HEIDENAU, Germany (AP) — From the bright lights of Berlin to a grim former Nazi military barracks near the Czech border, the Syrian refugee family’s new life in Germany has been a roller-coaster of euphoria and despair. Last week, fate reserved yet another nasty surprise for the Habashieh family, as they were shuttled from a … Continue reading
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — New small cars for the mass market from Opel and Renault and powerful, expensive SUVs from Jaguar and Bentley for the upper crust are among the top offerings on display this week at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. A rise in demand for cars in the United States and Europe is … Continue reading
BERLIN (AP) — Germany introduced temporary border controls Sunday to stem the tide of thousands of refugees streaming across its frontier, sending a clear message to its European partners that it needs more help with an influx that is straining its ability to cope. Germany is a preferred destination for many people fleeing Syria’s civil … Continue reading
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Austria stepped up vehicle inspections Monday at its Hungarian border after 71 migrants apparently suffocated in a truck, creating a huge traffic jam on the main Budapest-Vienna highway. In addition to the gridlock at the Hegyeshalom border crossing — about a 30-kilometer (18 1/2-mile) backup at its peak — traffic was … Continue reading
BERLIN (AP) — A prominent Al-Jazeera journalist will remain in German custody for a second night, prosecutors said Sunday, adding they have not yet decided whether to extradite him to Egypt or set him free. As dozens of supporters protested Sunday in front of the Berlin court building where Ahmed Mansour was being held, his … Continue reading
ELMAU, Germany (AP) — After spending much of the first day talking about Ukraine, leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies shifted their focus Monday to global issues including climate change, terrorism and the threat from diseases such as Ebola. German Chancellor Angela Merkel aimed to get backing for a strong agreement on cutting … Continue reading
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Germany’s foreign minister paid a rare visit to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Monday, calling on Israel to ease a blockade on the territory and urging Hamas prevent rockets from being fired into Israel. Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the latest Western diplomat, including U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, to tour Gaza … Continue reading
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen’s patriarch has left the building. Does this mean change is coming to the world’s No. 2 automaker — in particular, to its high-cost ways of doing business? Ferdinand Piech shaped the company’s destiny for more than 25 years. He rescued Volkswagen’s fortunes as CEO from 1993 to 2002. He … Continue reading
PARIS (AP) — France and Germany held out the possibility on Friday of sanctions if the Minsk accords to stabilize Ukraine are not respected. President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed for respect for the cease-fire and withdrawal of heavy arms during a joint news conference. The two heads of state, along … Continue reading
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Carrying a peace plan that reportedly incorporates proposals from Russia, the leaders of Germany and France met Thursday with Ukrainian Petro Poroshenko in a hastily arranged mission to bring an end to the accelerated fighting in the east of the country. The trip by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French … Continue reading
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Europe’s struggle with economic stagnation is raising questions about whether its prized project — the shared euro currency — can bounce back or even just survive. Fundamental gaps left at the euro’s creation in 1999 are haunting its policymakers. The euro’s missing pieces have come into sharper focus as the … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 