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NATO allies nix multi-year Ukraine aid plan
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg failed to get allies to commit to a multi-year financial pledge to support Ukraine, according to information obtained by dpa on Wednesday. Ahead of a NATO leaders' summit in Washington, allies would only commit to support for Ukraine worth €40 billion ($43 billion) within the next year, dpa learnt from delegations to the alliance. The multi-year financial pledge was part of the secretary general's attempt to shore up the alliance's support for Ukraine in the event that Donald Trump returns to the US presidency in January 2025. NATO commitments of future support for Ukraine were also meant to...
Greece to see much-needed rainfall after driest June since 2006
Greece is expected to see much-needed rainfall later this week, after the Mediterranean country experienced its driest June since 2006. The Greek weather forecasting service said on Wednesday that rain is forecast across much of the country on Thursday, with heavy thunderstorms and hail likely in some regions. The precipitation should be over by Friday. The rain is urgently needed to fill Greece's water reservoirs and irrigate parched agricultural land after a long drought. The Greek capital Athens sees an average of 21 millimetres of rainfall in June but has remained dry for the past five weeks. Other regions also went without rainfall last month, including the city of Sparta on the Peloponnese peninsula which usually expects an average of 35 millimetres of precipitation. While the expected rainfall has been welcomed in Greece, authorities have expressed concern that thunderstorms could cause forest fires if lightning strikes dry areas, as occurred in the northern town of Kozani on Tuesday. In other areas, there are fears of flooding if dry ground cannot absorb heavy rainfall.
NATO allies nix multi-year Ukraine aid plan
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has failed to get allies to commit to a multi-year financial pledge to support Ukraine, according to information obtained by dpa on Wednesday. Ahead of a NATO leaders' summit in Washington, allies would only commit to support for Ukraine worth €40 billion ($43 billion) within the next year, dpa learnt from delegations to the alliance. Allies also did not reach an agreement on sharing the financial costs of supporting Ukraine, with NATO members vaguely stating that the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country's economy should play a role. At a meeting of NATO defence ministers in June, Stoltenberg called on allies to agree a plan to maintain over the long term their current level of support to Ukraine, which he put at €40 billion per year. The burden would be divided up according to NATO countries' GDP, with the United States contributing 50%.
German vaccine manufacturer Curevac to cut about one third of jobs
German biotech company Curevac plans to cut almost one in three jobs as part of a corporate reorganization, it announced on Wednesday. The company plans to cut 30% of its jobs and reduce operating costs by a total of 30% from next year. Curevac also announced that it would sell the rights to its messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) flu and Covid-19 vaccines to the British pharmaceutical group GSK for up to €1.45 billion ($1.56 billion). Curevac is thus securing urgently needed funding after struggling with problems in clinical trials and patent disputes relating to its mRNA technology. According to the agreement, the Tübingen-based company...
Germany v Spain, Ronaldo v Mbappe - The Euro 2024 quarter-finals
Euro 2024 has reached the quarter-final stage after an intriguing round of 16, with much more drama expected in the upcoming matches which include a duel of the record winners Germany and Spain and a rematch of the 2016 final between France and Portugal. The two blockbusters start the action on Friday before on Saturday England take on Switzerland and the Netherlands face Turkey. Following is a look at the quarter-final match-ups: Spain v Germany The Stuttgart duel of the triple winners has been dubbed by many as worthy of a final and will be the biggest test for the German hosts as well...
Brussels clears way for Lufthansa takeover of ITA Airways
The European Commission announced on Wednesday it had approved German airline Lufthansa's plans to acquire part of state-owned Italian airline ITA Airways. The top competition watchdog in the European Union reported concerns that customers could face higher prices and lower quality airline services in and out of Italy due to restricted competition. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in a statement said regulators were satisfied "that a sufficient level of competitive pressure remains" on Italian air travel after solutions were found. To appease EU regulators, Lufthansa and the Italian government agreed to facilitate the operation of short-haul flights by rival airlines to Central European...
'The Death of Slim Shady': Eminem announces date for album release
A creepy video, a skull emoji and the words "OH SH*T!!!" is how Eminem has decided to update fans about the timing of his new album. "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)" is set for a July 12 release, and the announcement has been spreading around social media with a video clip that could be straight out of a horror film. A woman gives birth to a baby in hospital while a storm rages outside. After the newborn appears to almost die, it opens a black pair of eyes, grins devilishly and sticks out a forked tongue while horns grow...
Brussels clears way for Lufthansa takeover of ITA Airways
The European Commission announced on Wednesday it had approved Lufthansa's plans to acquire part of state-owned Italian airline ITA Airways. The top competition watchdog in the European Union reported concerns that customers could face higher prices and lower quality airline services in and out of Italy due to restricted competition. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in a statement said regulators were satisfied "that a sufficient level of competitive pressure remains" on Italian air travel after solutions were found. To appease EU regulators, Lufthansa and the Italian government agreed to facilitate the operation of short-haul flights by rival airlines to Central Europe and share landing slots at Milan airport to reduce Lufthansa's potential domination.
Historic building in western Germany on fire
The historic Four Towers building in the town of Bad Ems, in the western German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, was on fire on Wednesday. The building, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, caught fire early on Wednesday morning for unknown reasons, according to the district administration. Almost 150 firefighters were deployed. According to a spokeswoman, the building, known in German as the Haus Vier Türme, is being renovated, which is why no one was in the building in the morning. The extent of the damage was initially unknown. Bad Ems Mayor Oliver Krügel has been on site himself since the early hours of the...
UEFA probe: Turkey's Demiral in hot water over celebration gesture
Turkey defender Merih Demiral is under investigation by the ruling body UEFA over a controversial gesture after scoring in the Euro 2024 last 16 match against Austria. Demiral made the wolf-salute with his fingers, a gesture associated with Turkish far-right movement Grey Wolves which is politically represented there via the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The gesture was condemned by German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and rights groups, who called for a UEFA probe. UEFA said on Wednesday it was looking into potential "inappropriate behaviour" from Demiral and that "further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course." Potential sanctions could affect...
Historic building in western Germany on fire
The historic Four Towers building in Bad Ems, in the western German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, was on fire on Wednesday. The building caught fire early on Wednesday morning for unknown reasons, according to the district administration. Almost 150 firefighters were deployed. According to a spokeswoman, the building, known in German as the Haus Vier Türme, is being renovated, which is why no one was in the building in the morning. In its announcement, the district administration asked people to avoid the neighbouring area. The extent of the damage was initially unknown.
New orders for Germany's Nordex to supply windfarms in France, Turkey
German-based wind turbine manufacturer Nordex received orders for 17 projects totalling 245 megawatts (MW) from its core markets in France and Turkey at the end of June 2024, the firm said. The orders consist of 35 turbines in the 3 and 4 MW classes for nine projects in France. In Turkey, customers have ordered nine N163/6.X turbines and a further nine turbines in the 4 and 5 MW classes for eight projects comprising a total of 113 MW. The orders also include servicing the turbines over different periods after they are commissioned at the end of 2024 and in the course of 2025.
Over 10-year extension for Vodafone, Virgin Media O2 network-sharing
British telecoms firms Vodafone UK and Virgin Media O2 have agreed to extend their network-sharing agreement for more than a decade, Vodafone Group announced on Wednesday. The deal is subject to the UK's competition regulator approving a merger between Vodafone UK and Three UK. Vodafone noted that many elements of the agreement expand on the existing arrangement between Vodafone UK and Virgin Media O2 and are independent of the Vodafone UK and Three UK merger outcome. However, subject to completion of the merger, the operators have agreed that Virgin Media O2 will acquire spectrum from the newly created MergeCo. The agreement includes plans...
Four World Cup winners in Argentina's Olympic football squad
Nicolás Otamendi and Julian Álvarez are among four World Cup winners from 2022 to be selected into Argentina's squad for the tournament at the Paris Olympics which starts later in the month. Benfica defender Otamendi and Manchester City forward Álvarez are joined by goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli and forward Thiago Almada who were also part of the successful squad two years ago in Qatar. The 18-player squad for the Olympics was nominated on Tuesday by coach Javier Mascherano. The 2004 and 2008 gold medallists Argentina play Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine in the group stage. Lionel Messi was part of the 2008 squad but is not playing this time around. The 37-year-old cited a heavy workload. The Olympic tournament is officially an under-23 event but each team can have three older players in the squad. In Argentina's case they are Otamendi, Àlvarez and Rulli who are currently also representing the nation at the Copa America.
Scientists pinpoint strategies to stop cats from scratching furniture
Providing cats with safe hiding places and plenty of opportunities to play can help to reduce their stress, and save frustrated owners’ furniture from being scratched, new research suggests. Scientists say they have pinpointed strategies that could save cushions, carpets, and sofas from pet cats. While scratching is a normal feline behaviour, it could be managed by adapting play sessions and offering scratch posts in the right spots, according to the study. Researchers looked at what factors can influence undesirable scratching, and found that the presence of children at home, personality traits of cats, and their activity levels “significantly impact” the extent of...
How Paris is reinventing itself for the Olympics
The French capital has hosted six world fairs and is now gearing up to host its third Olympic Games. Paris has hosted more world events than any other city worldwide and has sparkled at every time. Naturally, the same applies to the 2024 Summer Olympics, under way from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The Grand Palais, for instance, has undergone extensive refurbishment and new exhibitions have opened. Saint-Denis, a suburb in the poorest department of the Grande Nation, also has high hopes for the games and has prepared accordingly. Grand Palais offers new perspective on Belle Époque era After a closure of...
Want to make the 'best' decision? Why 'good enough' can be better
In our modern, affluent society, we constantly face multiple - even myriad - options to choose from, be it a career path or breakfast cereal. Of course we want to choose the best one for ourselves. But the analysis this requires isn't only extremely time-consuming, it's often impossible. “The human mind just doesn’t have enough capacity to do that,” Valerie Reyna, a professor and co-director of the Center for Behavioral Economics and Decision Research at Cornell University, says in a recent article by the Washington Post (WaPo) newspaper. People often make decisions in one of two ways: maximizing or “satisficing” (a portmanteau...
Trump's hush money sentencing delayed after US Supreme Court ruling
Following a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court on the immunity of US presidents, a New York judge on Tuesday delayed the sentencing of Donald Trump in a criminal case concerning hush money payments. If sentencing is necessary, judge Juan Merchan wrote in a letter to the parties to the trial, it would take place on September 18. The sentencing had previously been set for July 11. The background to this is that Trump is challenging the judgement against him following a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court on Monday. The judgement states that US presidents enjoy extensive protection from prosecution for...
Demiral brace and Günok save see Turkey into Euro 2024 quarter-finals
Merih Demiral made European Championship history as part of his brace and goalkeeper Mert Günok produced the save of the tournament to help Turkey stun fancied Austria 2-1 on Tuesday and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2008. Man of the Match Demiral opened the scoring after 57 seconds for the fastest goal in a Euros knock-out match, and nodded the second in the 59th, both off corner kicks from young star Arda Güler. Substitute Michael Gregoritsch pulled one back in the 65th but then failed to level despite sustained pressure and 20-4 shots as their strong run came to...
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