Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | German carmakers are showing off their self-driving cars at the IAA international auto show in Frankfurt, but most people in the car-mad country have yet to be convinced by the technology. Curious visitors to the biennial trade fair, which lasts until September 24, can …
Read More »World’s biggest beer festival Oktoberfest opens in Munich
Munich, Germany | AFP | The drinking has begun as wet weather and enhanced security did not dampen the spirits of beer enthusiasts at the 184th Oktoberfest which opened in Munich on Saturday. Six million people from all over the world are expected to visit the world’s largest beer festival, which …
Read More »‘Get lost!’: How some Germans hope to shout down Merkel
Ostseebad Binz, Germany | AFP | Chancellor Angela Merkel may appear to be cruising to a victory in next week’s elections, but her campaign rallies across Germany have been plagued by rowdy protesters who jeer, boo and even throw tomatoes at her. From the western university town of Heidelberg to the …
Read More »VW aims to sell 1.5 mln electric cars in China by 2025
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | German carmaker Volkswagen is aiming to sell 1.5 million electric cars in China by 2025, its boss was quoted as saying Thursday, seeking to capitalise as Beijing mulls a clampdown on polluting vehicles. Speaking on the sidelines of the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Chief Executive …
Read More »At Frankfurt car show, industry in throes of reinvention
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | Automakers descended on Frankfurt Tuesday to show off their latest innovations at the glitzy International Motor Show (IAA), even as the spectre of tough new environmental rules and a string of no-shows took some of the shine off the event. On the surface, there …
Read More »Volkswagen to electrify entire range by 2030
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | German carmaker Volkswagen doubled down Monday on efforts to clean up its image tarnished by the dieselgate scandal, vowing ahead of the IAA auto industry show to electrify its entire range by 2030. By the end of next decade, VW vows to offer “at …
Read More »Turkish travel warning for Germany ‘bad joke’
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | Turkish government warnings to its citizens in Germany to be “cautious” and avoid political gatherings during election season are a “bad joke”, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s most senior aide said Sunday. “Turkey’s travel warning against Germany is a bad joke!”, Peter Altmaier, head of Merkel’s …
Read More »Merkel warns of consequences for EU asylum laggards
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | Countries that fail to take part in the quota scheme for assigning asylum seekers around the European Union could themselves be denied help in other areas, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday. “If there is no solidarity on migration, neither will there be in …
Read More »Germany rejects Polish call for more WWII reparations
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Germany dismissed on Friday Poland’s threat to demand new talks over World War II reparations from Berlin, saying the issue had already been settled in 1953. “Poland made a binding decision in August 1953… to relinquish demands for further war reparations,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert said, …
Read More »Poland ‘ready’ to demand WWII reparations from Germany: PM
Warsaw, Poland | AFP | Poland’s rightwing premier Thursday said she believed her country had the right to demand World War II reparations from Germany but added that her government was still mulling its official position. “The position of the Polish government on war reparations will be officially expressed when a …
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