of Ukraine's "irreversible path" to membership of the alliance on Wednesday, at a summit being held in Washington this week. The portion of text prepared for the summit declaration, seen by dpa on Wednesday, is intended to reassure Ukraine that its "future is in NATO." Leaders gathered on Tuesday for the first day of the summit, which is set to continue throughout Wednesday and Thursday. The text underscores that Ukraine can only join when all current members agree. The United States and Germany in particular are against rushing the process, diplomatic sources within the...
Bild: Germany's Müller retires from international football
Germany's 2014 world champion Thomas Müller is retiring from international football, the Bild newspaper reported on Wednesday. Following Germany's 2-1 extra-time loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-final on Friday, the Bayern Munich forward, 34, had said he was mulling his Germany future. Midfielder Toni Kroos quit all football after Germany's exit at their home tournament while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is also considering whether to carry on playing internationals. Müller made his Germany debut in March 2010 and has amassed 131 caps, third on the all-time list behind Lothar Matthäus (150) und Miroslav Klose (137). After the group exit at the 2018 World...
Germany's Baerbock to focus on crises, not run for chancellor
Annalena Baerbock wants to concentrate fully on her role as German foreign minister and is not seeking to run for the top job as chancellor again. Instead of being tied up in running for chancellor, she wants to devote all her energy to her current task in view of the international crises, the Green politician explained in an interview on the US television channel CNN on the fringes of the NATO summit in Washington. "Obviously, the world is a totally different one than at the last German national elections," said Baerbock. "In the light of Russia’s war of aggression and now also...
Germany's Baerbock to focus on crises, not run for chancellor
Annalena Baerbock wants to concentrate fully on her role as German foreign minister and is not seeking to run for the top job as chancellor again. Instead of being tied up in running for chancellor, she wants to devote all her energy to her current task in view of the international crises, the Green politician explained in an interview on the US television channel CNN on the fringes of the NATO summit in Washington. "Obviously, the world is a totally different one than at the last German national elections," said Baerbock. "In the light of Russia’s war of aggression and now also...
Microsoft, Apple give up OpenAI board seats
Tech majors Microsoft and Apple are dropping out of their respective seats on the Board of Directors of AI startup OpenAI, the developer of generative chatbot ChatGPT, amid increasing regulatory scrutiny in Europe and the US over generative AI, according to reports. Microsoft, OpenAI's largest investor, has quit as an observer on OpenAI's nonprofit board, a non-voting seat which it took in November last year. Microsoft's Deputy General Counsel Keith Dolliver, in a letter to OpenAI, said the seat was no longer needed as the company had witnessed significant progress from the newly formed board. Further, Apple, which was planning to join the...
NATO to warn China over support for Russian war against Ukraine
NATO leaders gathered in Washington are expected to warn China on Wednesday over its support for Russia's war against Ukraine, according to a prepared text seen by dpa. China "has become a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine through its so-called 'no limits' partnership and its large-scale support for Russia's defence industrial base," the text reads. "This increases the threat Russia poses to its neighbours and to Euro-Atlantic security." The document calls on China to cease "all material and political support to Russia's war effort." China "cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation." The text also accuses China of "malicious cyber and hybrid activities" that undermine Euro-Atlantic security, and notes the country's expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal. It urges China "to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions."
Guirassy's transfer to Dortmund delayed due to medical check issue
The planned transfer of forward Serhou Guirassy from VfB Stuttgart to Borussia Dortmund has been delayed due to problems during the medical check. "During a medical examination of Serhou Guirassy, an injury was discovered and it requires further clarification," Dortmund said on X on Wednesday. According to media reports, the player has already agreed to a four-year contract with the Champions League runners-up. The Bild newspaper reported that the issue was an old injury which didn't fully heal. Guirassy suffered the injury while on duty with the Guinea national team. Dortmund are now seeking a second opinion from a specialist. The transfer can only be finalized after a second medical check, but Bild said that the deal is currently not seriously at risk of falling through.
EU approves €10.4bn in government aid for Air France-KLM
The European Commission on Wednesday announced the approval of Dutch and French support measures totalling €10.4 billion for Air France-KLM. The Commission had initially approved the aid in May and July 2020 under the state aid Covid Temporary Framework, but it was annulled by the General Court in December 2023 and February 2024, stating that "the Commission erred in considering Air France and KLM to be the sole beneficiaries of respectively the French and Dutch State aid measures". "In the present decision, the Commission has re-assessed the measures with the Air France-KLM Group as the beneficiary of both the French and Dutch measures and come to the conclusion that they would also be compatible with the Covid Temporary Framework or directly with the Treaty", the Commission said. Air France-KLM welcomed the new decision, but noted that the decision has no impact on the appeals lodged by the European Commission, Air France, KLM, and Air France-KLM against the judgments of the General Court of the EU. "The Court of Justice of the European Union has still to decide on these appeals," the company said.
UK govt change won't affect Ukraine support, Starmer tells Zelensky
The change of government will make "no difference" to Britain's support for Ukraine's defence against the Russian invasion, newly appointed Prime Minister Keir Starmer reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Wednesday. "I just had a very good meeting with President Zelensky, where I made it absolutely clear that as far as the UK is concerned, the change of government makes no difference to the support that we will provide," Starmer told reporters. King Charles III appointed Starmer as prime minister on Friday, following a landslide election victory on Thursday by Starmer's centre-left Labour Party, which had been in opposition for 14 years. Despite their domestic disagreements, Labour and the ousted Conservative Party have been closely aligned on the provision of military support to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. "We've been united on this when we were in opposition, and it was really important to me to be able to affirm that face-to-face in the meeting; I didn't speak to him immediately after I was sworn in as prime minister last week," Starmer said. He added that the Washington summit was an opportunity for his new Labour government to reaffirm its commitment to NATO.
AfD forms new group in European Parliament
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party have announced the formation of a new right-wing group in the European Parliament on Wednesday. As the spokesman for co-leader Alice Weidel announced, the "Europe of Sovereign Nations" parliamentary group will initially be made up of 25 MPs from a total of eight countries, 14 of whom are from the AfD. The group is currently the smallest in the EU legislature. Political parties from more than 7 EU countries are need to set up a group, under European Parliament rules, with a minimum of 23 EU legislators required. Other countries represented include Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech...
NATO leaders to declare Ukraine's path to membership 'irreversible'
NATO leaders are expected to endorse a declaration of Ukraine's "irreversible path" to membership of the alliance on Wednesday, at a summit being held in Washington this week. The portion of text prepared for the summit declaration, seen by dpa on Wednesday, is intended to reassure Ukraine that its "future is in NATO." Leaders gathered on Tuesday for the first day of the summit, which is set to continue throughout Wednesday and Thursday. The text underscores that Ukraine can only join when all current members agree. The United States and Germany in particular are against rushing the process, diplomatic sources within the...
United States to station Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany
The United States will station Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany in order to strengthen NATO's military deterrent in Europe, according to a joint statement by the two countries' governments on Wednesday. The statement, issued on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Washington, said "episodic deployments" of the long-range missiles will begin in 2026. As well as Tomahawks, the cruise missiles include SM-6 "and developmental hypersonic weapons," which have longer range than missiles currently stationed in Europe. "Exercising these advanced capabilities will demonstrate the United States’ commitment to NATO and its contributions to European integrated deterrence," the statement said.
Netherlands and England fans fight at restaurant in Dortmund
An altercation between Netherlands and England fans broke out in front of a restaurant in Dortmund on Wednesday, just two hours before the Euro 2024 semi-final between both teams. Dortmund is hosting the match and the party of the football fans had been largely peaceful during the day. However, according to a police spokesman, two groups of people from both sides attacked each other at the restaurant. Objects were thrown and people have been reportedly injured. Officers were on site to take action, the spokesman said. Videos posted on social media showed the moment of the altercation and, according to reports, there were also problems at a public viewing area. Around 100,000 Dutch supporters marched through the city centre on Wednesday before the game, singing and celebrating towards the stadium and public viewing areas. According to the police, this was the biggest fan march the city has ever seen. There were also 25,000 English fans in the city.
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