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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."
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.
Left-wing camp in France divided over pick for prime minister
The broad leftist coalition that banded together to beat back the French far-right is struggling to pick a candidate for prime minister. The multi-party New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, which was the surprise winner of Sunday's snap parliamentary elections, consists primarily of the Socialists, the Greens, the Communists and firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon's hard-left France Unbowed. At an overnight meeting between the Socialists and France Unbowed, no agreement was reached, broadcaster France Info reported on Wednesday, as both parties vie for supremacy in the alliance. The Socialists see their party leader Olivier Faure as the best candidate for the premiership. France Unbowed is pushing for...
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...
EU leaders relieved after surprise election win for French left
The victory of the French left in the recent parliamentary elections was a surprise for many, with EU leaders quick to share their relief that a nationalist government is not taking power in France. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was "happy" with the result. "In Paris enthusiasm, in Moscow disappointment, in Kyiv relief," the former European Council president said on X. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praised the "rejection of the radical right" on X and said France had opted for "a social left that tackles the people's problems with serious and courageous policies." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also told reporters...
No grandma? No problem! A program connects kids with 'wish grannies'
Colourful building blocks are scattered across the living room floor and a thick rope for twirling dangles from the ceiling next to the dining table. Traces of children are everywhere in 75-year-old Marita May's house in Bad Ems, a town some 75 kilometres north-west of Frankfurt, but no children live there. That's because May is a so-called granny by choice or wish grandmother. In German, a Wunschoma is someone who acts as a grandmother but is not biologically related to their "grandkids." A Wunschopa is the term used for a wish grandfather. For about 10 years, she has been regularly meeting with two...
How courts are becoming battlegrounds for action on climate change
Judges are increasingly being drawn into the fight against climate change as activists and civic groups bring lawsuits aimed at enforcing climate commitments and protecting the environment. Courts from Estonia to Norway to the US are all weighing cases that pit governments against small groups of dedicated activists. Cases focus on disputes about concrete measures to protect the environment as citizens and organizations seek to force lawmakers to do more to protect the climate. A group of elderly Swiss women made headlines earlier this year when they succeeded in their demand for stricter measures against climate change in a case decided by the...
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