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Portugal coach shrugs off pitch debate ahead of Euros last 16 match
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has shrugged off the debate about the condition of the Frankfurt pitch ahead of their Euro 2024 last 16 match against Slovenia. The slippery pitch has been criticised by several teams, with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann also highlighting a injury risk for players. Martinez told reporters on Sunday: "The pitch is as it is. It's the fifth game on this pitch. We believe that UEFA and everyone involved will do everything they can to ensure that we have the best possible pitch conditions." The 2016 champions Portugal enter the match as Group F winners although they lost their final match 2-0 against Georgia, where Martínez fielded several reserves. Slovenia advanced as third-place finishers from Group D where they drew all three matches. Portugal player Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to find the net at the tournament in Germany as he aims to become the first man to score at six Euros and at 39 the oldest in event history.
Exit polls show France's far-right National Rally taking lead
France's far-right National Rally is in the lead the first round of the snap parliamentary elections, according to first projections. Together with its allies, the party gained 34% to 34.2% of the vote, broadcasters TF1 and France 2 reported on Sunday shortly after the polls closed. President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble (Together) alliance came third with 20.3% to 21.5%, behind the left-wing alliance New Popular Front with 28.1% to 29.1%. How many seats the blocs will get in the National Assembly will only be decided in run-off elections on July 7.
High turnout across France in pivotal snap national election
The first round of voting in elections to France's National Assembly was under way on Sunday, with the far-right National Rally (RN) challenging President Emmanuel Macron's centrist forces for control of the lower house. Turnout for the snap elections was higher than generally expected, with 59.39% of eligible voters having cast ballots by 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Sunday, according to France's Interior Ministry. That is almost 20 percentage points higher than at the same time in the previous French general election in 2022, and already above the overall voter turnout figure of 47.51%. About 49.3 million people are eligible to vote in...
Belgium spirit intact ahead of France date at Euro 2024, coach says
The atmosphere in Belgium's camp is excellent despite modest performances so far at Euro 2024, coach Domenico Tedesco said on the eve of Monday's last 16 clash with France. The players were jeered off the pitch by their fans after a 0-0 draw with Ukraine in the final group match which came after an opening 1-0 defeat against Slovakia and a 2-0 victory over Romania. Tedesco said the only negative issues are coming from outside while the squad spirit has been great from the outset. "I must say that the atmosphere has been fantastic from day one. We have fun being together, we...
German far-right AfD continues party conference amid protests
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continued its national party conference on Sunday in the western city of Essen amid mass anti-AfD protests that included occasional violent clashes. Party delegates adopted resolutions on foreign policy toward Russia, China and the United States, and addressed Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. A resolution backed by party co-chairwoman Alice Weidel states that Germany must break more strongly from US foreign policy. It calls for an end to arms deliveries to Ukraine. The resolution condemns Russia's invasion, but adds that "it is also true that the foreign policy of various Western states in recent years has encouraged...
Netherlands' Rutte calls for further Ukraine aid in farewell speech
Mark Rutte, the outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands and future Secretary General of NATO, called for continued support for Ukraine in his farewell speech to Dutch lawmakers on Sunday. Rutte said that the shooting down of the passenger flight MH17 by a Russian missile over eastern Ukraine in the summer of 2014 made him realize how "crucial it is that our country is embedded in the EU and NATO." Most of the 298 people killed on board the flight, which was headed from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, were Dutch citizens. Rutte was officially appointed the next Secretary General of NATO a few...
Zelensky appeals for air defence aid amid continued Russian strikes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has complained about ongoing Russian bombing and once again appealed to the West for more help with air defence. In the past week alone, Russia has dropped 800 glide bombs over Ukraine, Zelensky announced in Kiev on Sunday. He also published a video of the heavy destruction and fires in the Kherson, Dnipro, Odessa and Zaporizhzhya regions, among others. "Ukraine needs more air defence systems. We need strong help from our partners," said Zelensky. Ukraine also needs the means to shoot down the Russian fighter bombers, he said. On Saturday, seven people were killed in an attack on the city...
Germany's Koepfer withdraws from Wimbledon with ankle injury
Germany's Dominik Koepfer has withdrawn from Wimbledon with a left ankle injury and is replaced in the draw by French lucky loser Luca van Assche. Koepfer twisted his ankle recently which made him miss this week's tune-up event in Eastbourne. German officials said he tried everything to fit for Wimbledon but lost the race against time. Van Assche will now take his place in Monday's first-round match against Italian Fabio Fognini.
Germany's far-right AfD officially quits the EU-level ID group
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has formally quit the far-right European Identity and Democracy (ID) political group in the European Parliament, deputy leader Peter Boehringer announced at the AfD's party conference on Sunday. The move has been expected since the ID group expelled the AfD in the run-up to June's European Parliament elections. That came after the AfD's top candidate in the campaign, Maximillian Krah, made highly controversial remarks about the Nazi SS paramilitary in an interview with an Italian newspaper, saying that those who joined the Nazi SS should not necessarily be considered criminals. The ID group includes France's far-right nationalist National Rally (RN) and the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), among others. The AfD only formally joined the ID party last year, although it had previously been a member of the ID group in the European Parliament. Krah's comments prompted the AfD to ban him from campaign appearances and exclude him from the AfD's parliamentary faction in the European Parliament, although those moves did not bring them closer with the ID group.
Norris demands apology from friend Verstappen after Austria collision
A furious Lando Norris blamed world champion Max Verstappen for the collision which ended both their hopes of winning a thrilling Formula One Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. Triple world champion Verstappen looked to be coasting to a third win in three races but an unusually slow pit-stop from Red Bull on their home track opened the door for McLaren's Norris. The Briton tried to get past the Dutchman three times and on the last bid on lap 64 of 71, their wheels clashed and tyres blew. Norris had to retire while Verstappen, blamed by the stewards for the shunt and handed...
Police: Masked photographer on Dortmund stadium roof was no threat
A man who climbed under the roof of the Dortmund stadium during Germany's European Championship round of 16 match on Saturday wearing a mask and carrying a large rucksack only wanted to take photographs, police have said. A video, published by the website of English newspaper the Daily Mail, shows the man being arrested by police at gunpoint after the match against Denmark. Officers announced that the man was from the German city of Osnabrück, around 120 kilometres north of Dortmund. "According to initial findings, the 21-year-old wanted to take photos on the roof of the stadium, as he had already done in...
Greek PM warns of tough summer after wildfires put out near Athens
Using 15 firefighting helicopters and aircraft as well as hundreds of firefighters and volunteers, the Greek fire brigade said on Sunday it was able to extinguish a large fire in a densely wooded area some 20 kilometres north of Athens. The fire broke out on Saturday. Strong winds drove huge grey-brown clouds of smoke over the Greek capital. In many places there was a stench of burnt wood and ash was falling. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned people that a tough summer was still to come in a post on Facebook: "I would like to point out that the difficulties are...
Russell takes win in Austria after Verstappen and Norris clash wheels
Mercedes driver George Russell was handed victory in Sunday's Austrian Formula One Grand Prix after leading duo Max Verstappen and Lando Norris clashed wheels and flew out of contention. Briton Russell stayed out of trouble behind them and glided by for his second F1 triumph after winning in Brazil in 2022. Triple world champion and standings leader Verstappen had looked poised for an easy victory on his Red Bull team's home track after winning the sprint race and topping qualifying on Saturday. But a slow second pit-stop allowed Norris to close up behind him and on a third attempt to pass the Dutchman,...
German far-right AfD continues party conference amid protests
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continued its national party conference on Sunday in the western city of Essen amid mass anti-AfD protests that included occasional violent clashes. On the second day of the meeting, the subject for debate was the party's foreign policy orientation, for example with regard to the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine. A resolution, which is supported by party co-chairwoman Alice Weidel, states that Germany must break more strongly from US foreign policy. It calls for an end to arms deliveries to Ukraine. The gathering comes ahead of September state parliamentary elections in the German states of Brandenburg, Saxony...
Russell takes win in Austria after Verstappen and Norris clash wheels
Mercedes driver George Russell was handed victory in Sunday's Austrian Formula One Grand Prix after leading duo Max Verstappen and Lando Norris clashed wheels and flew out of contention. Briton Russell stayed out of trouble behind them and glided by for his second F1 triumph after winning in Brazil in 2022. Triple world champion and standings leader Verstappen had looked poised for an easy victory on his Red Bull team's home track after winning the sprint race and topping qualifying on Saturday. But a slow second pit-stop allowed Norris to close up behind him and on a third attempt to pass the Dutchman, their wheels touched. Norris had to retire while Verstappen limped home fifth. McLaren's Oscar Piastri was second and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz third.
'Nothing to do with world class' - Vogts says Germany must improve
Former Germany coach Berti Vogts has said that the team's 2-0 against Denmark in the last 16 of Euro 2024 was far from a top class showing and that a improved performances are needed for the remainder of the tournament. "Against the absolute top teams, Germany must not allow themselves the type of flippancy they displayed against the Danes," Vogts wrote in his column for the Rheinische Post paper on Sunday. Vogts pointed out that Denmark were not one of these top teams. "However, you shouldn't praise the 2-0 win against the Danes too much, it had nothing to do with world class....
Reformist Iranian presidential candidate opposes online censorship
Reformist Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has positioned himself against internet censorship in the country days ahead of a run-off election. In a post on Sunday, the former health minister promised that a government under his leadership would oppose the blocks. He also assured that his Cabinet would campaign against the strict enforcement of headscarf-wearing rules for women in the event of an election victory. Pezeshkian and conservative hardliner Saeed Jalili are due to face off in a run-off vote in Iran's presidential election on Friday. A short election campaign phase begins on Sunday with two TV debates on Monday and Tuesday. Pezeshkian belongs...
Schäfer leaves Wolfsburg to join Leipzig as managing director
Marcel Schäfer is leaving VfL Wolfsburg to join RB Leipzig as their new managing director for sport, both Bundesliga clubs said on Sunday. Schäfer signed a contract until 2028 and will replace Max Eberl, who is now board member for sport at Bayern Munich. Leipzig reportedly paid Wolfsburg a transfer fee of around €2 million ($2.14 million). Schäfer had a contract with his previous employer until 2026. "Our mutual aim is to help this great club grow even more, be as successful as possible and be one of the top destinations for the best young talents in Europe. I’m really looking forward to...
Volkswagen cuts back on high-end Porsche cars for executives
Most top executives at German automotive giant Volkswagen can no longer order luxury Porsche sports cars as their company provided vehicles, as part of a cost-saving effort at the company. The policy change was implemented at the beginning of the year, a Volkswagen spokesman told dpa on Sunday. According to information obtained by dpa, the policy change affects around 200 managers at the company. Only Volkswagen Group board members and executives at Porsche itself - a subsidiary of Volkswagen - will be able to drive Porsche sports cars as their company cars, the Bild newspaper reported. However, the newspaper reported that there have already been lawsuits filed challenging the restrictions on Porsche company cars at the labour court in Braunschweig, near Volkswagen's headquarters in the city of Wolfsburg. Volkswagen had recently launched an efficiency and savings programme which is expected to improve earnings by €4 billion ($4.3 billion) this year, €7 billion in 2025 and €10 billion per year from 2026. The spokesman did not say how much the company is expecting to save with the Porsche ban.
Germany's far-right AfD rejects limits on Russia travel by MPs
Delegates at the Alternative for Germany's (AfD) party conference on Sunday rejected a proposal to put stricter rules on foreign travel and interviews with foreign media for politicians with the far-right party. The proposal for stricter rules, put forward by several delegates, comes after extensive negative media attention involving travel to Russia and appearances on Russian state media by AfD politicians who have voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Florian Köhler, an AfD member of the Bavarian state parliament and supporter of the motion, criticized "visits to regional dictators or autocrats" and said the party should focus more on the German homeland in order to avoid being perceived by voters as vicarious agents of foreign states. The rules would have required AfD members of parliament to consult with party leadership before giving interviews to foreign media, meeting foreign leaders abroad or taking trips "with a political connection." The motion also referred to the AfD's scandal-plagued top candidate in the recent European Parliament elections, Maximilian Krah. The AfD was kicked out of the right-wing Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament after Krah made highly controversial comments defending members of the Nazi SS paramilitary in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
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