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Why there's no match for third place at Euro 2024?
England and Spain will start preparing for the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday, while the defeated semi-finalists Netherlands and France are heading straight home. Unlike at World Cups, there is no match for third place at the European Championship - and this year's tournament in Germany is no exception. European football ruling body UEFA explained that the match for third place was abolished as part of a change in the tournament's format from 1980 to 1984. "The match was not considered attractive and hasn't been part of the Euros since then," UEFA said on Thursday. There are also no plans to reintroduce such game. In 1980, Czechoslovakia beat hosts Italy on penalties in the last match for third place at a European Championship to date, with Germany taking the title. In recent World Cup editions, Croatia finished third in Qatar in 2022, while Belgium took bronze in Russia in 2018.
IDF: Two senior Hamas members killed over past week
The Israeli military has killed two senior Hamas officials over the past week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday. The IDF identified one as Hassan Abu Kuik, alleged to have carried out numerous attacks on Israel. He headed internal security operations for the Palestinian militant Hamas movement in the central Gaza Strip, the IDF said. The other was a team leader of Hamas's military intelligence, the military added. Israeli troops were continuing operations in the headquarters of UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the IDF said. Weapons had been found there on Wednesday, the Israeli army said. The...
EON, MAN to develop European electric lorry charging network
The energy supplier EON and the MAN truck and bus manufacturer are planning to establish a public charging network for electric lorries across Europe, both companies announced on Thursday. The first locations are expected to open this year. By the end of 2025, 80 locations are planned. They are to be set up within the existing MAN service network but will also be accessible to commercial vehicles from other manufacturers. An overall 170 locations are planned, providing 400 charging points, 125 of which will be in Germany. Others will be in Austria, Britain, Denmark, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The German government...
New Iranian president says he will support Palestinian Islamist Hamas
Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has assured the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas of his country's support, in a letter to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the FARS news agency reported on Thursday. "Iran will continue to fully support the oppressed Palestinian people until the realization of their legitimate demands and the liberation of the holy al-Quds," he wrote to Haniyeh, according to the report. Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem. In the letter, Pezeshkian accused Israel of pursuing an "apartheid policy" and called it a "human and Islamic duty" to work with the Palestinian people to put an end to this policy once...
EON, MAN to develop European electric lorry charging network
The energy supplier EON and the MAN truck and bus manufacturer are planning to establish a public charging network for electric lorries across Europe, both companies announced on Thursday. The first locations are expected to open this year. By the end of 2025, 80 locations are planned. They are to be set up within the existing MAN service network but will also be accessible to commercial vehicles from other manufacturers. An overall 170 locations are planned, providing 400 charging points, 125 of which will be in Germany. Others will be in Austria, Britain, Denmark, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The German government...
The Killers interrupt concert to show final minutes of England win
US rock band The Killers interrupted their concert in London for a moment to show the final minutes of England's 2-1 victory against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals on Wednesday. The band stayed on stage as the last minutes of the game were shown on a big screen. After the final whistle, the around 20,000 concert-goers in attendance celebrated euphorically. Masses of red and white confetti were shot into the crowd before The Killers resumed the concert with their top hit "Mr Brightside," causing even more euphoria. Videos of the moment quickly went viral on social media, but many have been...
Moscow won't join second Ukraine summit, says peace proposals ignored
Russia is not planning to take part in any second peace summit that may be held on the Ukraine conflict, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said on Thursday. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galusin told the Russian state news agency Ria in Moscow that Kiev's ideas for a follow-up meeting to the conference in Switzerland in mid-June were known. From Russia's point of view, the meeting would just again focus solely on the proposals of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while other peace initiatives would be ignored. "For us, such ultimatums are unacceptable and we will not take part in such summits," said Galusin, after...
Bayern sign Portugal midfielder Palhinha until 2028
Portugal midfielder João Palhinha completed his transfer from Fulham to Bayern Munich on Thursday, the Bundesliga record champions said. Palhinha signed a contract until June 2028 and Bayern are reportedly to pay a fixed transfer fee of €46 million ($49.8 million) for the 28-year-old. "This is one of the happiest days of my life. I'm now playing for one of the top clubs in Europe. It's a dream come true for me, and I'm very proud of that," Palhinha said. Bayern were already close to signing the holding midfielder last year but Fulham vetoed the move on transfer deadline day because they couldn't find a replacement. "We kept at it since last summer and now finally have João Palhinha with us. He will be very valuable for FC Bayern," sporting director Christoph Freund said. Palhinha is the third new player in Munich, following winger Michael Olise from Crystal Palace and centre back Hiroki Ito from Bundesliga runners-up VfB Stuttgart. Defender Josip Stanisic and forward Arijon Ibrahimovic return from loan spells at German double winners Bayer Leverkusen and Italy's Frosinone, respectively. Bayern under new coach Vincent Kompany want to rebound from a first season without silverware since 2012. Pre-season training starts on July 15.
Germany's Frankfurt airport registers June passenger increase
Germany's Frankfurt Airport, a European aviation hub, has seen an increase in passenger numbers and is optimistic about the full year, the Fraport airport operator reported on Thursday. In June, Fraport recorded a good 5.6 million passengers, 1.4% more than a year earlier, it announced in Frankfurt. This is in light of seasonal factors which affected the figures. The Whitsun holiday period took place in June of last year, boosting figures then, but occured in May of this year. The current monthly figure is still about 14.4% below the passenger numbers from the pre-pandemic period in June 2019. The cargo business saw a significant rise in June. Around 178,324 tons of freight and airfreight were handled in Frankfurt, 11.4% more than a year earlier. "In the first half of the year, we increased passenger numbers by 1.8 million and welcomed about 28.8 million travelers in Frankfurt," said Fraport chief executive Stefan Schulte. "Without the numerous strikes at the beginning of the year, we would have served about 500,000 more passengers," he added. Despite this loss, Schulte said that Fraport is still on track for a full-year volume of 61 million to 65 million travellers.
Spain coach De la Fuente expects furious final against England
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is expecting a furious final against England at Euro 2024 in Berlin on Sunday. "It's going to be a huge spectacle and we're looking forward to it with great hope," he said in a video message from the Spanish Football Association. Spain, who in the quarter-finals defeated hosts Germany, booked a ticket to the final after a 2-1 win over France, while England scored in stoppage time to defeat the Netherlands 2-1 and set up the top clash. While the English team are chasing their first-ever European title and a first major trophy in 58 years, Spain...
China issues sharp rebuke of NATO declaration
China has issued sharp criticism of the NATO summit declaration, which accuses Beijing of supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine. NATO's claim about China's responsibility in the Ukraine war is unjustified, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian. He said NATO was spreading false information generated by the United States, thereby undermining cooperation between China and Europe. At their summit in Washington, NATO intensified its tone towards China. In the final summit declaration, the alliance accuses Beijing of being a "decisive enabler" for Russia's war against Ukraine. Examples cited include extensive support for the Russian defence industry and the so-called "no limits" partnership. NATO called on China to immediately cease all material and political support for Russia's war. This also includes dual-use civilian goods and raw materials used by the Russian arms industry.
Fair city no more: Attacks on visitors dent Dublin's tourism image
The recent death of a Canadian tourist in Dublin has again raised concerns over whether the Irish capital remains a safe and welcoming starting point for a holiday on the island. Neno Dolmaijan, a 41-year-old from Montreal, died in a Dublin hospital in early July after being seriously injured in the centre of the city on June 23. Ireland’s Taoiseach (prime minister) Simon Harris described the assault as "horrific," while Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin, the biggest political party on the opposition benches, said it "highlights the hard reality that our city centre is not safe." The death followed several...
Indonesia to give visa-free entry to people from 20 countries
Already eyeing up a winter break in the sun? Indonesia could soon be an easier destination to reach, as the government there plans to ditch holiday visa requirements for nationals of 20 countries. "We are proposing visa-free entry for tourists from countries that provide the greatest economic impact," said Sandiaga Uno, the country's tourism minister. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain and the UK are the European nations on the list, according to state news agency Antara, which reported that the relaxation is to take effect in October. Australia, China, India, Japan and the US are among the other countries whose passport...
Sunscreen myths, debunked: The truth on re-applying and 'pre-tanning'
With the arrival of summer, hot days lure us to enjoy the outdoors. As always, myths about sun cream are making the rounds. Does a higher sun protection factor (SPF) offer better protection? Can a vegan diet safeguard your skin? Does reapplying sun cream extend its effectiveness? This fact check reveals the truth. Re-applying prolongs sun protection: True, but only to a degree Germany's Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) recommends applying sun cream 20 to 30 minutes before sun exposure. To maintain its protective effect, regular reapplication is crucial: "At least every two hours and especially after swimming and drying off." However, dermatologist Christoph...
Colombia reaches Copa finals after 1-0 win, chaos as fans clash later
Colombia, led by James Rodríguez, have won the second semi-final of the Copa América, though the victory was overshadowed by riots after the match. The team won despite having to play the whole second half with only 10 men. "We made history that night," said a visibly moved Rodríguez after the final whistle. The winning team will face Argentina, with superstar Lionel Messi, in the finals, after Colombia won 1-0 (1-0) against Uruguay at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina in the US south-east. After the furiously-fought game on Wednesday, Uruguay striker Darwin Núñez and other players ran into the...
NATO leaders to meet Zelensky and Indo-Pacific leaders in Washington
NATO leaders will hold talks in Washington on Thursday with the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, followed by further talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The meetings conclude a three-day NATO summit that began on Tuesday with a celebration of the alliance's 75th anniversary. NATO being a Euro-Atlantic alliance, the four Indo-Pacific countries are not members, but have been invited to discuss common security interests in the region. Before the summit, China accused NATO of stoking tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, where the alliance has been cultivating partnerships with the four countries. NATO, meanwhile published a declaration on Wednesday calling...
Heavy rainfall causes flooding and damage across Germany
Germany is bracing for further heavy rainfall on Thursday, a day after storms caused widespread flooding and numerous emergency responses across several parts of Germany. In the south-western city of Rastatt, located 90 kilometres west of Stuttgart, storms and heavy rain caused some 100 emergency responses as basements and underpasses filled with water, according to the police. No injuries have been reported, but significant property damage is anticipated. Meanwhile, heavy rain caused water to seep into the stacks of the Berlin Central and Regional Library (ZLB). In an Instagram post by the library, employees were seen carrying water out of the building with...
German president to open memorial at former East German women's jail
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is set to inaugurate a new memorial site on Thursday commemorating those incarcerated in the notorious Hoheneck women's prison in the former communist East Germany. Many of the inmates of the former women's prison in Stollberg, some 80 kilometres south-west of Dresden, were political prisoners. Joined by eyewitnesses of that era, Steinmeier will visit the historic cell block and a newly established permanent exhibition. He is scheduled to deliver a speech afterwards. The former castle grounds were used as a prison from 1864. In 1950, the facility was turned into the largest women's prison in East Germany. Around 24,000 women,...
Is the Ora 07 just a Porsche parody from China - or a good buy?
Chinese cars have come in for a lot of praise recently after years of being ridiculed by the European and US competition. Positive reviews centre around China's new design identity which seems to have moved carmakers away from cloning the mainstream, yet the Ora 07 is a throwback to the days of blatant copycats. The Chinese appear to have have modelled their large pug-faced saloon largely on the Porsche Panamera, but it is still a weird mix to European eyes. There are differences though. The original is only available as a plug-in hybrid and otherwise as a pure combustion engine, while the Ora...
Kane becomes top scorer at Euros knock-out stages
Harry Kane became the player with most goals scored in European Championship knock-out games with his equalizer in England's 2-1 victory against the Netherlands on Wednesday. Kane scored his third goal of the tournament and sixth in a Euros knock-out match as he found the net from the spot in the 18th minute to cancel out Xavi Simons' opener. Ollie Watkins' dramatic winner in stoppage time secured England a spot in the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday. Antoine Griezmann of France is second on the list with five goals, while Nuno Gomes (Portugal), Dieter Müller (Germany), Dragan Džajić (Yugoslavia) and Gerd Müller (Germany) are joint third-placed with four goals. Kane has been widely criticized as he and his English team have presented a poor performance at Euro 2024. He previously scored in the 1-0 group stage win against Denmark and in the 2-1 victory over Slovakia in the last 16. In the all-time list of top scores at Euros, Kane moved up to joint third-placed with seven goals, level with Spain's Alvaro Morata, compatriot Alan Shearer and Griezmann. Only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (14) and Michel Platini (nine) have scored more goals.
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